how to train my dog

The Basic Commands For Dog Training
By John Lim Cher Sern

Training your dog well will make it a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behavior problems encountered by dog owning households.

When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:

• Heel – it is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind.

• No – the word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.

• Sit – Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.

• Stay – A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.

• Down – Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.

Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.

Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.

Free Downloads For Every Dog Lover!
If you like this article on dog training, then you must download the FREE dog training ebooks at http://www.dogtrainingartist.com DogTrainingArtist.com has a comprehensive list of dog training resources and FREE information that will make all the difference to your dog training.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Lim_Cher_Sern
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Basic-Commands-For-Dog-Training&id=148103

Dog Training: What Is Dog Training?
By David McFarlane

The term "dog training" can mean many different things - this is an important fact to remember when deciding what exactly you need to do with your dog.

First, there is "behavior training".

This is the kind of dog training in which a dog is taught to be good. Usually this would include house training, good behavior around other people and dogs, and other small things that make a dog a much more pleasant companion. A well-behaved dog attracts no special notice from members of the public (apart from occasional comments about their good manners).

Next, there is "obedience training," which is teaching the dog how to perform specific activities.

This can include traditional obedience exercises such as heeling. The emphasis here is on prompt and precise performance. While there can be many overall benefits to this kind of dog training, the training is not necessarily used in order to improve the dog's behavior.

Dogs that have been obedience trained will perform tasks when their owners ask them to do so. (Although, some obedience trained dogs may well behave poorly!)

"Activity training" refers to dog training for specific activities - this could include hunting, herding, search and rescue or any of a number of activities designed to show off the abilities of the dog and his handler. These days, such activity also includes sports such as frisbee, flyball and agility.

At times, these dog training methods can cross over somewhat.

A certain amount of obedience training will help with behaviors, for example. A dog that is heeling will not pull on the leash.

You will still want to keep this in mind when selecting a training class, however, so that it best matches your needs. For many pet owners, the behavior-oriented classes are the best way to learn how to understand and control your dog. For those of you who want to enjoy a sport or compete in an activity with your dog, you will need to move along to more complex dog training.

You need to be fully aware of whether or not your dog needs behavior modification (where you will have to find out the underlying reason why your dog digs holes) or obedience training (to understand commands).

The two may be related: a dog that digs because it is bored may become less bored with obedience training and stop digging. It is important, however, to understand that the dog stopped digging because it was no longer bored not that it now knows how to heel. You will need to modify your approach, or select a trainer to help you, with behavior vs. training in mind.

Please also remember not to punish the dog whilst training. Punishment is not a training aid. It does little to foster willingness to learn and achieve. Limit yourself to a firm "no" and to using your hands to block the dog's negative actions. Refrain from hitting or physically abusing the dog.

Display extreme levels of patience and persistence, and never give up; if you do, you are relinquishing your status as the dominant one. The dog is bound by nature and genetics to test how far he can push you or get away with disobeying you. You must display a stern and stoic attitude and do not pat, praise, or reward the dog if he does not pay attention or refuses to do as you have asked. Only yield once your commands are followed. If you "heel" instead of your dog then he will soon know who is the boss.

Use rewards and praise as often as required. Praise should immediately be forthcoming when a dog responds to any command. The pet will associate responding to commands with praise/rewards (treats) and will try and respond quicker to reap his rewards. Once a command/trick has been mastered then the treats can be withdrawn. You will find that obeying a command becomes second nature to your dog.

Keep the lessons simple. To begin with, the lessons should be fairly easy and such that the dog can complete it within two-three actions. As his level of learning increases the lessons could be more complex. Just as our children go, at first to play school, then to kindergarten, and then to the first grade so also in the case of our pets.

Whether you are a first time dog owner or a seasoned veteran, your learning never stops as far as it comes to training your dog. Each and every dog presents different training challenges, and the more equipped you are to handle these training issues the more likely you are to prevent any permanent and long term future behavioral problems.

Visit David's site at http://www.dog-training-for-idiots.com to learn very useful tips on how to train your dog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McFarlane
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Training:-What-Is-Dog-Training?&id=267442

Dog Training 101
By Amy Howells

There are many different kinds of dog training available. There are also many different places to go for your dog training. All of these types of dog training courses can vary in price and they also teach different things. If you are interested in starting dog training, you should know what your options are.

The first type of dog training course is for puppies. This type of dog training is usually called puppy preschool. The puppy preschool course is for puppies between 6 weeks and 5 months old. The classes usually go for 6 to 8 weeks. In this dog training course, your puppy will mostly learn socialization with other puppies and people. You will also begin to teach it to sit, stay, and come.

The next type of dog training is called basic dog training. This is for any dog that is at least 5 months old. The class is usually 8 to 10 weeks long. In the basic course you teach your dog how to walk on a leash, sit, stay, come, and heel.

The next type of dog training is intermediate dog training. The intermediate course goes over the basic dog training again, but in more detail. It will also teach your dog to follow instruction from other people, as well as learn to stay for longer periods of time.

This dog training course usually lasts 8 to 10 weeks and is available to dogs that are at least 5 months old that have either completed the basic dog training course, or know the basic commands taught by there owner.

The next dog training course is advanced dog training. Here the intermediate course is gone over again as well, but in more detail. Your dog will learn to sit and stay even if you are not within its view.

They also begin to learn how to walk beside you without a leash. The dog training also prepares a dog to take the Canine Good citizen dog training course. The course is 8 to 10 weeks long and only available to dogs that have completed intermediated training.

The last type of dog training is the Canine Good Citizen dog training. Canine Good Citizen teaches the 10 aspects necessary to pass the canine good citizen test and get certified in it.

This dog training is only available to the dog that has completed several of the other courses. The dog must also be extremely well behaved as the test is very difficult. The course can last several weeks, depending on if your dog can pass.

This is all of the necessary information you need to help you figure out what dog training course to put your dog in. If you are unsure, you can call local dog trainers to get better advised at what your dog is ready for.

Many dog trainers offer free consultation. With all of this in mind, you should be 1 step closer to starting your dog in a dog training course!

Amy Howells is owner of the Dog Owner Blog, where she gives free dog behavior training information.She has recently started giving away her expert dog training book (valued $27) for free! So be sure to visit her site right now for free dog training lessons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_Howells
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Training-101&id=73813

Dog Training: What Is Dog Training?
By David McFarlane

The term "dog training" can mean many different things - this is an important fact to remember when deciding what exactly you need to do with your dog.

First, there is "behavior training".

This is the kind of dog training in which a dog is taught to be good. Usually this would include house training, good behavior around other people and dogs, and other small things that make a dog a much more pleasant companion. A well-behaved dog attracts no special notice from members of the public (apart from occasional comments about their good manners).

Next, there is "obedience training," which is teaching the dog how to perform specific activities.

This can include traditional obedience exercises such as heeling. The emphasis here is on prompt and precise performance. While there can be many overall benefits to this kind of dog training, the training is not necessarily used in order to improve the dog's behavior.

Dogs that have been obedience trained will perform tasks when their owners ask them to do so. (Although, some obedience trained dogs may well behave poorly!)

"Activity training" refers to dog training for specific activities - this could include hunting, herding, search and rescue or any of a number of activities designed to show off the abilities of the dog and his handler. These days, such activity also includes sports such as frisbee, flyball and agility.

At times, these dog training methods can cross over somewhat.

A certain amount of obedience training will help with behaviors, for example. A dog that is heeling will not pull on the leash.

You will still want to keep this in mind when selecting a training class, however, so that it best matches your needs. For many pet owners, the behavior-oriented classes are the best way to learn how to understand and control your dog. For those of you who want to enjoy a sport or compete in an activity with your dog, you will need to move along to more complex dog training.

You need to be fully aware of whether or not your dog needs behavior modification (where you will have to find out the underlying reason why your dog digs holes) or obedience training (to understand commands).

The two may be related: a dog that digs because it is bored may become less bored with obedience training and stop digging. It is important, however, to understand that the dog stopped digging because it was no longer bored not that it now knows how to heel. You will need to modify your approach, or select a trainer to help you, with behavior vs. training in mind.

Please also remember not to punish the dog whilst training. Punishment is not a training aid. It does little to foster willingness to learn and achieve. Limit yourself to a firm "no" and to using your hands to block the dog's negative actions. Refrain from hitting or physically abusing the dog.

Display extreme levels of patience and persistence, and never give up; if you do, you are relinquishing your status as the dominant one. The dog is bound by nature and genetics to test how far he can push you or get away with disobeying you. You must display a stern and stoic attitude and do not pat, praise, or reward the dog if he does not pay attention or refuses to do as you have asked. Only yield once your commands are followed. If you "heel" instead of your dog then he will soon know who is the boss.

Use rewards and praise as often as required. Praise should immediately be forthcoming when a dog responds to any command. The pet will associate responding to commands with praise/rewards (treats) and will try and respond quicker to reap his rewards. Once a command/trick has been mastered then the treats can be withdrawn. You will find that obeying a command becomes second nature to your dog.

Keep the lessons simple. To begin with, the lessons should be fairly easy and such that the dog can complete it within two-three actions. As his level of learning increases the lessons could be more complex. Just as our children go, at first to play school, then to kindergarten, and then to the first grade so also in the case of our pets.

Whether you are a first time dog owner or a seasoned veteran, your learning never stops as far as it comes to training your dog. Each and every dog presents different training challenges, and the more equipped you are to handle these training issues the more likely you are to prevent any permanent and long term future behavioral problems.

Visit David's site at http://www.dog-training-for-idiots.com to learn very useful tips on how to train your dog.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McFarlane
http://EzineArticles.com/?Dog-Training:-What-Is-Dog-Training?&id=267442

Universal Principles For Successful Dog Training
By Moses Chia

Dog training is not rocket science and is not as difficult as you think. It is certainly possible for ANY dog owners to train their dogs themselves provided they put in adequate amount of effort. The principles listed here are universal to dog training of any dog breeds, be it sporting, working, toy or terrier, any dogs - big or small, pup or old, any Owners - competitive or leisure.

In short, if you are serious about training your dog and demand Only success, You MUST apply these principles. No “If” No “But”. Get the basic right first before you start to train your dog!

Consistency

Consistency is very important during training and correcting unwanted behavior. Always use the same "command" for a specific task you require of your dog. Don’t confuse him by using different command for the same task.

Once you’ve establish some house rules such as - keeping the cooking area out of bound to your dog, enforce them constantly. If the dog learns that he can get away with it now and then, your previous efforts will go down the drain. Lastly, make sure everyone in the family accept and enforce your rules consistently.

Timing

Timing is critical to successful training. Praise your dog whenever he is doing something right. As expected, reprimand him on the spot and to the point whenever he misbehave or fails to response to your command. Praise and reprimand that happen later will have no effect on your dog.

* There are 2 main schools of thoughts concerning the timing of correction when your dog misbehaves. I called the first school of thoughts the “Direct Approach”. It simply requires you to reprimand your dog on the spot if he misbehaves. This is more of a tangible and straight forward approach to training your dog and is easy to understand for most trainers.

I called the second school of thoughts the “Endurance Approach” as it’ll require you to ignore your dog when he misbehaves. Using the cause and effect to your advantage, this approach requires you to ignore the dog, especially when he misbehaves to seek attention and encourage you to pay attention to your dog only when he’s a good boy.

Attention Factor (Endurance Approach

Dogs love attention and are hugely motivated by it. Unlike man, dogs do not know how to differentiate between positive and negative attention. They see things in a simple way. If a certain action gets reaction and attention, you’ll bet they repeat it over and over again. (Cause and Effect)

Unfortunately, for most dog owners, we more often than not give our dogs negative attention. For example, "Do you let him out of his crate when he groans?" or "Do you give chase when he runs off with your socks?" These are negative attentions given to the dog and is certainly motivating his bad behavior.

Fortunately, the opposite is true if you pay enough attention to your dog when he behaves himself. When the dog understands that he’ll get attention only when he’s behaving, he’ll learn that only good behavior attract attention and he’ll repeat his good behavior always.

Focus your attention on your dog only when he is behaving; praise him or give him a treat, let him know that he’s getting the attention. If this technique is used correctly, he’ll be a well-behaved dog for a long time to come. Nevertheless, this approach is probably not for the short temper and requires you to go through an endurance ordeal. Imagine your dog chewing up your sock in your presence. “Endure Dude!”

Training Mood

You need to be in the correct frame of mind before you train your dog. Never train your dog when you are under the influence of alcohol or drug. Also try not to train him if you’ve a bad day or not in the best of your mood.

If you’ve just argued with your sweetie or got a telling off from your boss earlier on. You would most probably take out your frustration on him and threaten your relationship with him in future.

Do remember to apply these dog training principles constantly & you'll be half-way through to successful dog training.

Moses Chia is the webmaster of DogsObedienceTraining.com. He provides more helpful information on dog obedience training, dog training book reviews and dog illness symptoms interpretation that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Moses_Chia
http://EzineArticles.com/?Universal-Principles-For-Successful-Dog-Training&id=44185