Three Basic Dog Training Tips to get you Started
Start training your new puppy or dog right from the time it comes home. Puppies learn really quickly and new adult dogs will too – that is if you set the ground rules right from the start when you train your dog.
Are you enough of a pack leader for your dog? It is really important for your dog to know where it fits in to your family. And you, as the pack leader, are responsible for you dog’s wellbeing and for teaching it your rules.
A well-balanced dog is one that understands your rules as all they want is to keep you happy.
Discipline, exercise and love are the three most important things – in that order, your dog needs from you to keep it from displaying destructive and frustrating behavior.
Do you and you dog a favor; go to dog obedience classes right from the start as it will increase the bond between the two of you.
What Method to use when teaching Basic Obedience
The method I recommend in all dog training techniques is positive reinforcement and I tend to ignore poor behavior unless it is dangerous. This way my dogs understand that when they behave well they get the attention they want and behaving badly gets them nothing. Yelling and screaming at your dog just makes the situation worse. If you feel frustrated – just say nothing, walk away, and come back again later and try again.
Here’s a short dog traing video
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=wHUQr6VlFsE
How to Train your Dog to Sit
This is one of the easiest things you can train your dog or puppy to do. Teaching a good sit is the foundation of your working future together.
It really all starts here. The sit is one of the first basic commands you learn at dog training school and it is easy enough to teach your dog at home. The good thing is that you can teach your dog to sit from anywhere – while on the couch in front of the television or while walking around your back yard.
I always have treats in my pocket wherever I am. And my dogs pretty much follow me wherever I go as they are opportunists.
To teach your dog or puppy to sit, stand in front of them and tell them to sit. As you tell your dog to ‘sit’, have a treat in your hand and bring it up over its nose from front to back.
Your dog will watch the treat go over its head and has no choice but to sit. Reward your dog immediately by giving it the treat and reinforcing your command with ‘good dog sit, good sit’. Or words that suit you but will achieve the same result.
How to Train your Dog to Drop
Teaching your dog to drop is easiest on the lead to start with. Once again, make sure you have your dog’s favorite treats before you begin your dog training.
With the lead in your left hand, take a couple of steps forward and give the hand signal and voice signal ‘drop’ simultaneously. The hand signal I use is an open hand with the palm facing the dog. When I first start training a dog to drop, I put a treat between my fingers to encourage the dog to follow the treat to the ground.
So, to go over that again. With the lead in your left hand and the treat ready in your right one, take a couple of steps and give the ‘drop’ command signaling with your right hand to give your dog direction. The hand should go straight down towards the ground.
Reward your dog the minute it obeys you and give it a lot of praise. Always reinforce the good behavior with ‘good dog drop’ in a happy bright voice.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Some dogs will get the idea quicker than others. Always remember to finish your training on a positive note and there is no need to do more than 5 minutes training at a time.
Copyright Kay Nynnephun author of Easy Puppy Training Tips
Tags: basic obedience, dog training, train your dog
