Saturday, September 27, 2008

The 5 Sure Fire Benefits Of Dog Obedience Training

By Barry Crewse

Dog Obedience training is undeniably the most important factor in the relationship you have with your dog.

The most frequent question I see these days is what the definition of dog obedience training is and is it really important in the relationship you have with your dog.

Dog obedience training in a nut shell is a variable condition which can be accomplished by a literal boat load of dog training techniques.

There are a ton of techniques available and I think this is where the confusion begins. Dog training techniques can range from protection dog training to dog house breaking tips, puppy house training all the way down to behavioral modification to name a few.

What ever training technique you decide to pursue first whether training your dog at home or at an appropriate dog training school, you should accomplish the following benefits.

1. Dog obedience training creates a strong, healthy bond between you and your new best friend.

2. The communication factor is opened up clearly between you and your dog with just a little basic dog training. This will help you decided what it is your expect from your dog and help your dog get the understanding he needs to accomplish your expectations.

3. Giving your dog the proper obedience training he needs will give him the knowledge about the boundaries you wish to create for him. These boundaries will help him to become a responsible, well mannered dog to not only you and your family but to other dogs, animals and people as well.

4. By training your dog, you set up the all important ground work your dog requires to prevent the development of some really bad habits. Some bad habits can include chewing, biting, jumping, peeing in the house, barking and a host of others.

5. Dog obedience training will also eliminate any confusion about what is right and wrong. This makes your dogs life simple which helps him develop his main passion...serving you!

6. One more BONUS benefit: You will find that not only is it fun and rewarding training your dog but the confidence you will gain in knowing you can trust your dog no matter what the situation is truly relaxing. No stress in wonder what any situation may bring.

I have only just scratched the surface on the benefits that every dog owner will experience by properly training your dog.

I see so many dogs that are neglected the proper training that is only their owners would commit just a little time would bring so much happiness to them, their dogs and their neighbors.

Believe it or not, your dog does get frustrated not knowing the rules of the road and it is every dog owners responsibility to teach them.

There are many ways to teach your dog that you can find online if you know where to look.

Training is not about dominance. It's not about abuse or cruelty. And it's not about force in teaching your dog.

Your goals can be easily accomplished in a fraction of the time by doing it the proper way and by doing it right the first time.

Done right, your puppy will look forward to each and every training session once the lines of communication are established and you will find that training your dog will become a ton of fun for you and your whole family with benefits that will last a lifetime.

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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Everybody Wins With Dog Training

By Butch Smithson


You may think that training your dog to do tricks such as retrieving a toy or shaking hands may be a waste of time and a bother, but it would do you good to take a second look at training your dog beyond the basics of come, stay, and sit. Training offers far more than mere entertainment. Three benefits of continuing your dog's education are socialization, safety, and bonding. Consider these closely when you think about training your dog.

There are dangers out there everyday that can be easily averted by some basic training. Hand signals are among the easiest and quickest forms of training. By utilizing hand signals, you can stop your dog from a distance and make him stay out of a potentially life- threatening situation. For example, you may be able to keep your dog from running into a busy street and getting hit by a car. Dogs have no concept of the dangers cars pose, they only know that they are great fun to chase or ride in. Training in this sense can provide you with a safety net and an distinct advantage over another who might not have deemed such training a necessity.

A trained dog is a safer dog. One of a pet owner's biggest fears is that their beloved animal will one day get away from during a walk and be hit by a car. Some very basic training can give you a safety net in just such a situation. For instance, imagine that your dog runs out the front door one morning and you lose track of him. When you find him, he is on the other side of a busy street, and his first impulse may be to bound happily toward you at first sight. But if he is well-trained, you can signal for him to sit and wait for you to come and leash him. Disaster averted.

Aside from those two very practical reasons to train your dog, however, there is a third benefit that busy people sometimes overlook. Time spent training your dog is time the two of you will spend together. If you've ever built a model with your kid or fixed a computer or baked a cake with a friend, you know that accomplishing a goal with a loved one can be a valuable bonding experience. Dogs are not immune to this. If you spend just a few minutes each day training your dog, it will give both of you a sense of accomplishment and bring you closer together.

Don't leave out the party tricks either! As soon as the basics are mastered, there is no reason to stop the learning process. Keep going - see how far you and your dog can go!

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Friday, September 19, 2008

How to house train a dog

By Xylo Xansto


Dogs are remarkable animals capable of learning a variety of complex behaviors if owners commit a little time each and train in small steps using patience and understanding. In this article, we have listed 15 dog training tips which will help you to achieve this goal.

1. The optimum sessions are three to five minutes in length, three to five times per day, working on only tow or three behaviors each time.

2. Dogs can learn many words so keep them challenged by adding more and more. You can give all your dogs' toys, balls, bones, etc. names. When giving your dog the item, make sure you use a name to describe it every time so they can learn it. For example: "Find your chew bone!" "Go get your duck". "Get your ball". "Find your Kong". Have fun with your dog and teach them lots of language!

3. Spending quality time with your dog, either playing, grooming or exercising, alls you to keep a close eye on their health

4. If the dog does something great, reinforce within a half second. If the dog does something less than desirable, wait for a full five to ten seconds after he stops doing the unwanted behavior, redirect to a better behavior, and then reinforce.

5. Repeat the process often. Dogs retain knowledge through repetitive training and can forget commands or required behavior if you train them only sporadically. To guarantee that your dog is well trained and obedient, work with her on a continuous basis. Repeat the steps of giving a command, marking the response, rewarding the behavior and releasing her.

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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Dog Training Books Review

By Tim Whistle


When you see a badly behaved dog in the street we are embarassed for the owner and upset if the dog is a nuisance to us. Nobody likes a badly behaved dog.

You could employ a dog trainer to train your dog but you might prefer to build a great bond with your dog by teaching and training your dog yourself. Even if you have never trained a dog before with the right advice you can soon learn how to train your dog.

There are dog training classes available in most areas and this might be an option you want to consider. You will need to start training at the start of the course and that may not be for a while and you will need to go regularly each week with your dog for the weekly sessions.

Always give your dog lots of praise and attention when he performs his instructions well. Dogs love being appreciated so the more praise you give him the harder he will try to do the things that earn that praise and attention.

Show your emotion and let your dog know how pleased you are and he will try even harder to make you happy. The more he continues on doing the right thing give him the praise that he deserves. This will create an impression on him that he has to try hard to please you and make you happy.

You might like to keep a few little treats in your pocket to give to your dog as an extra reward if he does really well. Only give the treats when the task has been performed reasonably well. You should avoid ever rewarding failure. He needs to learn that he gets goodies when he is good.

Shouting at your dog or hitting him will be counter productive. You are aiming at having a dog that behaves well because he wants to not one that behaves only because it is scared. Love and praise work much better than being unkind to your dog. Be firm and command his obedience but let him obey because he loves you and wants to please you, not because he is scared.

Try to develop a regular routine for your dog training. A short contructive period every day is far better than a long session once a week which may leave your dog tired and confused. Keep the training to short periods and just practice one thing at a time.

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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

What to do for a Dog with Separation Anxiety

By Amy Nutt


Just like people, dogs have separation anxiety. As for what causes it, there are many. As a result, the dog and the owner can have quite the difficult experience. Overcoming the separation anxiety can be work, but it pays off for both the dog and the owner in the end because it is healthier and makes the overall environment more bearable.

However, you have to determine that what your dog is suffering from is really separation anxiety. Separation anxiety can mimic a number of other issues. Just because your dog may chew things, tear things up, and have accidents in your house when you're gone, that doesn't mean your dog has separation anxiety. These are non-anxiety issues that need to be addressed. Excessive barking does not indicate separation anxiety because barking can sometimes mean the dog is just bored and requires some dog obedience training. Sometimes the way to remedy this is by incorporating more exercise.

The sure fire sign of separation anxiety

The number one way to determine if your dog is suffering from separation anxiety is to look at your dog when you're leaving. If your dog seems nervous as you leave, that is the anxiety kicking in. These nervous symptoms include pacing, trembling, a wild look in their eye, and panting. After you leave, there are things that are going on that you don't know about. Your neighbors may know more about what your dog is doing than what you do because they may hear your dog bark and howl continuously. A dog without separation anxiety will whine, bark, and howl for about five to ten minutes. A dog with separation anxiety will do these things for hours on end.

When a dog has separation anxiety, he or she may try to hurt themselves by trying to jump out windows, get out of their crate, etc. Their entire focus is on areas in which you can exit the house because they want to find you.

The treatment

How fast treatment works depends on the severity of the separation anxiety. If you can figure out how to calm down the reaction, then you can start to deal with the problem itself. If the dog is whining before you leave, try to calm that instead of standing there and worrying. It is hard to know what to do, but try to calm it.

You can also talk to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety medication. In addition to the medication, you can work on training. Counter conditioning is commonly used in combination with medication because counter conditioning takes the negative experience and turns it into a positive one. For example: Simply putting on your shoes may make your dog nervous. However, do something positive. Give the dog a treat when you put on your shoes, it's ideal for puppy training as well.

The most effective way of treatment is prevention. This usually starts with crate training and spending time away while in the crate. Each time you leave you can leave them with a treat so that the experience is a positive one from the beginning. Even if you're always home with your dog, make arrangements to leave and leave them with a treat because you never know what's going to happen in the future that is going to take you away.

Another effective way to help a dog with separation anxiety is to know that it isn't your fault. Abuse before you owned the dog, being left alone a lot as a puppy, a naturally nervous personality, not being socialized, and simple moving to a new home can be triggers. By not feeling guilty, you can initiate the most effective treatment possible for your puppy training.

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Tuesday, September 16, 2008

How To Train A Dog To Sit

By Lee Dobbins


Learning how to train a dog to sit is an important task for any new dog owner. Training can begin as soon as the puppy is in his new home. While it may not seem important to teach this to your puppy right off the bat, it is a cornerstone to developing a relationship with your dog. Here are some steps on how to train a dog to sit.

1. The first step is easy. Every time the puppy sits by itself, just say sit. This will teach him to associate the word with the action. This technique can actually be used in training your dog to obey all types of commands.

2. Find the dog a delectable treat and place one in your hand. The puppy should be able to swallow the treat quickly and easily so be sure it is small.

3. Being on the same level as the dog is less threatening to him, so get down on the floor with him, so that you are at his level. Make sure that you sit close to him -- that way you will be able to provide your dog with his reward more quickly.

4. Bring the treat over your puppy's head gradually. Remember that your dog has a keen sense of smell and his nose will naturally follow the path of the treat. As the treat is moving from the front of him to the back, he can do one of two things to keep following it. He will either back up while still on his feet or he'll sit down. Sitting down is easier and this is what most dogs will do.

5. It is important in training that a correct response be followed immediately by a reward. As the dog begins to sit, say the word 'sit', and quickly give him his treat.

6. More than a treat, your dog looks for your approval so you should also reward him with that. Your approval for a job well done should be apparent in both the tone of your voice, and body language.

7. These steps can be repeated about three to five times. Don't do more than that because they you will take the fun out of it. Although, those same steps can be repeated at different intervals throughout the day.

8. Next, try the same things while standing. See if your dog reacts to the word "sit" even if you don't use your hand or offer a treat. If he sits, praise him for sitting, but if he doesn't, don't worry about it. During training it's important not to show any disappoint to the dog.

Next, you should strengthen the word so that the dog sits regardless of any distractions. This is a never ending process and you should not cease training. Every new situation should be used to train him. Use new people, new dogs, and new surroundings as training opportunities.

Learning how to train a dog to sit will reward you in many ways. When you begin training, the puppy learns to respond to his name and becomes accustomed to training and your commands. You earn the puppy's respect as his or her master, and in turn your pet will feel safe and secure. At the end of the day, you will both know you're a great match!

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Monday, September 15, 2008

So You Purchased a New Puppy... Now What?

By Tony Bueler


First of all - Congratulations, this will be an exciting time for you and your family - especially the kids. The magic in your children's eyes when they see their brand new puppy will be hard to match. Just think of the hours of enjoyment they will bring to each other!

But those first couple of months can be a bit of a challenge. There will be some training issues that you will need to deal with. These will be no problem, but the earlier you can train your little puppy, the more you will be able to enjoy him/her later on.

For example, those little puppy teeth can be sharp! When puppies play together, they naturally and uninhibitedly bite and mouth each other. This is not a big problem for them since their skin is relatively thick and it causes them no discomfort whatsoever.

But when you are teaching them to socialize with humans, this is not the kind of behavior that is acceptable. And although this kind of biting is cute when the dog is just a few pounds, it ceases to be cute when they are 25 pounds or more. Controlling this 'biting reflex' is an important first step in training the little puppy.

Have the puppy socialize with other puppies if at all possible. Puppies will bite each other as they roll and play. But this also happens to be the best way to train the puppy out of their biting habit - especially if they are playing with already socialized pups. The group will mildly punish the puppy that becomes to aggressive while playing and teach them to suppress their biting habit.

The socialization they get with other dogs also teaches the puppy not to be fearful of other dogs and it helps them drain off their excess energy. Puppies that do not get the opportunity to socialize with other dogs also tend to be more hyperactive as they develop fearful and aggressive habits. A dog will tend to react aggressively in a new and unfamiliar environment if they had never been socialized.

A puppy should also be socialized with adults in order to become a member of the household and neighborhood. Introduce your puppy to both children and adults and help them to make the distinction between those who are their owners and between other people.

The ideal time to teach your little puppy to be socialized is when they are 3 months old or younger- this is when they catch on very fast. This is even more important when dealing with breeds that are typically less passive.

A key way of training your puppy not to bite is to get them to trust you. Never hit your puppy as this will not help them to trust and respect you, It will simply cause them to fear and distrust you - which is not what you want. The confused little puppy won't really understand why you did this and it will be counterproductive to their training.

And last but not least, enjoy your puppy! He/she will bring endless enjoyment to you and your family.

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Discover Horse Clicker Training

By Heidi Edris


What is Clicker training? It is actually a slang name which was originally from the scientific term operant conditioning. It has become progressively more prominent in training horses where positive reinforcement is used, though it was in the beginning used to train aquatic mammals.

Positive reinforcement is given when the action that the trainer wants the animal to repeat is done properly. The concept of operant conditioning in psychology is where an animal learns a particular behavior or a task where reward is given for accomplished action. However, for the undesirable behavior or actions done by the animal aren't rewarded and ignored. Therefore by giving rewards for getting things right make these horses more excited and fast in their learning.

Clicker training is a great tool to embrace other training methods. All you need to be started is a clicker, some treats, and a container for the rewards. Once you have got them, your horse is now on its way to obedience. There are no set rules to pursue when using the clicker training but the following will guide you to use this method to your advantage.

The sound of the 'click.' must come with a condition

Firstly, try to click your clicker for several times and then reward it with a treat every time your horse hears the sound. Why we are doing this? This is a process to let it know that the sound 'click' means that a reward is coming. Repeat the sequence of clicking followed by treating Later after about every 10-15 minutes. Some horses can easily get accustomed to the clicker training after three sequences, but some horses may need more sessions.

Pushing your horse too hard should be avoided

It will be better to train for more than 10-15 minutes, because it will be more effective. However, try to uphold short sessions that are broken into several days than having a long one in a day. That is the reason why you must know not every horse is the same in its readiness and ability to absorb new task.

A target should be used

Use a target for it to aim. Let this be the first task that it needs to accomplish when applying positive reinforcement. For example you can hang a plastic bottle and ask it to bump it using its head and reward it every time it does the right thing.

Timing is very important in clicker training. Click each time the horse successfully bumps the target then give a reward. You have to repeat it until the behavior is reinforced.

Proceed to the next level

Once it learns to bump the target, move on to the next step. Let your horse pursue the target then head bob it before giving a reward. This will test your previous training and will tell whether you have properly conditioned it to respond to the 'click.' But one think you have to remember is that you have to be patient and to conduct each session in short periods. You also need to realize that not all horses will learn in the same manner.

Once you have completed this basic clicker training for your horse, you can proceed to a more advance training. The advantage is that you can employ this method to compliment your other trainings. This will make your teaching easier and your horse to learn.

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Thursday, September 11, 2008

How To Choose The Best Dog Obedience Schools

By Lee Dobbins


Is your new dog having trouble adapting to your home? If you look through local newspapers and shopping guides, you will see numerous advertisements for dog obedience schools. Are you able to pick the best one out of this group for you and your dog?

Today, several methods of training dogs are used, they include calm, positive reinforcement techniques, "alpha" dominance, and cruel punishment.

There still remain many schools of thought when it comes to dog training, and a great many veteran trainers will use a specific system that suits them as well as their customers. The current trend is a move towards more of a rewards based method.

When considering the appropriate training technique, you must consider the dog. Where did you get him? How old was he when you got him? Did you rescue him, so he may have issues? What are the goals of training: pet, speed, shows, hunting, tracking, or do you plan to enter your dog into the various dog sports?

After giving thought to your dog's personality and what you want out of training, peruse your newspaper and make a list of the local dog obedience schools. Find their contact information and visit their websites. Talk to other dog owners and ask where they have had success training their dog. Local kennel clubs and vets may also have trainer recommendations.

Schools that train using positive reinforcement are going to yield the best results. Ask friends who they'd recommend. Some trainers will offer to come to make house visits to train your dog, but then he'll be missing out on socialization opportunities with other canines. Locate the times of the beginner class and see if you can sit in just to watch; if you don't like what you see, find someone else you do like!

When you new puppy is still young, you should enroll him in either a puppy kindergarten class or a play group. This is because early socialization is key for your puppy's development. On the other hand, if your new dog is a rescue dog who has developed issues with aggression, you may need to hire a certified animal behaviorist to help you rather than just a dog trainer. Aggression in dogs is an issue never to be taken lightly. It is best to address it immediately.

Although there is a small percentage of dogs that will require a pinch collar for training purposes, a "Gentle Leader" head collar is often just as, if not more, effective for most dogs.

If your dog isn't required for his first training session, don't be shocked -- it's a good thing! Clicker training (or any positive training) needs a training session for owners so you learn to properly use the tools and to communicate effectively with your dog.

Here's how you can tell if a training class is good:

1. The school, as a whole, will have a positive tone.

2. Training is based on offering your dog rewards during training is the key to reaching your desired goals, which along with praise, may include his favorite toy and doggie treats.

3. Unwanted behavior is dealt with by distracting the dog. It usually only takes a bit of effort to distract the dog and let him know his behavior is unacceptable.

4. An inappropriate behavior is usually halted by requiring a different behavior that causes the animal to alter his actions, for example, 'lay down' will prevent the dog from jumping on someone.

5. Training is based on patience so that the dog has sufficient opportunity to obey or display the required response.

There are other methods to training your dog that you can use in addition to local dog obedience schools. Hollywood canines get their talent by way of "clicker training", a very effective and efficient means of training dogs. If you want to review other methods, there are plenty of credible websites and training books available also.

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Thursday, September 4, 2008

Plain And Simple Ways To Train Your Dog Not To Bite

By Lee Dobbins


The Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that more than 4.7 million people a year are bitten by dogs. These high incidents of dog bites result to various medical bills, law suits, and sometimes euthanasia for the dog. These cases might be avoidable if dog owners take safety precautions such as training their dogs not to bite.

Training a dog to refrain from biting can vary by the breed, age, and personality of your animal, just as with anything else you teach him. Here are some tips to help you teach your dog not to bite:

The younger the dog, the easier the training will be. Because mouthing, nibbling, and nipping come naturally to a puppy, an owner must be firm to stop this behavior when it starts. Even though it may begin as a cute nuisance, it can turn into a bad habit if not contained from the get-go.

Once your dog is about four weeks old, you can start to teach him simple commands. If he tries to bite, tell him 'No!' in a calm but serious voice, and accompany it with a gentle squeeze of the muzzle.

Be careful that you don't squeeze in a way that causes the dog to bite its tongue. Also be careful not to squeeze hard or too high up on the muzzle. Sensitive and delicate odor receptors of the dog are situated high up inside the nose.

The squeezing isn't really a form of punishment. It is to teach the dog that the verbal command goes along with discomfort. Dogs don't like having their muzzle squeezed and learn to associate biting with the unpleasant feeling and may be reluctant to bite in the future.

Another dog training technique that might help eliminate biting is to socialize your dog since dogs that are not used to people or other dogs do tend to bite. You want to socialize your dog eat an early age to develop his calmness and confidence. Your dog will be more friendly to your guests, other animals and even strangers if socialized properly.

While still young, socialize your dog with other dogs preferably those that are non-aggressive. Being exposed to other dog breeds will help him cope up with territorial behavior.

Although dogs have the tendency to mouth and nip, they naturally inhibit this behavior when they are playing with their mates. Train them to develop this behavior by expanding his playmates to include your family members, guests and other pets.

When introducing your pet to an animal from outside the home, be sure to keep both animals at a distance from each other. Allow the animals to approach one other at a slow pace while they take in their smells and act out other normal behavior.

Keep an eye out for uncomfortable body language, growling, ears that stand up straight or other signs of possible anger. Have the dog sit down, rub it's back area, and extend your hand to the second animal, and then convey the second animal's scent to your pet. Allow them to get to know each other slowly.

Young dogs may be trained not to bite by as early as four and a half months. It can take longer than that, so try not to get frustrated. Each breed of dog is different and training will differ with individuals as well. Be advised that elder dogs, especially those not trained as pups or socialized throughout their life, will be more difficult to train.

Some dogs never fully let go of the biting instinct, and in this case, the dogs must be carefully watched by their owners. If your dog is a biter, then you must insure that it cannot get close enough to bite a person or another animal.

Persistent long term use of these dog training techniques will likely result in a more stable and fun pet, not to mention that it could prevent an unwanted situation where your dog could get hurt or hurt someone else.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Dog Training Techniques For Small Dogs

By Lee Dobbins


One of the most effective dog training techniques smaller dogs is reward training. Because choke collars and other aggressive forms of training are ineffective with small breeds like Poodles, Pugs and the Pomeranian due to their small physical stature, reward training has been commonly used as an alternative.

The use of reward training for your pet is an effectivr way of teaching obedience and good behavior. This training technique is use by both the police and military in training their dogs to perform various actions. It is also used by those who train animals for TV and movies. Reward training is a great way to teach all dogs whether they are a family pet or a working dog.

Reward training is based on giving a treat or reward when your dog performs the behavior you desire. Most often it means a special treat, but simply telling your dog that he was a good boy and patting him on the head can be construed as a wonderful reward for your dog.

Your dog can learn to do practically anything using these dog training techniques. Just remember to stay within the prescribed guidelines when training your dog towards the desired result, and to give him his reward as soon as he has done the job right.

For example, dangling the treat over your dog's head and moving it backwards, repeating the word "sit" over and over, until he naturally sits on his own will teach the dog to sit. After he sits, give him the treat and praise him. It won't take long before he knows to sit down and he will be rewarded when he hears the word "sit."

One type of reward training is clicker training which allows you to teach your dog without using voice instructions. A simple clicker is used to communicate with the dog. The dog will eventually learn the meaning of the click sounds and associate it with the reward. The trainer just snaps the clicker every time the dog does his job, and then gives the dog a treat.

You can teach your dog new tricks with decoy training. This is when you get the dog to perform the task naturally on his own (such as with the "sit" example used earlier). Once he has completed the trick, remember to reward him. This technique, widely used in the entertainment industry, does not require a trainer handler.

Using dog training techniques that are rewards based can be a great way to train and bond with your small dog without having to resort to harsh actions that can injure your pet. This way you can be assured that your training time will be enjoyable for both you and your pet.

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Dog Obedience Training Using the Positive Reinforcement Method

By jim crihfield


Dog behavior training is certainly not an easy task. It takes patience and consistency. You have to learn how not to let communication differences become roadblocks. On the other hand, it is vital that you provide your new best friend with proper dog obedience training, so both of you can discover how to co-exist agreeably.

Here are several positive reinforcement methods that you can apply:

1. Think up your command words. One of the elements to basic dog obedience is coming up with your own commands or cue phrases. These are words that will allow your dog to perform a specific action. The common ones like sit, come, lie down, stay, roll over should be taught while your dog is still a puppy, so he can have more time to make them a habit. Furthermore, practicing this will help you be in command of the responses and movements of your dog.

Remember when thinking up command phrases. It is important to stay constant. This will help you from puzzling your dog. If you want your dog to sit use the word Sit. Do not use the word down for the word down is used to have them lie down or to get off something. You want a different response for each word or phrase you use. Being constant will help you from puzzling your dog.

2. Learn to offer a reward. Go for the carrot, rather than the stick, when you're teaching dog obedience training. If he makes a good decision over something, or if he follows your instructions properly, offer him a reward. It doesn't have to be food all the time. Some dogs would appreciate it if you can spend time with them afterward.

If you're worried about your dog becoming fat during training, eating all those treats a great reward is spending time with them. Whether it's a simple game of fetch, or petting your dog, or lying on the floor with them they will love you for it.

3. Study online dog obedience training programs. You don't have to completely rely on your own ability when it comes to dog training. By reading what experts have to say, you will have better insight on how to go about more difficult situations, such as your dog yanking on the leash, aggressive behavior towards other dogs, destroying your furniture, and dog biting. Remember instruction is essential, and with understanding comes empowerment to help you be the pack leader!

4. Build a strong connection with your dog. It is vital that your dog trust you. It is much easier to teach dogs new tricks and commands when they do. For that to happen, your dog must be your best friend. Use positive reinforcement to teach and not corporal punishment. Make them feel safe and secure and give them plenty of love and attention.

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