Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘Dog Obedience Training’

Most dogs have a natural desire to please their masters. But this can only be accomplished through proper training. So training your dog is not making him miserable so you can enjoy him, but rather making him happy so you are happy. It is a win-win situation. (For more on this, please see Puppy n’ Dog Training Secrets.)

Whether or not your dog is on the top ten list of the smartest, he or she can be trained. Let’s discuss some basic principles in training your dog. First, dogs may not understand English, but they do understand rewards. A wise dog trainer will use a reward system that will teach the dog what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior. This means rewarding good behavior and not rewarding bad behavior. A withheld reward teaches also.

Dogs must be trained with clarity and consistency. Clarity means that the command you want him to obey is clear and the same each time. Be as simple with a dog as you would be with a baby. For example, if you want the dog to heal, use that word each time. Perhaps at first accompany it with a pat on your leg or a shortening of the leash until he gets the idea. Then wean him so that he responds only to the word.

Consistency, say the best dog training books, involves making your expectations of the dog constant. For example, if the dog obeys a command three times and then doesn’t obey the fourth time, something different has to happen for him to get the message this was not acceptable. This may involve sad or harsh words and, of course, no reward. The dog must be expected to do the command every time it is given, without exception. If you don’t mean for him to obey, don’t give him the command.

Basic needs must be met first. These include exercise, approval, safety, and, of course, proper food and water. If the dog is hungry, don’t expect his attention on learning unless your rewards are his favorite food. If the dog needs to relieve himself, don’t expect him to be interested in learning how to roll over.

Have a regular time of training your dog. Hit and miss training sessions mean that the goal will take longer to reach. Make sure these training sessions are not too long, for example, 15-20 minutes is sufficient. Set one goal for each session. Repeat the command until the time is up or the dog learns it.

Don’t be impatient. Remember that your dog is not nearly as smart as you are. Repetition is the key to training. Keep saying it over and over until he gets it. If he forgets the next day, start afresh.

Practice these religiously. No matter what trick your dog needs to learn, the training will demand that you follow these points. It will result in both you and the dog being pleased with the result.

Barking, chewing, pulling on the leash, jumping on people, these are just a few of the topics that fall under the heading problem dog behavior.Experienced dog owners are usually familiar with these common problems and it is important to know why a dog behaves in these ways.  If you understand why a dog behaves in these ways, it is more likely that you won’t mishandle the situation.  You may be considering dog ownership, you may just be a new dog owner or you may just wish to better manage your dog’s behavior.What ever your reasons are, it is important to understand problem behaviors as a way of both preventing and solving them.  

A primary principle is that a tired dog is a good dog.Problem dog behavior is often caused by a dog having too much energy.  If a dog gets enough exercise, he or she will be much less likely to exhibit undesirable behaviors.  Does that make sense?  Think of yourself, how do you feel after a good workout?Have you expended your excess energy?What does it make you want to do?Would a good nights sleep result from this?.You will also get more exercise if you make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise.Your commitment to care for this animal includes that it will get enough exercise.

The most common problem dog behaviors are:
– Barking
– Chewing
– Straining On The Leash
– - Ignoring Commands
– - Improper or No House Training (Potty Training)

Understanding why your dog behaves in these ways is important.A dog has different reasons for barking, it is one of their ways of communicating and it could be an indication of serious problems.Chewing is another example.Another behavior that is natural to dogs is chewing, but this can be a problem if the dog destroys things.  How about house breaking, or in other words potty training?Does that have an effect on your life?

These behaviors are natural to dogs and dogs have reasons for behaving in these ways, but problems can develop.To stop the unwanted behavior, you should learn why the dog behaves in a particular way and find out if there is something that you can change that might help the situation.You need to find the reason that is causing the dog to behave in a certain way.A tired dog is a good dog.Walk your dog or play with it a lot so that it gets enough exercise.   There is a great benefit to dealing with your dog’s problem behaviors, and that is that the relationship between you and your dog will be more fulfilling.

A lot of times, professional dog trainers find that people have tried to train their own dogs without the proper background knowledge.It is sometimes necessary to untrain inappropriate behaviors that have been unintentionally trained in this way.If a person is not experienced at training dogs, they could teach unwanted behaviors along with the desired behaviors without even knowing it.  This is why it is critical to learn from a professional.  Do you have to go to classes?Its up to you. Classes are good for some, but you have to take into account your individual time and financial resources.Not everyones’s schedule is the same and it is better to set your own.   There are some excellent training systems that you can use.

These problems require that you get proper advice.You could make the problem worse if you do the wrong thing.  Get help with PROBLEM DOG BEHAVIOR

Are you having problems with your dog behaving badly? Don’t procrastinate. It’s time to get down to some serious dog training. This means you need to proceed with consistency and persistency with your training. However, training should always be fun for your dog or it will quickly get bored!

Understand Your Dog Basic Needs

Your dog has to rely on you to provide for him. If you don’t satisfy your dog’s basic needs, it shouldn’t be a surprise if your dog’s behavior continues to stress you out. What are the basic needs? Here are the main ones:

• water and food
• exercise
• social interaction with dogs and people
• a stimulating environment.

The main principle in dog training is to utilise positive and negative reinforcement. When your dog does a behavior that is wanted, you should reward him with a treat or affection. The treat or affection must come as soon after the behavior as humanly possible in order for it to be effective.

It’s best to concentrate on positive reinforcement for behavior you want to encourage rather than negative reinforcement for undesired behaviors. This has been found to be a more productive way of training.

Physical punishment is not an effective or compassionate way to train dogs and will only lead to your dog being neurotic and fearful. That’s not going to be a good relationship between man and dog. You can say a firm “No” in a growling tone of voice to stop him engaging in an unwanted behavior. Ignoring your dog and turning away from him is the most productive thing for you to do when he misbehaves. Dogs love attention and being ignored is negative reinforcement enough.

At all costs you should avoid humanizing your dog. Dogs have their own way of communicating which you will not understand unless you study it. You read about what their body language means. They have various ways of communicating: with their tail, head position, ear position, mouth and teeth and vocally with various kinds of barks, growls and whines.

Another important aspect of training is to position yourself as the pack leader. If your dog is pack leader, he is never going to be well-behaved for you because he thinks you are one of his pack. Some advice on setting yourself up as pack leader:
-eat a some food in front of your dog as he waits for his food. The alpha dog always eats first.
-don’t let him to get on the sofa or bed. The pack leader sleeps on higher ground.
-don’t allow him to go through the door before you.

This is an introduction to some important points in dog training. I recommend you look into the most systematic of training methods: clicker training.

No one argues that dog obedience training isn’t necessary. Of course it is. Dogs don’t just intuitively know what it is you want them to do. While breeders and professional dog trainers are obviously very aware of the different training approaches, they normally prefer one over another. It’s always a good idea to go to dog obedience class because the socialization you get is invaluable – but more and more, dog owners are becoming informed in order to take on a greater role in training their dogs at home.

Correction Based Training
Up until a number of years ago, the most popular method of dog training was based on correcting unwanted behavior. The theory behind this is that the dog learns to associate a negative reaction for a certain behavior so avoids doing it.A good example is the use of a prong collar. When the dog pulls on the leash, the prongs dig into his neck, thus causing pain or at least an uncomfortable feeling. While correction based training can get quick results, there is a danger that it easily becomes nothing more than punishment. Trainers often get good results using these techniques. Dog owners don’t.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
In recent years, positive reinforcement dog training has become the biggest buzz word in the dog training world. This approach relies on the dog associating certain behaviours with something positive. When the dog delivers a wanted response, she is rewarded. She doesn’t get punished when she does something wrong – she gets rewarded when she does something right.

Some trainers claim that positive reinforcement by itself is never enough for some dogs and certainly not as efficient as a combination positive reinforcement and correction based exercises. Others preach that positive reinforcement by itself works as long as you teach your dog you are the alpha leader in her pack so her instincts tell her she has to do what you tell her – the only thing you have to do is teach her what you want her to do.

Clicker Training
And then there’s another group that swears by clicker training. This is positive based, but relies entirely on the theory that your dog will act based on getting what she wants more than any desire to please you. It assumes that your dog will give a certain behaviour not because she strives to please you, but because she knows it means something good will come. The key difference is that all behaviour is given voluntarily (which means training is actually fun for your dog) and by using a conditioned reinforcer (the clicker), it is much easier to be exact in teaching your dog what it is that gets her the reward. Clicker training takes a bit longer when starting out, but more and more trainers and every day dog owners swear by it.

More and more, people are dog training at home and using online dog training products to educate themselves. There are numerous approaches to dog obedience training but it makes sense to be aware of all of them when choosing what’s right for you and your dog.

When you first bring home your sweet little puppy you never think that one day it could be a dog that is one mistake away from being sent off. It is not a single occurrence that creates aggressive dogs. Dogs are not born to automatically be mean or a threat to people. Abusiveness or poor ownership towards dogs usually leads to aggressive behavior. If you adopted your dog as an adult you will need to be particularly cautious and be sure that your dog has proper dog obedience training.

Showing your dog that you are the alpha and it is the beta is important to making housebreaking easy. Dog and puppy training are important for more things than just making sure that your dog no longer chews on your shoes. You must ensure that you do not let your dog turn into one of the multitude of aggressive dogs loose in the world. When a dog gets into dog biting or dog growling, a lot of terrible outcomes may occur. Neither one of those situations is a result from proper dog training.

The Terrible Aftermath Left From Aggressive Dogs

* May cause injuries to family, friends, or neighbors
* Emotional damage to youngsters
* Damaged personal property
* Previous situations that create lawsuits
* Being one of the many aggressive dogs that are put to sleep each year

If you truly love and care for your pet it is time that you step up and make sure that the animal you love so much does not join the ranks of aggressive dogs. You should seek outside help from a professional if you feel that you are unable to fix and control the problem on your own. With aggressive dogs, it can be wise to find a professional dog trainer who is specially trained in this area.

It’s advisable to do as much reading and research as you can on aggressive dogs. Learn that hitting a dog is not the way to train it. Violence only leads to violence, so be sure you aren’t contributing to the creation of aggressive dogs. The videos and books available might give you some success, however, in order to solve this problem, or preventing it from even starting, an expert can be invaluable.

Bringing In The Extra Help

It doesn’t matter if the trainer is free or if you have paid for their services, you must recognize that nothing is more important than understanding that you are responsible for your pet and its behavior. Owners are always held accountable for the actions of their aggressive dogs so make sure that you are never going to be faced with legal or moral consequences.

If you have a dog that has not yet experienced signs of becoming one of the many aggressive dogs out there then you have a little time. But if your dog shows any sign of aggressive play or destructiveness, you must not waste any time.

puppy training

Television can bring to light many different types of careers. One of these is being a certified dog trainer. This is an ideal career is a person loves to work around animals. It may not be a traditional job in an office but it is a career in which someone is doing what they love. The trainer is instrumental in teaching both the dog and owner how to bond and interact with each other. It is very satisfying to know that your knowledge and skill is being passed on to other dog lovers.

Becoming a certified dog trainer begins with a love of animals. It requires patience and a desire to interact with the animal. Dog obedience training takes knowledge and a compassionate nature in order for there to be success. Most people do not turn to a certified dog trainer until there is an obvious sign of dog aggression and then the battle begins. Dog training starts when the animal first comes home and continues throughout the life-time of the canine.

Not all dogs are alike. Different breeds will require you to know how they interact with other dogs and humans. It is for this reason that basic classes in dog breeds, aggression level and physiology are studied in order to know what to expect. The basic coursework prepares you for understanding the psychological and physical aspects each different dog will require.

Once the basics of dog behavior are down, then begin the specialized coursework designed to train a dog through a variety of methods. The instruction will teach how to use a variety of instruction in order to train the dog such as through a clicker or through positive reinforcement. Other steps include teaching safety to the owners as well as the dog. It is also important to learn how to deal with dogs that are more difficult to deal with due to a past history of violence or dog fighting.

Once the coursework is complete, the certified dog trainer is ready to begin. There are a variety of places to work such as pet supply stores, kennels or even opening up a business. One great example of a certified dog trainer is Cesar Millan who works with troubled dogs and their owners on his hit television show ‘The Dog Whisperer’ airing on cable.

A freelance trainer will not punch a clock or find them working day-in and day-out within the confines of an office building. There is the freedom of working outdoors and getting to play while being paid. If you decide to work for a company such as Pets Mart then you can get benefits as well. You may never be famous but you will be important to the people you help.

Now that you have brought your new dog home it is time to start the housebreaking. One that can only lead to confusion for the dog later on is giving your new dog a little time to get to know the family and the house before laying down the law. Truthfully, you cannot expect a dog who has been allowed to have full run of the house to suddenly accept new rules and adapt quickly to housebreaking.

It Is Never Too Late

If you have already allowed your dog to run free without rules you can still correct the situation. It is never too late to start dog training your puppy, unlike the common belief out there. Whether your puppy is young or old you can still include housebreaking into his/her daily routine. Whether your problem is dog chewing, dog biting or dog growling, you need to focus on the unwanted behavior that is your highest concern. After housebreaking them on the first behavior, then you can move on to the next.

In order to make sure that your pet never becomes one of those aggressive dogs you always hear about on the news, you have to start housebreaking as soon as possible. If the largest problem that you have at this time is potty training, then make that your first item to work on.

Tips for Housebreaking Your Dog

* Restrict food and water to the appropriate meal times
* In the event that you are utilizing pee pads, choose a single spot and make sure to place the pads only there
* You should praise your pet when it displays good behavior
* Don’t hit the dog if he misses the pee pad
* After fifteen or twenty minutes of giving the puppy something to eat or drink, it needs to be taken to the pee pad

A lot of people leave water and food out for their dog all day long. Puppies should not be expected to hold their bladder the way that older dogs can. Even if they really wanted to, younger puppies just are not able to hold their bladder until they become a bit older. This will cause more accidents in the house that are not the fault of the puppy. So leaving food and water out all of the time is counterproductive to your goals in housebreaking.

If the puppy goes to the bathroom in some other place in the house, the pee pad should be put there. At this stage, housebreaking is just acclimating the puppy to the pad with respect to going to the bathroom. Once your pet is used to this, you may progress the housebreaking by moving the ‘pee pad’ a small distance every day until it is eventually located where you want it.

Even though housebreaking can take a long time, it is very important. You certainly do not want your puppy or dog going to the bathroom everywhere. You also want to make the housebreaking process as easy as possible for your dog so it does not become discouraged. House puppy training is very important.  If you need help doing this, you should seek it. Just know that housebreaking takes time, no matter who is in charge of doing it.

Three Principles on Dog Obedience Training

Dogs, even when their breeding is maximized and well-adapted to human needs, will always need some basic obedience training as they would never figure this out on their own. Obedience training requires the use of some principles which differentiate effective training, from training without results. They are the following:

First Principle: CONSISTANCY

The first rule in obedience training is to be consistent. This covers the use of words, tone, and the actions that accompany the word or command. Before you begin training you will need to come to an agreement with the dog owner on what it is they are wanting the dog to learn and how to accomplish it.

At first the word commands, such as “come”, does not make sense to a dog. It is only reasonable to conclude if he does not understand the way humans are, then he does not understand our language. It is important to make the training effective, by being very consistent in attaching the same voice tone, body movement or hand jester with every command that is given to your dog.

An example would be if you use the word, “come”, then you need to make sure everyone else in the household using the same word. When using the word command, “Come”, you should work with the dog to understand this means to approach the giver of the command. So if you are using this command make it a point not to do actions that would make the command confusing for the dog.

If he does not come to you, do not force the dog to come to you and then punish him for doing so. Otherwise, this would make him attribute the command with the punishment. He will not follow the same command since in his mind, he remembers it will lead to punishment.

Consistency also covers the use of the same dog commands by all people. For instance if you are teaching the word “come”, others should not use the words, ’come here boy’ or ’here’, because this will only confuse the dog.

Principle Two: KEEP IT SHORT

The hours devoted to training and the words used as command should be kept short. Dogs tend to have a short attention span, it is best to limit the training so they keep the interest level to it’s peak during the days lesson. Puppies usually react to a specific stimulus, but not for a very long time, they may begin to chase a moving toy, and quickly lose interest, then move on to the next thing.

They simply don’t possess the same amount of interest they had when they started the activity and they become easily bored. They also often become board during training and that is why it’s best to limit the time to 10 – 15 minutes a day.

Principle Three: DO NOT USE FORCE and PUNISHMENT

A trainer should never hurt the dog in any way, you should make it a goal to have the training be a positive experience for all involved. You should absolutely never punish a dog just because he did not do something he wasn’t prepared for, nor force a dog to do something he does not understand.

Make sure not to over do it when training your dog. A good trainer realizes dogs do not learn things instantly and so they are very patient and show understanding towards the animal they are working with. All he knows is that you are mad.

You must avoid negative experiences related to training so you should not force your dog to obey your commands. By praising a dog for good behavior and obeying commands he will learn exactly what pleases you and what is expected from him.

There are dog obedience training schools where dogs are trained to follow simple commands using three basic principles as the trainer’s guide.. Most dog training and dog behavior schools use these rules. They are the following:

Principle One:Consistency. You must be consistent in the use of words, the tone of your voice and your actions, that go with your command. During the beginning of the training, the trainer or the dog owner must decide what should be the parameters of training- what you are trying to teach the dog and how to do it. A word or a phrase, let’s say ‘come’, does not make sense to a dog. Your dog does not understand our language, nor does he understand or think, the way we do.

So to make the training understandable, you should use the command in a very consistent manner such that the dog will learn to associate the word with the meaning you attach with it. For example, if you are using the command ‘come’, make sure that everyone in the household use it in a singular manner. The command ‘Come’ specifically means that the dog should approach the giver of the command and use it in that sense. If your dog does not come to you instantly, do not punish him when he does. Your dog would attribute the command with the punishment.

What could you expect next?He would not follow the same command since this leads to punishment. Consistency also covers the use of the same command by all people. For example, if you use the words ‘come’ make sure everyone in your family uses that word also, not ‘come here’.

Principle Two:The hours devoted to training and the words used as command should be kept short. Remember that the attention span of dogs is extremely short so it is almost impossible to keep them engaged in the one activity. Combining children with your puppy obedience training is an example of keeping your training sessions short as they would lose interest very quickly, so it is best to move on to the next thing.

Your dog simply does not posses the same amount of interest they had when they started the activity, they become easily bored. The same thing happens in training therefore, it should be limited only to 10 minutes to 15 minutes of regular training.

Principle Three: Do not use force and punishment to hurt your dog when training. Also, never force the dog to follow the command if he is not prepared for it or punish a dog for something he did. Whilst training the animal don’t push too hard.

Your dog has no understanding of your impatience for his lack of learning speed. He only knows you are angry. So do not use force as this does not communicate your meaning properly, instead use negative reinforcement. Do not send him mixed signals, by making him feel praised for doing something wrong, only when he obeys the command, should he feel praised.

You have to be understanding and patient, especially during your dog obedience training sessions. The outcome will be a very responsive and well trained dog.

Dog Training Tips

What makes good dogs turn aggressive the second you put a leash on them? Having a dog that pulls and lunges at dogs and people presents a danger to others and a roadblock to your training efforts.

However, there are some ways to deal with leash aggression so you can both get some good quality time and exercise outdoors

Dogs are like children in many ways. Often you can avoid bad behavior if you redirect their attention. If you see something that usually causes your dog to become aggressive, immediately distract him. Tell him to sit or lie down to keep him busy until the dog or person passes.

Dogs often become very aggressive when they meet other dogs. If your dog does this, it is important that you not physically react when you see a dog on your route. Your dog can pick up on your body signals and will be much more apt to act up. Stay calm and keep the leash firmly in hand without pulling or tensing.

Muzzles and gentle leader harnesses can be useful training tools for dogs who lunge. Gentle leaders are designed to keep a dog from lunging, and muzzles will prevent biting. If you use them, make sure to train your dog at the same time. Don’t plan on relying on these tools indefinately.

If you have tried to curb leash aggression and your dog still misbehaves during walks, it is time to find a good trainer. You need professional help to stop this at once: not only is it disruptive to your own walks, it is dangerous to everyone and every animal you pass on the sidewalk.

Many dogs pull on their leashes, especially when they are first being trained. Stopping this behavior as soon as possible is important. It can lead to more annoyance at the very least. At worst, it can hurt a person, pet, and you. Start early before you have to take more drastic measures.

People are always impressed with well-trained dogs. Beyond impressing your friends and neighbors, teaching your dog the stay command can be extremely useful. Treats and lots of praise will make the learning process much easier, faster, and fun. For great results consider dog training collars.

If your dog knows the sit or lie commands, he can learn to stay. Begin by commanding him to sit. Then, extend your hand with your palm facing your dog. Using a calm voice, tell him to “Stay.”

When your dog stays, praise him immediately. Likely your dog will only be able to stay for a second or two at first. This is great; it’s a terrific beginning, and he will be able to do it for longer periods as he practices.

In addition teach him the release command so he learns when it is time to get up. “Ok” or “Come” are often used. Again, kudos and treats make training easier. Praise and treats help alot when it comes to puppy training tips.

As you work on the stay command, demand that your dog stay for longer periods of time. Don’t give him his treat until he performs to your satisfcation. Have him do a little more each time.

At the same time, make sure you’re not extending your training sessions too long. Five minutes is enough to get great results.

Dogs do not respond to long training sessions. They get bored, lose focus, or fail to respond to commands. Remember also to be patient, especially at first. Remind your dog to stay often, until he gets it on his own. You may also have to reteach the basics a few times before it is learned. Knowing they are about to get a treat may make your dog antsy, but be patient and make him obey the command each time before he gets his treat.

Soon, your dog will be able to stay even if you leave the room. Even if you phase out the treats, remember to praise your dog for this accomplishment.

Pick up more about dog obedience training tips.