Basic Obedience

Training starts with basic obedience. You don’t have to go to an obedience class, but it’s a good idea. Your dog will get extra socialization and you will have an expert right there, able to answer your questions.

Natural Instincts

Things like chewing and jumping are things that dogs just do! Basic obedience helps them learn when it is appropriate and when it is not. For example, if you find your dog chewing something they shouldn’t be, don’t just tell them “no” and take it away, tell them “no” and give them something more appropriate like a rawhide or chew toy.

Positive Reinforcement

When training your dog, or looking for a trainer or obedience class, the method of training should be positive reinforcement. This means you reward the dog when they do something right, and ignore the behavior when they do something wrong. Having a good relationship with your dog and not yelling and punishing them increases the likelihood they will listen to you.

*Remember

-Don’t feel that you have to use any certain word for a command. Dogs don’t know English; to them the words are just sounds that precede them doing a certain action.

-Make sure everyone in the house is training the dog the same way. For example, everyone should use the same command for the same action.

-Use hand signals along with verbal signals in training; if you are in a noisy place with your dog, you can use hand signals instead of trying to shout commands.

-Be consistent with what you ask of your dog. Master one command before moving on to the next.

-Keep training sessions short and fun.

Leash Training

Teaching your dog to walk on a leash can be one of the more frustrating parts of training, but with patience you will have a dog you walk and not one that walks you! You also need lots of time to master leash training.

To begin training, all you need are a collar and a leash. Don’t reach for a choke collar or prong collar unless you are working with a trainer or behaviorist. These training tools can cause injury to your dog if not used correctly.

Dogs pull because they want to get where they are going, usually faster than you want to go. When your dog pulls, stop. Stand still for a few seconds. Eventually they will learn that pulling doesn’t get them there faster, it doesn’t get them there at all! Don’t spend the first part of your walk training and then the rest where you let your dog pull. This just teaches them that you will give in and let them pull you around.

Also, make sure you enter the walk on a positive note. Do this by walking in front of your dog when you exit your house or gate. Letting your dog run out in front of you, starts the walk off on the wrong foot! Don’t let the dog walk in front of you while on the walk either , you need to be the leader of the walk and help keep your dog focused with a constant, steady pace. When you return home, reenter the house or gate in front of your dog, don’t let them charge in front of you. Finally, make sure you reward the dog for a good walk by letting them explore your front yard, or by giving them their favorite toy.