If you’re about to embark on your first journey in dog ownership, you need to prepare yourself for the challenge of training. Not only will your dog be happier if he is well behaved, you will enjoy him more if he’s not trashing your house and sabotaging your peace and quiet. You also need to consider what breed best suits your family. Not all dogs are good with young children and most of them need at least a moderate amount of daily exercise. Here are some tips to get you started when you’re ready for training:

Carve out 15 minutes every day for training. If you work with your dog longer, he will get too tired to pay attention, if you work less, nothing you go over will be retained. Also, as a pack animal, a dog responds to only one leader − so choose one family member to take the lead. Once the dog has a good grasp of basic commands, other members of the family can expect the dog to follow their lead as well. The name you choose is another pointer that will help in training. Make sure it’s not too complicated and then gently turn the dog’s face toward you refer to him by name.

A good place to start is with crate training. You should be clear that dogs are den animals, therefore they love having a special place that is all their own. The crate is not for punishment. It’s a good place to keep him while you are away from home until he is housebroken. Make sure the first crate you use isn’t too roomy because dogs do not go to the bathroom in their den, so if the crate is small there shouldn’t be a problem. Start with him inside for a few minutes and increase the time a little bit each session. You’ll want him to sleep in his crate as well until he’s fully trained. Keep the crate near the family, especially his trainer so he doesn’t feel isolated or punished.

Leash training is another key component in creating a happy owner-dog relationship. If your particular dog needs a lot of exercise, daily walks will be a part of your life for many years to come. The last thing you want is for this time to be spent playing tug of war every time another dog comes within eye sight. Your dog should walk on the right side of your body, not way out in front of you. This way, he’ll be easier to restrain as squirrels and other temptations come into play. If you are having trouble mastering proper dog-walking form, consider taking a local leash-training class. Your vet should be able to refer you to one in your area.

Even though the old “shake” is a crowd pleaser, before you teach him to give you his paw you should make sure that your dog completely understands the command to stay exactly where they are at any given moment. “Stop!” Or, “Stay!” It could be a matter of life or death in the case of oncoming traffic. Simply using the dog’s name could confuse him and make him think you want him to come to you. So, work on this voice command before you tackle any others.

If you work with your dog for 15 minutes every day, you’ll be surprised how quickly your dog will respond to your undivided attention. In the end, all dogs really want to do is please their masters. End each training session by asking him to complete one of his best tasks. That way you can finish on a positive note and reward him for his hard work.

Julie Clark Robinson has written articles on dozen of subjects. Among the education related subjects she has written on are online education and California colleges and universities.

Related posts:

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  2. Dog Training Tips
  3. House Training Puppies – Crate Training Is The Most Effective Method
  4. Puppy Leash Training – Important Tips For Success
  5. Smart Training Tips For Pet Dog Owners

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