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Dog training basics

Tips on Dog Training

Although you can always hire a dog trainer to train your dog or send him to obedience school, the truth is that training your dog on your own brings with it its own set of rewards that make all the hard work worthwhile.



Firstly, training your dog helps to strengthen the bond between you and your canine companion. It also enables you to understand your pet and its requirements better.

Training is also important because it lays down firm boundaries for the dog to follow so that it understands what is right and what is wrong. It also establishes a hierarchy with you as the leader of the pack.



This is very important because dogs are pack animals, and unless your pet dog recognizes you as the leader of its pack, it will not follow your commands.

Dog training techniques include several basic and fundamental steps that are required to teach your dog proper obedience and good behavior. The training is important to make sure your dog listens to you and won’t embarrass you by doing stupid and unacceptable things in public.



Young dogs are fast learners and so it is advisable to start training when they are puppies.

Here are a few dog training basics:

  • Dogs love to follow a routine. Thus, you should set  a daily routine for your dog so that it doesn’t get bored and behaves appropriately.
  • Proper dog toilet training is essential. This training must be done when your dog is still young. Be firm yet gentle with your dog. Either delineate a place where the dog can perform its business, or train it to do so when you take it outside the house. If you choose the latter option, do make sure that you take your dog out at least four times in the day.
  • Another important routine is to take your dog for morning and evening walks to keep it healthy. Dogs that stay at home most of the time become lazy and unhealthy. While taking your dog outside, always keep it on a leash. Also teach the dog to respond to your commands instead of allowing it to run wild and dragging you behind it.
  • Teach your dog to respond to your commands. Some important commands that your dog should know are sit, come, stay back, lie down, wait, walk, stand, leave, watch, and move.
  • Remember that training your dog is similar to raising a child, so praise/treat it for the things it does well such as listening to your commands and punish it for things which are not expected from it. However, you should never raise your voice at your dog or hit it.
 
  Submitted on May 7, 2010