DOGS ABC

Dog Training - The Basics

For the best results, I wholly recommend doing a little research and taking some local obedience classes. However, you can still achieve passable results with a consistent homegrown dog training regimen. Before we get started, there are some basic points to cover. Here we go, dog training over the internet! Timing, timing, timing The most important thing for you to do is to issue praise and discipline immediately. Dogs don't understand when you try to explain why you're correcting them if you wait to long. Correcting bad behavior while the behavior is happening makes dog training simpler, faster, and says in the clearest terms possible to your dog that you won't accept the behavior he's engaging in. Watch your dog and correct bad behavior while it's happening. If you try to discipline your dog for chewing on a chair leg or pooping on the floor when he's coming to you for affection, he's going to get the wrong idea and start to think that coming to you for attention is the bad behavior. It's better not correct a certain infraction at all than to do after more than a few minutes have passed. Give praise Dogs, like people respond better to praise than anger. If you spend all afternoon struggling with a naughty dog, you should make sure to let him know how good he is when he finally "gets it". Make sure you use a "happy" tone. Dogs can tell an angry tone form a pleased one and saying "Good boy" in a tone that implies you want to attack him with a hatchet isn't going to work. Ultimately, he did what you wanted so let him know you're happy with him. Without that reinforcement he won't understand or remember to do it again. Give your dog affection and praise when he's sitting at your feet watching TV. I know it's easy to forget they're there sometimes, but chances are you're the dogs primary source of entertainment and affection. Let him know he's loved and that sitting quietly while you're focusing on something else can earn him rewards just as much as obedience or performing a trick. Be Consistent Dogs can't reason out concepts like "sometimes", "maybe", and "good day, bad day", dogs think in terms of "always" and "never". Inconsistent application of rules will confuse your dog and lose you his respect. If it's not okay to jump up on visiting strangers when they walk in the door, it's not okay to jump up on you on a Sunday afternoon when you're munching on a chunk of cheese. You're not doing your dog any favors by making exceptions to the rules on weekends or when you're in an especially good mood. Always follow through with commands and discipline. Have Fun As I said before, you are probably your dog's primary source of entertainment and socializing. Dogs, like any other thinking creatures, enjoy fun. As crazy as it sounds, dogs don't like constant work or boredom anymore than you would. Try to spend at least a little time every day playing fetch with the squeaky toy or something to break up the drudgery. Your dog will respond to you better, have fewer behavioral problems, and it'll let you blow off some steam too as well as remind you why you love your dog in the first place. Be firm and in control Don't be afraid to show your dog who's the boss. Dogs need an established pecking order and it should be you at the top. It's understandable to feel bad about "dominating" your dog, but he really will feel happier and more secure with you in the dominant position. Practice and use your "command voice" (more on the voices on another page). Don't ask your dog to do something or phrase a command like it's a question. Tell him clearly and confidently what you want him to do. If he still won't do it, gently show him. No matter what though, don't lose your temper or become abusive. If it starts to get to that point, take a break. Remember the control part. Firm is not synonymous for yelling at your dog and especially not with hitting it. As robust as they are, dogs aren't as tough as humans and it only takes a momentary lapse in self-control to cripple or kill them. Baby steps Start out small and work your way up. Break commands and exercises into small, logical steps. Repeat the core exercise until your dog has it down. Don't expect your dog to "shake" or ride a unicycle when he still can't stand having his paws touched or "stay" in a room full of people eating. Give your dog the time to understand and retain lessons before moving on to something new or more complex.