Whatever the reason you have for having a dog, be it as a pet, or maybe as a guard dog, or a working dog for example, the dog will need to be trained. In the first instance it will need to behave as you want it to in any given situation. In most cases with dogs as pets this means getting the dog to behave around people and around other animals. This in itself can prove to be problematic, especially if the breed of dog in question means that the animal has tendencies that pre dispose it to behaviour that is different than what you expect. Point one therefore is that you must choose a dog that will be suited to whatever task you want for it.
Proper training is especially important in the case of a family dog, doubly so where children are going to be present. Studies have shown that proper training for your dog can make a massive reduction in the likelihood that your dog will attempt to bite or be prone to other undesirable traits or behaviour.
Unless you have been trained in dog training, it is likely that you will need some help when it comes to training your dog. This could be either by way of formal lessons, or with the help of a training manual. Formal lessons are great if you can afford them, or if you can find a suitable course near you. Many people find that having a book to help them is enough, and probably a lot more fun and fulfilling for you; knowing that you have been able to train your own dog.
By way of a taster, I have outlined some of the basic commands that you will need to teach your dog, should you decide to want to train it yourself. This list is just an example and is by no means exhaustive.
* Heel - it is very important that a dog learns to walk with you on a loose lead, in a good position.
* Respond to the word 'No' - This is absolutely critical to dog training. A dog must know when it has been told 'No', to stop whatever it was that they were doing, and hopefully, not to do it again.
* Sit - Your dog must learn to respond to the sit command.
* Stay - Your dog must learn not to follow you everywhere. This command is not just to prove that your dog is able to adopt the sitting position, but that it has enough respect for you to stay in that position when you move away and tell it to stay.
Training a dog is something that will help you to control an animal of course. Control over your pet is only part of the benefit to you though. Training helps you to form a bond with your dog, which is another great reason for doing the training yourself.
The concept of an alpha dog is very important to all dogs. They are pack animals, and as such, instinctively try and place themselves within a hierarchy of a group. What we need is for your dog to recognise you as the alpha dog and submit to your commands. If you fail to do this, you could find yourself with all sorts of problems with your dog.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can any dog fetch?
By: Nes | 21-07-2008
Well, I have been trying to train my mixed pit to fetch..It has not been successful at all. Folks at the dog park have been telling me that not all dogs fetch....Is this true?
How can I get my dog to stop growling at approaching strangers?
By: Munch | 21-07-2008
I have a 10 month old German Shepherd. He is very friendly at dog parks, home, and when he gets introduced to new people but when he is on a walk and a single person approaches he growls and wants to approach them. He is a very large puppy and I have been trying to get him to sit and stay while rubbing his chest to no avail. He is being protective and wants to check everyone out but he'll scare people if he continues to growl and I can't let him sniff every stranger. How can I train him to be more comfortable with approaching strangers?
How to use a muzzle to curb barking dog
By: Hersky | 18-07-2008
Can anyone reccomend a method for using a muzzle to curb excessive barking in a poddle mix.
He barks at other dogs, whenever excitied (like taking a ride in the car) new people, and the TV... Not constantly, but LOUDLY, and although he doesn't seem to have an aggressive bone in his body, but he can scare people.
I like to take him with me everywhere, but his barking has put a real damper on that.
I want a deaf dog, but.....
By: Nes | 02-07-2008
So I went to the animal shelter along with my girlfriend today and this 10 month old mixed Pitbull really caught our attention. The dog is gorgeous and very friendly. We just fell in love with her the minute we saw her, but as we were reading her description we read that she is deaf. I really don't care about that but i am worried that if we bring her to our home and if she gets out of the house one day, she may get hurt by a car or something/someone else, since she can't hear anything approaching her. My girlfriend and I really want her, but we are just worried about her safety...we also got a chance to walk her and I obviously couldn't call her over. The only way she comes to us is when she looks at us and we sign her to walk over to us. Should I be worried about her impairment and how can I train her??
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i have a daushund that is almost a year old. when he gets out the door, he trys to attack strangers. how can i train him not to do that?
Am I the only one who got ripped off with Nancy ...
By: Sherritasworld | 26-06-2008
Am I the only one who got ripped off with Nancy Richard's Dog Training Institute scam?
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