The Essential First Steps of Dog Training

If you've just adopted a new puppy, congratulations! There's nothing like the love of a dog. For thousands of years, dogs and people have been companions. Dogs can be best friends, as well as helpers. There are rescue dogs, service dogs, and guide dogs. With a little training, there's no limit to what your dog can do! However, if you're like most people, you probably want to start with the basics.

Basic obedience is fairly simple, yet very important. The lack of proper training can cause a dog to grow up maladjusted and lead to aggressive or destructive behavior. The first thing you should do is establish yourself as king of the castle, the alpha of the pack. You need your dog to see you as master in order for training to be successful.

The first order of business will probably be housebreaking. Many people prefer to use a crate where their dog stays confined overnight and at times during the day. After removing your dog from the crate, take him directly to where you want him to go to the bathroom and praise him lavishly when he does. The theory behind crate training is that most dogs are not going to soil their own bedding. However some puppies will, simply because they don't have muscle control yet.

If your dog has an accident in the house, remain calm. The worst thing you can do is become angry and yell at your dog or strike him. Most of the time, your dog won't even understand why you're upset. Sometimes it helps to take a little of your dog's waste and place it in the area where you want your dog to eliminate. Doing so will attract your dog to the area via his sense of smell and he'll be more likely to use that spot.

You may also want to teach your dog to sit, stay, and come. For that you're going to need some equipment. So, before even bringing your dog home, take a trip to your local pet store and stock up. You can also find all your dog related items online. You'll need a leash and training collar for sure. With a leash and training collar, you can easily teach your dog basic commands.

For example to teach your dog to come to you, put the training collar and leash on your dog and stand a few feet away from your dog. Give the "come" command. If your dog refuses to come to you, then tug gently on the leash. The gentle pressure will tell your dog to come towards you. If he does, give lots of praise. If your dog refuses to come, try enticing him with his favorite treats or a toy.

With a little patience and some hard work, you can train your dog to be a well-adjusted, well-behaved member of your household!