Dog Training 101
The best way to start on the right path to dog ownership is to choose your breed wisely. While you might fall in love with a cute little pure-bred, a little research might show you that the breed is highly active and needs a lot of exercise before it settles down. Remember, if you have a healthy dog it can live up to 15 years so think hard and choose the breed that best suits your family now and down the road. Here are some more things to think about:
Find 15 minutes every day to focus on teaching your dog the basics. Any longer and you’ll lose his attention. Choose one person in the family to serve as his ‘den leader’ and do the training. Once the dog has learned his lessons, he should respond accordingly to anyone in the family. Your dog’s name is a big part of his training, so keep that in mind when going through the name books. His name shouldn’t be too complicated or he might not realize that you are talking to him. Make sure that he’s looking at you when you refer to him by name the first few times.
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.
Once your dog understands what his name is, the next word he needs to learn is to “Stop!” It could save his life if he ends up on the other side of a busy street or prevent injury if he’s about to tangle with another dog. There will be plenty of time down the road to teach him to show off to your friends by rolling over or fetching the newspaper.
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.
categories: dog training,pet training,dogs,pets
Tags: dog training, dogs, pet training, pets
dog training | Julie Clark Robinson | 19 June 2010 |
