Throughout the years, humans and dogs have learned to develop a unique bond and commitment. Dogs have chosen to follow human masters, acknowledging their superior intellect and ability to guide. Humans, on the other hand, have chosen dogs as their constant companion because of their loyalty and ability to obey commands.

Today, dogs are mostly kept as no more than pets or companions. This poses a problem because dogs have an ingrained instinct to work for their human master.

Leaving them alone within an enclosed space all day therefore brings about separation anxiety, which in turn results in destructive behaviour such as chewing on furniture or clothes.

It is therefore important for today’s dog owners to learn how to discipline their dogs such that they are able to adapt to this new environment and living circumstances.

Now, you have to understand that there is a big difference between discipline and punishment. Discipline involves the use of positive dog training methods, whereas punishment involves reprimands in correcting a dog’s bad behaviour. While both dog training methods work towards the same goal, which is to make the dog obey you, there can be huge differences in the end result.

Dogs that are trained via punishment often become fearful of their masters, and they usually obey commands only because they feel that they have to. On the other hand, dogs trained using positive dog training methods often develop a lifelong bond with their master and perform tasks primarily because they want to please their owners.

Now, which dog would you like to own? One who does things because he has to, or one that does things because he wants to? Here is a concrete example of how punishment and discipline differ when used as dog training methods.

You are taking your beagle out for a walk when a squirrel suddenly darts past you. A beagle is a hunting breed, so your dog’s instincts naturally push him to give chase. And because you have taken your dog out on a leash, you find yourself being dragged along. What do you do?

An owner who takes the punishment approach would automatically pull hard on the leash, yell at the dog to stop and then give the dog a hard slap on his rump.

On the other hand, one who employs positive dog training methods would take a firm hold on the leash and turn in a different direction so as to force the dog to follow him. When the dog follows, the owner will then praise him for exhibiting this good behaviour and give him a treat. How do the methods differ in terms of result?

The dog who was harshly reprimanded will immediately become submissive, scared and confused. He will not understand why he is being punished for simply following his instincts. After all, beagles have been hunting dogs seen their breed was first developed. On the other hand, the dog trained with positive dog training methods would have understood that pulling on the leash will get him nowhere and keeping his excitement under control will earn him your approval and a treat.

Positive dog training methods are almost always the better approach.

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Training your dog is very worthwhile for both you and your dog. Before you start training, there are some dog training basics that you need to know in order to make training easier and more pleasant for you as well as your dog.

The first thing you must remember is that you are the boss. Dogs are pack animals by nature and will adhere to the ‘leader’ of that pack. To train your dog properly, you first need to establish that you are the leader early in your relationship.

Some breeds of dog are much more forceful in their need to be the leader, however, you must not let that happen. If you allow him to dictate what happens in your relationship, you are in line for a negative relationship and nothing but problems. To be in control does not mean that you have to be unkind to your dog, in an abusive way. Absolutely the contrary, yes your dog may be scared of you, but he does not respect your authority.

Consistency is key when it comes to dog training basics. Set aside some time each day to work on training your dog. It is important to note that training can be started at any age. If you have an older pet, it is not too late.

Start training the basics. For many dogs, the sit command is a great place to start. Work on this command each day until your dog has it down perfectly before you move on to the next command.

When teaching your dog commands use the same word for each command, for instance if you start off with ‘sit’, don’t change it to ‘sit down’ after a few lessons. Positive reinforcement is necessary when your dog does as you command. He is looking to please you so don’t disappoint him, when he does something right always be sure to praise. Do not get angry and shout because you will confuse and scare him.

Dogs are not like humans, they forget easily sometimes, so even though you might take a day or so off from training, any interaction with him will always need you to maintain that control. You cannot mentally have a day off and expect your dog to understand what is happening.

Going through dog training basics with your dog will take consistency, persistence, and a lot of patience. Your efforts will be rewarded when you have a well behaved dog who has a stronger bond with you.