Are you thinking about dog obedience training? If yes, understand that training is essential to raising your dog and instilling good behavior in them. Dogs typically learn to behave when they get proper obedience training. It also helps them socialize with other people and animals.
You can train your dog in various ways, such as signing up for obedience school for dogs or hiring a professional trainer for private lessons. Sending to a board and train program for obedience classes for dogs with a trainer is also an option. However, you can even train your dog at home, which can save you money and help you bond with your canine companion.
In this article, we will be covering the essentials you need to train your dog, the ways to correct undesired behavior and teach good behavior.
What Will You Need?
If you plan on training your dog on your own, you will need the equipment, a schedule, and some knowledge about training to help you train your dog. It is also crucial that you understand the commitment to training your dog every day.
An effective and convenient dog training needs only a few essentials, such as a dog harness or collar, leash, and treats and toys. Select a comfortable collar for your dog, and a non-retractable leash works perfectly for dog obedience training. What helps puppy training immensely is treats that your pet loves and enjoys, which can also be consumed easily and quickly. You can also offer homemade small pieces of plain cooked chicken.
Choose the Right Training Style for You
Choosing the right training style is one of the initial and crucial steps of obedience training for dogs, as it helps you better communicate with them. Most dog trainers suggest that dogs learn fast with positive reinforcement, which includes rewards like treats and praise.
Clicker training is a popular puppy dog training method that uses conditioned reinforcers and is the same as positive reinforcement. Also, ensure that you add socialization to your dog’s training. You can browse books and websites and learn various techniques for training dogs that incorporate positive reinforcement.
Set Up Sessions
To properly train your dog, you need to set up sessions regularly. Puppies usually have short attention spans, and longer sessions can make adult dogs bored. So, the best would be to keep the sessions 10 to 15 minutes long, two to three times a day.
Also, make sure you are teaching one action per session so it does not confuse your dog. You can start by teaching basic commands and then head on to fun and advanced ones.
Start With the Basics
You can start with basic commands because they are easier to train. For instance, "sit" is probably the easiest command to learn. You can try teaching the "lie down" command afterward. One of the critical commands to train your dog is to come when called. Along with these, try teaching them to stay.
When your dog learns all the basic commands, you can proceed with advanced ones and fun tricks. You need to properly train them in the basics so that they are better prepared for more difficult commands.
Common Behavior Problems
If you are considering getting a dog or already have one, the first step to ensure they are well-behaved is to understand the common dog behavior problems. It will help you prepare to manage their behavior issues.
When obedience training your dog, you must address the common behavior problems, such as chewing, barking, inappropriate elimination, separation anxiety, etc. More often, puppies chew things when they are teething or out of boredom, and adult dogs do it when they are curious or anxious.
Excessive barking is another major behavior problem. Your dog may bark out of excitement or to warn/alert. Similarly, chasing, jumping up, and biting are also some of the common dog behavior problems that you may encounter. Your dog may behave in such a way due to various causes such as anxiety, excitement, curiosity, etc.
Tips and Advice
Training a dog is a time-consuming process that needs patience and commitment. Your dog may behave stubbornly or show resistance, and you both may find the training challenging, but you need to make sure you are positively rewarding your dog for good behavior.
Moreover, when you notice behavior problems in your dog, the best way to correct them is to address them and shift their attention to something positive. You can do that by giving your dog commands they have learned and then rewarding them.
Positive reinforcement is the best approach for obedience dogs training, as it helps retain their attention. You only need to ensure that you offer rewards your dog will work for. Also, if or whenever you find training your dog difficult, you can get help from a professional dog trainer who can teach you to train your dog or get your dog trained where you can also get involved in the lessons.
Conclusion
Training a dog is an ongoing process and needs devotion, patience, and consistency, which can be daunting sometimes. However, a well-trained dog is happier and healthier than an untrained one - they typically thrive with proper confines and routines. Remember to end the sessions if you feel they are getting bored and only on a positive note. And why not spend quality time with your canine friend strengthening your relationship?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dog obedience training?
Obedience training teaches your dog basic commands and helps correct social behavior with people and animals.
At what age should you start dog obedience training?
The perfect time to start dog obedience training is when they are around six to seven weeks old.
How to train a puppy?
According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, the best way for puppy training is through positive reinforcement, which includes praises and rewards.
