5 Tips For Training Dogs Successfully

Training dogs isn't hard, or even all that complicated. You need patience, dedication and an effective strategy and you will be able to train them successfully.

Here are five proven tips on how to train your dog successfully:

Avoid Confusion: To prevent your puppy dog getting confused, and to help enable them to recognize commands easily, only a single person should be responsible for training the dog to begin with. If there are multiple people trying to train the dog at the same time this can confuse her and actually stop progress in its tracks.

Use Positive Reinforcement: You should always use positive reinforcement when training your dog. If she does something good, you should reward this behavior such that she will know that what she did was right. If the dog is confused and cannot understand or follow your commands, never force her. Although it might seem otherwise, dogs are not as intelligent as humans, and they do they make mistakes, especially as puppies still learning how the world works. What you need to understand is that they won't immediately understand your commands after a single session; it takes time and constant repetition to train a dog successfully. Also, try to avoid scolding your dog for not listening or following commands as she might become afraid of you which will hinder any other training efforts you try to apply.

One Step At A Time: Teach commands only one at a time. Again, this is to help avoid confusion on her part - learning one thing at a time allows for more focus and more repetition. If she struggles and doesn't seem able to absorb it, try to stick with it until it sticks. Adding additional commands at this point will just confuse the dog. Always start with the basics and work up into more complex or difficult commands.

Stay Calm and Sound Enthusiastic: The tone of your voice affects how your dog perceives what she is being asked to do. When executing commands, you should always try to keep your voice enthusiastic and upbeat so that she will happily obey your commands. Dogs, much like children, will respond best to a low and coaxing voice. If you raise your voice, or shout out loud, she may become startled and unresponsive.

Location Variations: Train your dog in the various places you expect her to be, or that you will take her often. If you keep your dogs at home and never take her outside to a park, or a public place with lots of unfamiliar people, she may have trouble adjusting to the environment and to new people. Take her out often to the park and through the neighborhood. Take her over to visit family and friends at their houses. This will help your dog socialize with other animals and people.

Training your dog can sometime be tough, but with the right information and training program it will be well worth it. In the end, you will both benefit when your dog is suitably trained!

How to Train Your Service Dog Without a Professional Trainer

If you want a service dog because you have a physical or mental disability but you don't want to be on a waiting list for years, or you can't afford such a trained dog, it may be possible for you to train a dog yourself. Certified service dogs can go with their handler in every public place where dogs usually are not allowed, like in shops, libraries, museums, theatres and cinemas. A service dog can be of any breed and size, from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane. The most popular service dog breeds are Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. The important part is that your dog has the right personality. It has to be willing to work, calm and unafraid.
You should get help from a professional service dog trainer unless you are an experienced dog trainer. If you know how to teach a dog any behavioural methods without help from a tutorial, then generally you should have no problems teaching the service dog on your own.

Steps

1. Find out if your dog has the potential to become a service dog. A large percentage of all puppies are capable of becoming a service dog but ask yourself these questions:
   
   • Is your dog comfortable in every thinkable situation?
     
   • Can your dog cope with all kinds of people and dogs, at best even all kinds of animals?
     
   • Is your dog non-aggressive and non-protective?
     
2. Neuter or spay your dog. Do this between four and six months of age. All service dogs are neutered because neutered dogs are less likely to drift to find females in heat, they are also less likely to mark territory and they are less likely to develop more territorial tendencies. Neutered dogs are less aggressive, which is an important factor for a service dog.
   
   • Depending on the weight of your dog, a neutering costs between USD$200 and USD$300 at most vets.
     
3. Train basic obedience. A service dog has to be able to sit, stay, lie down and come on cue 90 percent of the time the handler asks him to do so. You can use either verbal cues or hand signals as commands. The dog also needs to walk next to the handler in a controlled manner all the time.
   
   • The best way to teach your dog specific behavioral traits is clicker training.
     
   • If you have no clue how to teach your dog sit, stay, lie down, come and heel, you should not train your own service dog.
     
4. Teach the dog to be as well-behaved unleashed as leashed. The dog should do the basic obedience tricks when no leash is on.
   
5. Teach your dog not to greet other people. The service dog has to be focused on you, and not on anyone else. This step is vitally important because you may need instant help, and if the dog is running around to other people to greet them, the dog can miss your need for immediate help.
   
6. Train a little agility with the dog. It improves courage and stability, and is a good way to see how well your dog listens to commands.
   
7. Socialize your dog a lot. Socializing doesn't just mean going to new places – it also includes meeting plenty of new people and animals.
   
   • If you can't talk to people for any particular reason, have a vest on the dog that says: "Please pet me", or "Let me meet your dog", and also "I'm training to become a service dog" if you want to add that.
     
   • Since you have taught the dog not to greet other people, say "greet" or whatever word you have taught the dog and ensure that the greet word means that the dog is allowed to greet another person.
     
8. Teach your dog to take no note of cats, food on the ground, a stranger talking to the dog or vehicles (especially moving vehicles). The one and only thing that the dog is supposed to care about is you.
   
9. Teach the dog at least three tasks that you need help with because of your disability. For example, you may need your dog to pick up your keys if you drop them, to calm you down when you're having a meltdown, or to help you know that there is or is not an intruder in your home.
   
   • Things that a dog can do without being trained, like playing with you to make you happy, are not considered a valid service dog task.
     
   • Search online for the words "service dog" and the names of the disability you would like help training and you will find many suggestions of specific behaviors you can train that may help. It's a good idea to search even if you already know what you need, because groups dedicated to training service dogs have identified many possible tasks that you may not have heard about.
     
10. Certify your service dog. You don't have to certify the dog if you live in the United States. But most countries require service dog certification (especially in order to allow your dog entry to places most dogs cannot go). Here is a suggested way to go about getting your dog certified:
    
    • See your doctor and have your doctor write a letter that says that you need a service dog.
      
    • Then see a vet to let them test your dog to see if it is ready to be a certified service dog. Let the vet write a letter too.
      
    • Read the instructions of the certifying body and meet any of their additional requirements.
      
    • Send the letters and other required information to the relevant organisation that has the authority to register a service dog.
      

Tips

• You may be able to get dog-loving members of the family to help you train the dog but care must be taken that the dog does not attach himself to them and not to you alone.
  
• Call an organisation that trains service dogs to ask for help if they're not able to provide you with a dog or training. They might be able to make suggestions over the phone or by email if you discover problems during your training.
  
• The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners [1] publishes a wealth of information on training service dogs, including behaviors and tasks to train that might help with a range of disabilities; legal information and advocacy pertaining to assistance dogs; finding dog candidates; finding assistance dog organizations; and much more.
  

Warnings

• Be realistic. If your disability prevents you from training a dog, then don't attempt it as it takes a lot of time and effort, as well as discipline to train a dog to an adequate level to be a service dog. Moreover, if you just need company, the dog won't need such a high level of training.
  
• Be aware that the Federal Government makes it difficult for a disabled person to bring a service pet into any federal government building such as the VA, Fed court house, etc. In order to have the approval for a federal building you must have a signed document from a federal government medical doctor authorizing a service dog. To get a fed doctor to write up an authorization requires that the disabled person prove, in writing, the specific federal regulations. Don't expect the doctor to dig up the references. The best regulations are in the Dept. of Agriculture. Finally, make sure the dog has a service vest with, at least, one zipper pocket, for you to keep the federal doctor's authorization.
  

Things You'll Need

• Clicker training equipment
  
• Dog handling manuals for additional tips
  
• Perseverance – it takes time to train a dog to the high standard required for being a service dog
  

Related Contents

• How to Become a Dog Show Handler
  
• How to Clicker Train Your Dog
  
• How to Help a Shy Dog Blossom Using Targeting and Clicker Training
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Enter and Exit a Kennel Calmly Using Clicker Training
  
• How to Train Your Dog from Running out of Your House
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Take Your Socks Off
  
• How to Signal a Dog Things You Have Trained
  
• How to Persevere With a Disability
  
• How to Train a Dog Without Talking
  

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.iaadp.org/

Bed for dog

Visit: Round Faux Suede Comfy Cup Dog Bed

How to Train Your Service Dog Without a Professional Trainer

If you want a service dog because you have a physical or mental disability but you don't want to be on a waiting list for years, or you can't afford such a trained dog, it may be possible for you to train a dog yourself. Certified service dogs can go with their handler in every public place where dogs usually are not allowed, like in shops, libraries, museums, theatres and cinemas. A service dog can be of any breed and size, from a Chihuahua to a Great Dane. The most popular service dog breeds are Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. The important part is that your dog has the right personality. It has to be willing to work, calm and unafraid.

You should get help from a professional service dog trainer unless you are an experienced dog trainer. If you know how to teach a dog any behavioural methods without help from a tutorial, then generally you should have no problems teaching the service dog on your own.

Steps

1. Find out if your dog has the potential to become a service dog. A large percentage of all puppies are capable of becoming a service dog but ask yourself these questions:
   • Is your dog comfortable in every thinkable situation?
     
   • Can your dog cope with all kinds of people and dogs, at best even all kinds of animals?
     
   • Is your dog non-aggressive and non-protective?
     
2. Neuter or spay your dog. Do this between four and six months of age. All service dogs are neutered because neutered dogs are less likely to drift to find females in heat, they are also less likely to mark territory and they are less likely to develop more territorial tendencies. Neutered dogs are less aggressive, which is an important factor for a service dog.
   • Depending on the weight of your dog, a neutering costs between USD$200 and USD$300 at most vets.
     
3. Train basic obedience. A service dog has to be able to sit, stay, lie down and come on cue 90 percent of the time the handler asks him to do so. You can use either verbal cues or hand signals as commands. The dog also needs to walk next to the handler in a controlled manner all the time.
   • The best way to teach your dog specific behavioral traits is clicker training.
     
   • If you have no clue how to teach your dog sit, stay, lie down, come and heel, you should not train your own service dog.
     
4. Teach the dog to be as well-behaved unleashed as leashed. The dog should do the basic obedience tricks when no leash is on.
   
5. Teach your dog not to greet other people. The service dog has to be focused on you, and not on anyone else. This step is vitally important because you may need instant help, and if the dog is running around to other people to greet them, the dog can miss your need for immediate help.
   
6. Train a little agility with the dog. It improves courage and stability, and is a good way to see how well your dog listens to commands.
   
7. Socialize your dog a lot. Socializing doesn't just mean going to new places – it also includes meeting plenty of new people and animals.
   • If you can't talk to people for any particular reason, have a vest on the dog that says: "Please pet me", or "Let me meet your dog", and also "I'm training to become a service dog" if you want to add that.
     
   • Since you have taught the dog not to greet other people, say "greet" or whatever word you have taught the dog and ensure that the greet word means that the dog is allowed to greet another person.
     
8. Teach your dog to take no note of cats, food on the ground, a stranger talking to the dog or vehicles (especially moving vehicles). The one and only thing that the dog is supposed to care about is you.
   
9. Teach the dog at least three tasks that you need help with because of your disability. For example, you may need your dog to pick up your keys if you drop them, to calm you down when you're having a meltdown, or to help you know that there is or is not an intruder in your home.
   • Things that a dog can do without being trained, like playing with you to make you happy, are not considered a valid service dog task.
     
   • Search online for the words "service dog" and the names of the disability you would like help training and you will find many suggestions of specific behaviors you can train that may help. It's a good idea to search even if you already know what you need, because groups dedicated to training service dogs have identified many possible tasks that you may not have heard about.
     
10. Certify your service dog. You don't have to certify the dog if you live in the United States. But most countries require service dog certification (especially in order to allow your dog entry to places most dogs cannot go). Here is a suggested way to go about getting your dog certified:
    • See your doctor and have your doctor write a letter that says that you need a service dog.
      
    • Then see a vet to let them test your dog to see if it is ready to be a certified service dog. Let the vet write a letter too.
      
    • Read the instructions of the certifying body and meet any of their additional requirements.
      
    • Send the letters and other required information to the relevant organisation that has the authority to register a service dog.
      

Tips

• You may be able to get dog-loving members of the family to help you train the dog but care must be taken that the dog does not attach himself to them and not to you alone.
  
• Call an organisation that trains service dogs to ask for help if they're not able to provide you with a dog or training. They might be able to make suggestions over the phone or by email if you discover problems during your training.
  
• The International Association of Assistance Dog Partners [1] publishes a wealth of information on training service dogs, including behaviors and tasks to train that might help with a range of disabilities; legal information and advocacy pertaining to assistance dogs; finding dog candidates; finding assistance dog organizations; and much more.
  

Warnings

• Be realistic. If your disability prevents you from training a dog, then don't attempt it as it takes a lot of time and effort, as well as discipline to train a dog to an adequate level to be a service dog. Moreover, if you just need company, the dog won't need such a high level of training.
  
• Be aware that the Federal Government makes it difficult for a disabled person to bring a service pet into any federal government building such as the VA, Fed court house, etc. In order to have the approval for a federal building you must have a signed document from a federal government medical doctor authorizing a service dog. To get a fed doctor to write up an authorization requires that the disabled person prove, in writing, the specific federal regulations. Don't expect the doctor to dig up the references. The best regulations are in the Dept. of Agriculture. Finally, make sure the dog has a service vest with, at least, one zipper pocket, for you to keep the federal doctor's authorization.
  

Things You'll Need

• Clicker training equipment
  
• Dog handling manuals for additional tips
  
• Perseverance – it takes time to train a dog to the high standard required for being a service dog
  

Related Contents

• How to Become a Dog Show Handler
  
• How to Clicker Train Your Dog
  
• How to Help a Shy Dog Blossom Using Targeting and Clicker Training
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Enter and Exit a Kennel Calmly Using Clicker Training
  
• How to Train Your Dog from Running out of Your House
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Take Your Socks Off
  
• How to Signal a Dog Things You Have Trained
  
• How to Persevere With a Disability
  
• How to Train a Dog Without Talking
  

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ http://www.iaadp.org/

National Geographic Topos

National Geographic Topos

Dog Training - Why and How to Train Dogs

Pit bulls can become faithful companions and important members of the family but dog training can be quite a task for these pit bull-owners initially. This is because not many people know why and how to teach their dogs how to behave.

Owners can benefit from dog training in several ways. Pit bull training involves teaching your dog how to interact with other people and pets and respond to all their owners' commands. Dog training means setting standards for their dogs' behavior such as:

· Potty training

· Stop growling or biting

· Avoid jumping on other people or guests

· Leash pulling

· Chasing and growling at other animals and children

· Running out of the house every time the door is open

· Chewing and destroying things in the house

· Ignoring your commands to sit or walk beside you

· Begging for food when you are eating

· Barking excessively

Many people think that they need the help of professional trainer so schools that specialize in dog training, in order to teach their dogs how to behave. The truth is that with the necessary knowledge and patience pet owners can train their dog at home. Some important tips regarding pit bull training are provided in this article.

Start dog training as early as possible

Experts reveal that the earlier the pit bull dogs are trained the better the result tend to be. Most breeds should be trained when they are 6 to 8 weeks old. The mode and length of pit bull training depends on the type of breed and the individual dog. Some dogs may be harder to train than others and pet owners should keep this mind while training them.

Positive and negative reinforcement in dog training

Many people do not realize that both positive and negative reinforcement is part of effective dog training. In addition, many people lack the discipline and patience to correct their dog's behavior every time it messes up.

Positive reinforcement is rewarding the dog with a treat or praise when it obeys your commands and shows good behavior. Negative reinforcement means that the owner should withhold or take away the reward if the dog decides to disobey the owner. The main purpose is to help the dog associate treats or rewards with good behavior so that they repeat it.

Persistence, patience and Attention

Pets crave for their owner's attention. It is necessary to give them time every day so that you can play with them as well as train them to behave at home as well as public. Dog training is no easy task because it requires diligence and patience on the part of the owners. You should ensure that you keep reinforcing the desired behavior with no exceptions. Dogs follow routine and if you, as a pet owner, stick to a strict regimen of dog training, then your dog will have no problems obeying the laid down rules.

Dealing with specific issues

Some dogs may have specific issues related to potty training or obedience and pit bull training has to be focused to resolve these issues. For instance if your dogs barks excessively, it is worthwhile to note the reasons for doing so. If the dog is barking to get your attention, then simply ignoring your dog while it is barking will do the trick, whereas if your dog is bored form sitting around then tiring it out with exercises will solve the problem. Dog training does not come naturally to all. First time dog owners need to get all the information they can on dog training from books, videos online, or professional trainers to make sure that they enjoy their companion.

Dog training is a long process and at the end of it, your pet should understand that praise and treats need to be earned. There are certain behavior patterns like jumping on beds or couches without being called are out of limits and should be adhered to. Pet owners also need to learn that they need to be in control and not let their dogs control them. Although confrontation is not always the best option to control your pet, dog training teach spoil how they can be both firm and loving at the same time in order to get their dogs well-trained.

Basic Dog Training Classes - Develop Your Dog's Skills

There's a lot of controversy when it comes to dog training issues. You should not only be a loving owner but you should also be a positive, patient and effective dog trainer. In order to train your pet well, you need first to catch his attention by teaching him how to become obedient to his master. Domestic animals like cats and dogs are known to be kind and gentle. However, there are times that animals are irritable or naughty. This is because of some reasons like they are hungry, they've been abused, lack of attention or they lack of socialization. The effective way to train your pet is to have a positive reinforcement in order for them to become motivated and attentive. There are basic training classes that you can take advantage of so that you will learn how to adjust on every situation when you teach your dog new cool tricks or commands. It will not help if you immediately lose your patience and if you punish your pet as a consequence of not doing what you want him to do. To get the attention of your pet, you need to give him some warnings and always give him something that serves as his award like dog food or a toy. This way, he will certainly follow your commands and his skills will be developed in no time.

Actually, every professional dog trainer has different training techniques on how to make dogs and other types of domestic animals obey them in an easy way. If you allow your pet to be on effective training classes, then most likely he will become an active and sociable type of pet. You will no longer be worried about your dog's bad behaviours because these can be corrected by a dedicated and professional dog trainer. However, it is important that you are there every time he is on the training session. Your presence is a great way of showing support for him. Some dogs can only be trained if they are with their masters. Dogs are usually afraid to other people who looked stranger to them. You can hardly tell the dog to sit or to roll if he doesn't know you. Dogs are sometimes unpredictable because they might see other persons as threats to them. Proper in-house dog training is really helpful to teach your dog how to overcome his fears to other people.

To make everything meaningful, enroll your pet to the advanced dog training. Cairns have popular dog training centers. It is satisfying to know the benefits that your pet can get from the training. A dog that has experienced a phenomenal growth is believed to smart and sociable.

How To Train A Dog - It Really Is Easy

Training your dog can be really hard. I know that sounds obvious, but if you want a happy dog, and a happy family, you either have to do it yourself, or your have to pay someone else to do it. That's just the way it is. If you want to learn how to train a dog, without spending a fortune, you'll need some real guidance.

If you can't afford to have a professional train your dog, then the next step is to learn how to do it yourself. Unless you completely lack the confidence to do it, then a book on the topic should be sufficient.

"How to Train a Dog - It Really Is Easy" is a 26 page ebook in Kindle format that will show you how. It explains in a very simple way how to do it. You don't need any fancy equipment, and if you can read and follow instructions, then you can teach your dog the basic commands, like Sit and Stay.

What I like about this ebook is that it is basic. In fact, if you have children, and you're looking for a way to teach them responsibility, then this is an excellent way to do it because the instructions are broken down and explained in such a way that if you can read and follow instructions, you can do this.

Another thing is that each chapter teaches you a different command to teach your dog. You can learn one thing at a time together, and you can train your dog in as little as 15 - 20 minutes a day, so even the most time pressed person can do it. This makes it much easier for both you and your dog. You won't get frustrated or confused and give up.

Your dog will the learn the following commands: Heel, Sit, Lie Down, Stay, and Come. You'll learn how to deal with any behavioral problems your dog may have, and you'll even learn how to potty train your dog. All the techniques in this book are positive training techniques, so your dog is completely safe. You'll also receive a coupon for additional ebooks to help you help your dog. All you need is a leash, a collar, and treats or toys.

Like I said, this ebook is basic, but I think that's the point. It allows anyone, even a child, to train a dog in the basic commands.

How to Use Puppy Pads and Outdoor Potty Training Together

Having a hard time potty training your puppy? Here's how to get the job done with puppy pads.

Steps

1. Place the puppy pad where the puppy goes first. Every day, move the pad a little bit closer towards the door, and every time the puppy uses the pad, tell him what a good dog he is, with gentle petting and a sweet voice.
   
2. Open the door when he goes towards the door and the puppy pad is near the door, drag the pad outside, and let puppy go on the pad or the ground. Tell him how GOOD he is, whether he goes on the pad or on the ground.
   
3. Put a rock on the pad, leave it outside the door, and put down a clean pad inside the door. The next time the puppy goes towards the door (needs to go), open the door and let him choose: the inside pad, outside pad, or the ground.
   
4. Remove the pad once he gets an idea. The inside pad can be put down when you cannot watch him going to the door, like when he is alone at home.
   

Tips

• This works very well and is accomplished fairly soon but the most important part is the immediate "Good dog" with the sweet voice, and a gentle pat from the owner as soon as puppy goes where he is supposed to. Dogs learn much better, and much more, by kindness than from harshness.
  

Warnings

• Never hit your dog with your hand. Your hand is the instrument, through your hand and your voice all kindness and joy comes towards the little one. Dogs live to please their owners.
  
• Usually raising one's voice slightly is enough to let the dog know it did something that displeased the owner.
  
• A "NO" with a raised finger teaches the puppy what you don't like.
  

Things You'll Need

• Puppy Pads
  

Related Contents

• How to Be a Good Dog Owner
  
• How to Be a Good Dog Sitter
  
• How to House Train an Older Dog
  
• How to Adopt a Puppy

How to Train Puppies

So you have a new puppy. Now what do you do?
This is a primer: there is a lot more involved in raising puppies and dogs than be covered in a short article ... and beware: many dog "experts" have very little idea about training dogs.

Steps

Behavior

1. Discourage your pup from biting too hard. All puppies bite and it should be considered a normal part of puppy behavior and play. Your job is to teach your puppy that human skin is very fragile and there must never be more than the merest lightest touch of puppy teeth on it. If you do this job well, should your dog ever bite through extreme fear or pain he is far likelier to just scratch than if he is left uneducated.
   
2. Learn your puppy's reactions. If the puppy growls, snaps or bites, this is his way of saying he is not happy or comfortable with what you are doing. Don't be tempted to escalate the problem by becoming aggressive back, instead remove all confrontation from the situation, this time you will probably have to back off. In future do not put him in the situation where he feels he has to growl, instead learn what those situations might be, avoid them where possible and where this isn't practical or safe, teach him to associate these things with pleasant rewards. If you ever attempt to punish a dog for growling, all you may achieve is removing the growl, i.e. the warning that your dog feels threatened. Although that warning is gone, he still feels threatened, so he will move on to biting, this is why sometimes dogs appear to bite without warning.
   
3. Give and get respect. A lot is spoken about this, a dog must respect and obey his owner, but that respect must be earned. You cannot, and should not, beat your dog into submission, you will not earn his respect if you smack him or hit him. You will earn his fear.
   
   • • Keep your rules and boundaries consistent at all times, if he's not allowed on the sofa, then he's never allowed on the sofa. If he is allowed on the sofa but expected to get off when asked 'off' then he must get off the minute you say the word, not after five repetitions and a yank on his collar. Mean what you say, give him motivation to comply (treats, rewards), prevent him from doing the wrong things (and prevention as they say is better than cure), be firm and be fair. Your dog will feel confident and secure and know exactly what to expect from you and he will respect you. You are aiming for a relationship somewhere between 'team leader/team member' and 'friends'. You are the one with the big brain, so use it. If you think a method sounds a good idea, mentally put yourself in your 'team members' place, i.e. your dogs, and see if it still seems a good deal from there. If it doesn't, pick a different method.
       
4. Dogs are dogs. Accept this, understand this. They are not humans, children, cats, fluffy toys, they are dogs. This means they have desires and urges and needs and for a harmonious life, you need to fulfill them.
   
   • Take into account the job your dog was bred to do - owning a working Border Collie when you have four children under the age of 5 and two of them have ADHD is a bad idea. Border Collies are bred to react to small fast moving objects, they have an inherent desire to keep these 'objects' (sheep, ducks, your children) in one place, or to drive them by nipping at the heels. They are incredibly reactive and in an environment such as the fictional one painted above, they will go completely bananas, nipping children and obsessively herding them, unless you are willing to find some activity that will replace spending 5 or 6 hours + on a hillside herding sheep.
     
     • Research dog breeds to find the one that will suit you, there are many breeds out there, almost certainly there is one to suit everyone if the owner is willing to adapt the dogs natural instincts and drives and channel them into an acceptable activity.
       
5. Give the puppy enough "toys" and he should leave your stuff alone. Put the toys in a box, and put your own "toys" away where he cannot get them. Choose a range of toys, some that require only your puppy (Kongs stuffed with food, Iqubes, Intellibones etc), and some that require your interaction such as balls and ragger ropes.
   
   • When you have had enough of a game, spread your hands and say "Enough", turn around and walk away. Puppy will soon learn what "Enough" means.
     
   • If he grabs something of yours, distract him and and swap him for one of his own toys in its place.
     
   • Never make a fuss or chase him. If you do, he will learn that seeking out your belongings and haring off with them instigates a great game.
     
6. Watch your children and your pets. Children and puppies sounds fun, but the reality is a bit of a nightmare. Children move fast, are high pitched, unpredictable and often on face level with puppies/dogs. Their interaction must always be supervised, puppy play can go too far, children can accidentally (or purposefully) torment and hurt puppies, and puppy teeth are extremely sharp. The only answer is to never leave your child alone with the puppy, as puppies, like your children, love to play and their games are extremely rough and boisterous.
   
7. Don't get two at a time. Two puppies? No. Never acquire two puppies together, especially two of the same gender and breed.
   
   • As puppies, they may bond together so strongly they are not interested in you, which makes training far more than double the work of one puppy.
     
   • As adults they may fall out severely, and in the case of bitch puppies, dangerously to the point where one will kill the other. Stick to one puppy at a time, get the first puppy well trained and to a sensible age (minimum of 18 months, older for a larger breed), and then consider the next puppy. Even then, avoid going for same breed/gender, try to find a breed that fits nicely or at least the opposite gender.
     
   • It's often tempting to think that two puppies will keep one another company whilst you work but this is a bad plan, as I said previously, they will bond to one another and you will struggle to train them both to respond to you, and to interact nicely with other dogs. Imagine twin toddlers left to their own devices for 8 hours a day!
     
8. Puppies should be taught to at least tolerate and ignore other household pets, although common sense says never to leave them alone together. Teach your puppy that you are more interesting than the pet rabbit/cat/chickens, and never give him the opportunity to chase or harass other pets.
   
9. If you have young children, they must be taught to handle the puppy from the beginning. They must understand that the dog is not a plaything and that the dog is never to be teased or tormented, even accidentally.
   

Training

1. To house-train the puppy, never let him have the opportunity to toilet indoors. If you can achieve this for just a few weeks, and couple it with taking your pup outside every hour and after all meals, walks, training sessions, play sessions and sleep periods, rewarding extremely well when he toilets outside, you will quickly have a dog who is reliably and solidly housetrained. Punishing a dog for going in the house is an ineffective method of training this, they will learn any number of messages, but these are never 'do not toilet in the house', they are "do not toilet in front of me for I will punish you" which can lead to dogs running away and hiding to toilet, and "if I find a mess I will punish you" which generally causes dogs to cover up mess with household objects, eat mess and can also make any separation anxiety issues far far worse.
   
2. Provide more formal training; basic commands such as sit, leave, down, etc can be taught using food rewards and hand signals, introducing the command when the dog understands the signal. It's very easy and avoids confusion. Simply lure the position you want (for sit, show the dog a small treat and then move your hand and the treat back over the dogs head so he has to sit to keep looking at it, immediately give the treat, as he gets the idea, introduce the word 'sit'), and then reward and then introduce the command. Another great method is clicker training where a click sound marks the exact behaviour you wanted, and tells the dog "yes, that's correct and you will get a treat". This is great in a number of ways, one is that the click always sounds the same, unlike your voice which will give away tiredness, anger, frustration etc, the other is that its much much faster to click and then give a treat later, than it is to try and give the dog the treat the very instant it performs the behaviour.
   

Diet

1. Around food, you must make sure your puppy is happy to have you close by. There may come a time when you need to take something from him, you may have children who will walk past him as he is eating.
   
   • To achieve a dog who is happy and friendly and relaxed about people being near his food you must:
     
     • Never snatch food from him
       
     • Never hit or shout at him (even if he growls). Instead always make humans + his food = more food. Hand feed him, put your hands in the puppy's food dish whilst it is eating if he is happy with this to start with.
       
2. Pay attention to their diet. Dogs are primarily carnivorous scavengers; their diet is meat and fat (though smaller breeds also eat insects). The only vegetable matter they consume in the wilds is the partially-digested stuff in the entrails of their prey. Failing this, they eat the dung of these animals.
   
   • Dogs have rather peculiar digestive systems, in that puppies are born without the enzymes necessary for digestion. This is why the mother regurgitates her food for the puppies. This ejecta contains the bacteria that the puppies need to populate their stomachs and guts.
     
   • Many dog owners see the mother throwing up her food, but stop the puppies eating it as it is, to the owners, nauseating, but if the pups are not permitted to eat this regurgitated food, they never develop the enzymes, so that they are unable to digest their food properly!
     
   • If your puppy displays a pica - in other words, a craving - for the dung of other animals or tries to eat grass, you must take it as a sign that it is lacking in digestive enzymes and is seeking them in the dung and grass. As dogs are carnivores, they do not have the enzymes required to digest vegetable matter: they get these from the partially digested food in the stomachs and guts of their prey. These particular enzymes are expelled almost immediately after the vegetable matter has passed through the dog's digestive system.
     
   • Most proprietary dog food is made with a high proportion of vegetable matter and starch. They are formulated by veterinarians who know little about the canine nutrition and are employed by a food manufacturer to ensure the food won't kill the dog.
     
   • Many people also think that "if it's good enough for me, it's good enough for my dog". It's not! Just as you would not think of eating the contents of a herbivore's stomach, and just as you would not permit your children to eat the dung of other animals, do not expect your dog to thrive on the food you eat.
     
3. A large dog will have reached its full height by two years of age, but will continue to fill out for another year. Do not try to put weight on an immature dog, he should be allowed to fill out in his own time, excess weight too soon will cause joint damage.
   
   • Feed a good brand of food (that's an article in itself) or feed a raw natural diet, never over feed a dog, slightly underweight is far better for his health than slightly overweight. Never 'free feed' or 'ad lib' feed your dog as this is a sure fire way to cause any number of behavioural issues such as food guarding, food saving, fussy picky eating. It also prevents you from knowing immediately if your dog is off his food as you don't know for sure how much he ate or when he ate last. Instead offer meals twice a day and give your dog just 10 minutes to eat. If he hasn't eaten in that time, remove the food and put it away. A strict regime like this will ensure your dog eats on time, every time which is far more healthy for his digestion, dogs are scavengers, not natural grazers and shouldn't always feel 'full'. If you do this however, do make sure you feed a very good quality diet, and do be aware, the price you pay for commercial dog food is not a good indicator of its quality. Ensure that your dogs have access to clean water at all times.
     

Tips

• Select toys your dog will like, regardless of how they appeal to you. Varying textures within the same toy are often liked, toys that are designed to be pulled apart or stuffed with food go down a storm too. Avoid toys that can cause harm such as sticks that splinter, cooked bones that can splinter or cause impactions in the gut.
  
• Use the tone of your voice to tell him how you're feeling. A deep voice when you want the dog to stop what he is doing, a firm voice when training or commanding: make a game of it and you will get a lot more out of puppy than bullying him. A happy, higher pitched voice when he's doing as you wish. Whistle to him when you want him to come. Whistling travels a longer distance than calling, and it won't make you hoarse.
  

Warnings

• Research the breeds that you like well before purchasing, otherwise you may find that although your dog looks pretty, his needs cannot be met in your home. Small dogs often need far more exercise than their appearance would suggest and some of the smallest breeds are terriers, bred to be stubborn, independent and fight for their lives, they do not suffer fools. Some of the larger breeds are more biddable and 'soppy'. Long haired breeds need a lot of grooming, but many of them shed much less fur than short haired breeds. Consider adopting an adult dog that already has the personality and behavior you would like. Do your homework!
  
• Never give your dog chocolate, this can make them very sick as it contains theobromine, which is poisonous. This can kill small dogs outright with a large enough dose, but is also an accumulative poison, building up over time. Put the chocs away! Other potentially dangerous or poisonous foods include grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, onions.
  
• Never leave children unsupervised with dogs, a toddlers face is at roughly the same height as a dogs face and dogs do not like being stared in the face, and toddlers like to closely examine everything they see, this is a recipe for disaster. If you are leaving the room where the dog and child are, take the dog with you.
  
• Never allow children to tease or torment dogs and learn enough about dog behaviour to know what will and will not upset a dog (cuddles, eye contact, waving food around, all very bad things to do to a dog).
  
• Don't use physical violence on your dog- don't rely on smacking as a training method. It's poorly understood by dogs; they repeat the behaviours they find rewarding, remember that and use it to your advantage. Do beware trainers who advise you to smack or yell at your dog, imagine if your boss or your partner treated you that way, you wouldn't have a good relationship with them, and your dog is no different. Last of all you will need to remember that training a dog takes time, effort and pacints. A well trained dog is a happy dog. Dogs just want to learn and obey.
  

Related Contents

• Healthy Food for Dogs
  
• Change your Dogs Life Today
  
• Free training Course for Dogs
  
• Groom Your Dog At home and enhance your bond with your dog
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Sit
• Turn your dog into an Obedient, Loyal Pet In Just 5 Days
  
• Free training Course for Dobermans
• Free training Course for Golden Retrievers

Dog Obedience Training

How to Obedience Train Your Puppy Before It's 10 Weeks Old

Most people think obedience training should not start until the puppy is 5 months old. This is often wrong because by the time the puppy has been with you a month, it will already try to become the leader.

Steps

1. Let your puppy know who's boss. The minute your new puppy walks into your house (your domain) he/she is under your rules. Let him/her know that by entering the house first and making the puppy wait outside for a minute.
   
2. Eat before he does. Next, the puppy should eat after you and know he is eating after you. This means he should be in the room watching you eat. After you finish, feed him.
   
3. Put him to bed earlier than you. The puppy should go to bed before you, if he sleeps in a crate place him in the crate 10 minutes prior to you going to bed. If using a bed, do the same thing and close the door. Both say "It's YOUR bedtime, not mine."
   
4. Teach him about 'time out'. If the puppy does something you disapprove of, a time out is a good way to set him/her straight. Place him in the bathroom and close the door. (See Tips Section to Determine for How Long.)
   

Tips

• To determine a time out time, the rule is, 1 minute for every month old he is. Ex: A 3 Month Old Puppy- 3 Minutes. This rule should stop at 9 months old and start the next time out rule. (Below)
  
• After 9 Months of this rule, start matching time to offense because 10 minutes is a rather lengthy time out. Ex: Tearing up Curtains- 5 Minutes. Running out the door- 3 Minutes.
  
• Do NOT match time to value meaning if you gave him 4 minutes for tearing up an old shoe, it should not be 20 minutes for tearing up a new shoe. He won't get the difference. All he sees is a shoe.
  
• NEVER give in. This will just make him think he has a chance when he wants something later on.
  

Warnings

• Don't Forget this is still a baby. Don't be too harsh and remember to love him/her constantly.
  
• Don't hit the puppy. This will just make him hand shy later on. If you must punish him with pain, take your hand and make a claw. Put the claw on his backside and give a quick squeeze with your nails. This simulates a bite which is a natural punishment with wolfs in the wild. It works best if you put your head near the place being "bitten" for a more real feel.

Related Contents

• Dogs behavior problems
  
• How to train your dog
  

How to Become a Dog Trainer

Have you ever thought about training dogs for a living, but didn't know where to begin? Get the inside scoop from a successful professional trainer.

Steps

1. Consider whether you enjoy working with people as well as dogs. Many people get into the profession of dog training without realizing that what dog trainers do is really to train people to train dogs. You must have patience and empathy, and be as good a coach to your human clients (lots of positive reinforcement!) as you are to your dogs.
   
2. Get an education. There is no degree required to become a dog trainer, but you should attain both "book knowledge" and hands-on experience before offering your services to the public. Read books, attend seminars, watch DVDs. Get hands-on experience by mentoring under another trainer if possible, and volunteer to work at your local shelter or with rescue groups. Shelter/rescue work is a great way to get hands-on experience with dogs of various breeds and temperament.
   
3. Consider whether you want to teach group classes, do private lessons, or both. You will probably start out by training part-time while working another job. Whether you can make a living as a full-time trainer depends on how many classes/sessions you are willing to do per week, how much demand there is for trainers in your geographic area, and whether you offer other additional services such as board-and-train.
   
4. You need to consider whether you want to be a dog trainer, a behavior counselor, a pet care provider or a pet care expert who can offer a wide number of services across all three disciplines. Dog Trainers focus on helping their clients build dog obedience behavior repertoires. The training involves teaching a dog new skills such as ‘sit/stay’ to prevent the dog from begging at the table or teaching the dog to ‘come’ when the owner wants the dog to return to them. On the other hand behavior counseling involves working with a client to change an existing problematic behavior often requiring that you teach the dog an alternative response to a set of circumstances. The results of a survey conducted by Goodloe and Borchelt showed that from a pool of 2018 dogs,: 38% said their dogs showed some fear toward loud noises, 22% reported fear toward unfamiliar adults, 33% were fearful toward unfamiliar children and 14% exhibited fear toward unfamiliar and non threatening dog. Because of this if you are considering a career in dog training you need to look at options that educate you and support your growth as a dog trainer and a behavior counselor. Your clients will appreciate it and your bottom line will benefit.
   

Tips

• Join the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors (www.nadoi.org), the International Association of Canine Professionals (www.canineprofessionals.com) and/or the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (www.apdt.com) where you can network with other trainers online, attend conferences, and continue your education even if you are not a professional trainer just yet.
  
• Apply for a full-tuition scholarship at the Canine Club Academy (http://canineclubacademy.com) for a certification course in dog handling, including one-on-one tutoring in how to set up and market your own dog business.
  
• There is now a certification offered by the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers (www.ccpdt.org). Once you have enough experience, consider becoming certified.
  
• Certification as a Dog trainer and as a Dog Training Instructor also available through IACP (www.canineprofessionals.com)
  
• Animal lovers looking to become Certified Dog Trainers can enroll at Animal Behavior College for their in-home study program with hands-on training
  
• Join a Dog Training Franchise that offers both academic learning and hours of hands on training. A franchise like The DogSmith will then mentor you as you career grows so you continually improve your skills and be a dog trainer and a dog behavior counselor http://www.DogSmithFranchise.com
  
• Download a FREE report that will help you determine the best way to open a dog training business. http://wwww.PetIndustryFranchise.com
  

Warnings

• Do not feel that you have to take every case that comes your way. If you receive a request to handle an issue such as aggression, which you are not yet comfortable with or experienced in handling, refer the caller to another trainer. Then ask whether you can come along to watch and learn.
  
• If you are ever on a private session and you feel that you are in over your head behavior-wise, again, let the client know and refer to another trainer.
  

Related Contents

• How to Become an Animal Behaviorist
  
• How to Train Your Dog
  
• How to House Train an Older Dog
  
• How to Find and Choose a Dog Trainer
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.apdt.com
  
• http://www.nadoi.org
  
• http://www.phantompub.com
  
• http://www.ccpdt.org
  
• http://www.tawzerdogvideos.com
  
• http://www.sitmeanssit.com
  
• http://www.DogSmithFranchise.com
  
• http://www.PetIndustryFranchise.com

How to Train a Dog

Thinking about getting a dog? Want to know what is expected of you to train a dog? Check this article out first.

Steps

1. Pick a dog that matches your lifestyle. Many people choose dogs that are "cute" or "funny". Or purchase them on a whim. But that is not a good way to choose a pet. A dog, depending on the breed, can be a 15 year relationship. You want to be sure that the temperament of your dog matches your lifestyle. So do your research and be honest about what kind of activity level you have in your life. Don't get a dog that needs a lot of activity because you need a reason to take a walk and lose some weight. You and the dog will end up frustrated.
   
2. It is easier to start from scratch. Rescue dogs are great but often times they have already developed bad habits and require a lot more training. Dogs that have spend the majority of their life in a pound or kennel may take much longer to bond with humans and some may never fully become part of the "pack". Pound and rescue dogs may have been victims of abuse or neglect and may not trust humans or may exhibit a lot of undesirable behaviors early on. If you are inexperienced or do not have a lot of time to devote to training, starting with a puppy may be a much better option.
   
3. Plan to devote 10-15 minutes every day to training. This is all it takes to train a dog. Any longer and your dog will become tired and resentful. Any less and they will not retain the information as well.
   
4. Establish who in the family is going to be the trainer. Dogs are pack animals and take direction only from the pack leader. A pack can only have one leader. Determine who will be responsible for the dogs training and do not let anyone else teach the dog anything new until they have mastered the basics.
   
5. Give the dog a name that is practical. The experts say that a dog's name should end in a vowel because it is easier for them to understand. Don't make it too fancy or long or the dog might not know you are talking to it. Use the dog's name often when you are petting it and when you are feeding it. Do not use it as part of teaching them a new command or they may associate their name with that command instead. Use their name when you want their attention. Train them to look at your face by saying their name and gently turning their face up toward yours. When you are training it is important that they have all their attention on you. Calling their name should mean "look at the pack leader".
   
6. Share your training rules with the rest of the family. If you are training your dog not to jump on people and the kids let the dog jump all over them, this will undermine your training work. Once you have established your expectations with the dog, they need to be reinforced by everyone consistently but again, no one except the "pack leader" should ever train the dog.
   
7. Your first training should be learning to sleep in a crate. You may think it's cruel but in fact, dogs are den animals. They actually enjoy sleeping in a crate. When they are puppies, keep the crate very small so they cannot relieve themselves in it (animals generally will not relieve themselves where they sleep or eat). As they become housebroken, get them a crate that is comfortable and place it somewhere near where the family is. Keep the crate wherever the designated "pack leader" sleeps. Forcing a dog to sleep away from his "pack" confuses him and makes him think he has done something wrong. Do not let the dog sleep in the bed with you until you have fully trained them to sleep in a crate. Breaking a dog of sleeping on the bed, once they are in that habit is almost impossible. Train your dog to use the crate by putting them in there for a few minutes at a time several times during the day, gradually increasing the time they spend in there until they are assured that you are eventually going to come and let them out.
   
8. 'Second lesson should be how to walk on a lead/leash. This is important,especially if you do not have an enclosed yard. Your dog should understand that when they go outside, they are expected to behave while on the leash. There are many books and videos on training dogs to help you learn how to do this.
   
9. The third training lesson should be "whoa" or "stop." or whatever you want to use as a command for your dog to stop moving. This command is VERY important as it could save your dog's life. Do not rely on calling their name as a command to get them to stop. There may be times when you do not want them to come to you but instead stay right where they are. If you call their name, they may think you want them to come. Some sort of stopping command should be taught even before "come". There are many videos and books that can help you with this training.
   
10. Keep in mind that all dogs have different temperaments. Just like kids, different breeds learn differently and at different rates. Some dogs are stubborn and will challenge you at every turn. Others will just about bend over backwards to please you. You may need to adjust your training techniques to meet the need of your dogs temperament. This is another good reason why you should research a breed before you purchase or adopt a dog to be sure you can handle them.
    
11. Always reward success and good behavior with praise. I don't recommend using "treats" as a reward for training as it teaches them to work for the treat, not for your praise. If no treat is offered when they perform, they will become confused but praise can always be given.
    
12. Determine a "release" command for ending training. When you are done training (and ended on a positive note) give your dog a command that signals you are finished. But make sure it's not a common word. We made the mistake of using "okay" as a release command with our first dog and every time someone said it, she thought it was time to have fun and got all wound up!. Use a command like "Playtime" or "Recess" to let your dog know that the training part of the day is over and now they can just enjoy your company.
    
13. Always end your daily training sessions on a positive note. If you have been trying to teach them something new and they are just not getting it, review something that they already do well and then praise them for that and end the session. Your dog will look forward to the training sessions if you always end positively, regardless of the success of that lesson. Once the training is over, then it would be okay to give them "treats" or "cookies" as long as it's not as a reward for an accomplishment. If the dog barks at you, then turn around, ignore it for 30 secs and when it stops, reward it. If a dog jumps on you and does not stop after you say stop, turn and say no in a firm tone. Remember! Do not yell at a dog, it will not understand you and will continue to do the action, leading you to frustration.
    

Doorways

1. This method can be applied whenever you go through a doorway with your dog. It doesn’t need to happen when you’re around and about in the house, but in very early puppy days or whenever, if your dog is following around you, you can make the most of the opportunity, and apply this technique if you wish.
   
2. Walk to the door.
   
3. Before stepping through, turn and face your dog.
   
4. When they try to get past, block them with your legs and a dominating stance (standing up tall and straight, calm but confident).
   
5. Ask your dog to LISTEN. When they do, give another command (such as sit or lie down) (see Listen, if you are unsure on this step).
   
6. Gesture to them, to come through the threshold.
   

Meals

1. Always eat before your dog.
   
2. Make sure that they are aware you're doing this, if they are in another room a lot, and don’t see you eating. You can try putting them in the room you're eating in as well.
   
3. After you finish eating, make up their food.
   
4. If you dog is a very young puppy and has been taught no commands, just make sure that you give the food directly to them, and never leave it for them to find. As you give it to them, say TAKE IT (this command is an important part to many other exercises). When they finish, remove the bowl that the food is in, and put it somewhere they cannot see or get to.
   

Take

1. Use it whenever you give your dog some food or a treat or a toy to play with.
   
2. If your dog is waiting for a treat or toy, this might be in a scenario you are using to teach your dog (such as throwing a treat, and making your dog wait patiently, before it is allowed to have it). TAKE IT should be used when you are happy that they can go and get it. It should also be used whenever you reward a dog for a command.
   

Listen

1. The LISTEN command is a very important command. It’s one of the first commands you should teach your dog. Use it to get your dog’s attention, so you can give them the next command.
   
2. Find a time when your dog is not under any commands (i.e. freely walking around, lying down or sniffing something.)
   
3. Get a handful of treats.
   
4. Stand near your dog. (If you can do this without distracting them, the technique will work even better. If not, don’t worry, but don’t engage with them; just stand looking a different direction, and they should lose interest.)
   
5. Say LISTEN in a firm voice (Do this as if you were calling a person's name, because you want to say something to them).
   
6. As soon as your dog responds, most likely they will look toward you and stop what they’re doing. Give them a treat (remember the ‘take it ‘ rule).
   
   • You will not need to continue rewarding with treats when they have learned listen, as they will soon realise that the treats come with the command or activity that follows the ‘listen’.
     

Come

1. Use this command, whenever you want your dog to come to you.
   
2. Find a way to attract you dog’s attention, to make them run toward you. This can be a noise, a toy, an excited clap or simply opening your arms. Starting to run and then stopping can also work, as dogs will naturally start to chase.
   
3. When your dog starts to move towards you, give the command COME and repeat it until they reach you.
   
4. When they reach you, reward with either a treat or toy and a “Good dog”.
   
5. Give a release command, and walk away.
   

Sit

1. This is a simple method to get your dog into the sit position. After you are confident your dog knows what sit is, incorporate it into everyday life.
   
2. Get some food treats or a toy.
   
3. Call your dog to you.
   
4. When they get to you, tell them to LISTEN, and hold the toy or treat in view.
   
5. This can be achieved by moving the object the dog is focusing on (treat or toy), from in front of their nose to above the dogs head. They should naturally sit. If not, try patting or gently pressing the rear of their back.
   
6. When you dog starts to sit, say SIT, and repeat any number of times.
   
7. Reward your dog with the treat, or give them the toy to play with.
   
8. Give the release command, and walk away.
   

Lie Down

1. A simple method, much like the sit method, to get your dog to go and stay in the lying down position. After you are confident your dog knows what the command lie down is, incorporate it into the general exercises.
   
2. Get some food treats or a toy.
   
3. Call you dog to you.
   
4. When they get to you, tell them to LISTEN, and hold the toy or treat in view.
   
5. Use the treat or toy, to make your dog lie down. This can be achieved by moving the toy or treat onto the ground in front of the dog. Their head should follow it, and their body should follow shortly thereafter.
   
6. When they begin to LIE DOWN, give the command, and repeat it any number of times, keeping the treat on the ground at first. If you move it and the dog moves with it, bring it back down.
   
7. Reward the dog with the treat, or give them the toy to play with.
   
8. Give the release command and walk away.
   

Stand

1. A similar method adapted to get your dog to remain standing and not move. When your dog has learned it, incorporate it into the general exercises.
   
2. Get some food treats or a toy.
   
3. Call you dog to you.
   
4. As they get to you, tell them to LISTEN, and hold the toy or treat in front of their face, at their nose height (if they sit, try again, but with the treat or toy slightly lower).
   
5. Give the command STAND or STAND STILL and repeat, keeping the treat still in front of their nose. If your dog tries to eat it or take it, close your hand and verbally object (you could shout "No!" firmly.) Re-open your hand, when they stop.
   
6. Reward the dog with the treat, or give them the toy to play with.
   
7. Give the release command, and walk away.
   

Video

Tips

• Be consistent. Make sure the command and hand signal use is the same each time. 10-15 minutes per day every day is all it takes.
  
• When using voice commands, use a firm voice. You mean for this dog to sit, so speak with meaning. Do not plead or whisper, the dog will think you are too timid to speak up and he will think HE is the dominant one, not you. Also, don't scream, the dog will think you are angry and become gradually frightened.
  
• When your dog has mastered voice commands, consider adding hand signals to the command in your training as well. That way if they cannot hear you but they can see you, you can always keep control of your dog.
  
• If using hand signals, be sure they are unique and distinct for the dog to see and differentiate
  
• Remember that dogs do not communicate the same way humans do. It's up to you to learn their "language" not the other way around.
  
• Realize that your puppy will have accidents. Don't overreact *Do not allow your dog to bite you, even playfully. This sets a bad precedent and it will be difficult for you to break them of this habit.
  
• Do not let your dog "lean" on you either when you are standing up or sitting down. This is not a sign that they like you. This is a sign of dominance. You are the leader. Push them off if they do this.
  
• Reprimand your dog in the same manner that "mama dog" would. If they whine or bark when you don't want them to, use your hand over their muzzle and close their mouth. Then get close to their face and in a very low voice (like a growl) say "No", long and low so it sound almost like a growl. Mama dogs will do this with their mouths on the puppies muzzle to let them know they are not behaving. Dogs understand this. Yelling "no" and pointing at them means nothing to a dog. You might as well be saying "blah blah blah". Once they identify the low, growling "no" as negative, you can use it to reprimand them.
  
• If your dog is disobedient, another good way to reprimand them is to isolate them from the rest of the "pack". Put them in their crate or kennel and ignore them. Isolation from the pack is dog language for "you've been bad and we don't like it". Your dog will understand it. They may even whine and howl but you have to ignore it. Think of it as a "time out" for your dog.
  

Warnings

• Training dogs requires a large amount of patience, and can be extremely frustrating if you do not make the right choice for your skill level and lifestyle. If you find you have made a poor choice, find a new home for the dog as soon as possible. Call your local rescue organization or vet. Don't wait until you and the dog have suffered If you just don't have the patience, then either refine your training skills and techniques, or hire a professional to train your dog.
  
• Obedience training really is not for the dog...it's for YOU. This training teaches you how to communicate what you want your dog to do in a way that he understands. If you send your dog to someone else to train them, they learn to work with that person, not you. Take the time to learn how to train your dog, don't pass the responsibility off to someone else.
  
• Use a collar and leash that is appropriate to your dogs size. Too loose or too tight collars can cause injury.
  
• Don't be cruel to your dog or hit them. If you strike your dog out of frustration, it will only learn to fear you.
  
• Praise your dog often.
  
• Clean up after your dog if they relieve themselves on someone else's property or in a public place. Doing this will ensure that others enjoy your dog as much as you do.
  
• Don't feed your dog junk food. Stick to food made especially for dogs. Table scraps are okay if they are healthy food and if you reduce amount of dog food you feed them. Dry dog kibble is better than wet food. It keeps their teeth clean and their breath more tolerable. You can use wet food as a treat or mix it with the dry in small amounts.
  
• Regular exercise for your dog will prevent them from being destructive in your home. Dogs get bored. When they get bored, they find ways to "entertain" themselves. That may include chewing your favorite shoes (yes, it's happened to me...several times) or destroying furniture or barking incessantly. Avoid this problem by taking them for regular walks (twice a day is best). And it's good for you too!
  
• Keep regular vet visits, stay up to date on shots, keep current on your city or town's license requirements and have your pet spayed or neutered as soon as they are old enough.
  
• Having a dog requires almost as much responsibility as a child. If you're not ready for that, don't get one.
  
• DO NOT YELL AT YOUR DOG!
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Train a Dog
  
• How to Teach Your Dog to Drop It
  
• Healthy Food for Dogs
  
• How to be a dog trainer
  
• Dog Food Guide
  
• How to Breed Dogs
  
• German Shepherd Training Tips
  

Sources and Citations

• Thatsmydog.com
  
• http://effectivedogtraining.net
  

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