Pup Talk

Once you have decided to bring a new dog into your family you will have to decide how you want to train him or her. Every dog is trained one way or another. People who do not formally train their dogs are training their dogs to be naughty and not to obey. This is really unfair to the dog (they want to be loved and feel appreciated) and everyone who has to come in contact with the dog. The dog will end up being disliked and when people are uncomfortable around the dog, the dog will be uncomfortable around people.

by Johnny Huh

You do not have to pay big money to a dog trainer in order to have a happy obedient dog. There are probably hundreds of books and websites on the topic of dog training. If you decide to train the dog yourself the most important thing you can do is have the proper mindset. You need to remember that YOU are the boss. The dog is supposed to obey your commands without hesitation. It is important to use a firm, authoritative voice when doing your dog training. When you behave as a leader, the dog will respect you as the leader and will follow your commands. If you are hesitant or timid in your commands the dog will sense this and may try to run the show. He or she will seize the opportunity to be the “top dog” if you let him.

The next important thing about dog training is consistency. You must use the same commands each and every time. You will also need to use the same rewards and consequences each and every time. Once the dog is full grown and properly trained, it will not be necessary to give the dog a treat each time he or she performs a trick or properly obeys a command, but it is quite helpful during the training process. Other rewards that work for dogs include giving praise, “good dog” said with sincere emotion and of course lots of stroking. Consequences include scolding, “bad dog” and withholding affection. You may need to swat the dog on the nose for certain unacceptable behaviors, but this should be used sparingly. It is never necessary to beat a dog for any reason.

If you do decide to take your dog to obedience class or hire a dog trainer it is important to remember that you will still have work to do. I often joke that dog obedience training is really “dog owner obedience training” because the owner learns how to give commands and how to respond either positively or negatively to the dog’s behavior. The owner will need to learn all the commands the trainer teaches and be consistent in using the same commands, rewards and consequences at home with their dog.

by Garlyn

Dog training takes time and patience. Even old dogs can learn new tricks, but only if the owner is consistent in their efforts. A well trained dog is actually much happier than a dog that is not. The dog owners and everyone around them are much happier, too.