4 Top Dog Training Tips



Posted: Monday, June 25, 2007

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Dog training does not have to be a long, arduous process. Instead, it should be an opportunity for you to build your relationship with your dog, to create a better bond, and to have a little fun. Here are a few dog training tips that can help make the experience a positive one for both you and your dog.

Using A Treat As A Reward

Before you begin a treat-based training session, you'll want to make sure that food will motivate him through the session.  Begin around your dog’s regular meal time by taking a piece of his food and waving it in front of your dog’s nose. If he shows an enthusiasm for the food, it's a great time to start the training session.  If your dog shows little interest, or none at all, it may be best to put off the training until another time.  Don’t be afraid to delay the start of meal time in order to pique your dog’s interest in his training activities.  The advantages of a successful training session will far outweigh any minor delays in mealtime.

The Pack Hierarchy

All potential dog owners and would be dog trainers should understand how dog society works in the absence of humans. You'll want to understand the pack hierarchy, and use that understanding to your advantage as you train your dog. Here's a quick overview: all pack animals have a lead animal. In the case of dogs, it's the alpha dog. All other members of the pack look to the alpha dog for direction and guidance. In turn, the alpha dog provides leadership in hunting, fending off other predators, protecting territory and other vital survival skills. This pack arrangement is what has allowed wolves and wild dogs to be such successful predators, even as other large predators have been driven to extinction. How does this aid in training? By being perceived as the alpha dog, you immediately gain the respect and obedience of your dog.

Why House Training Shouldn't Be Difficult

What you may or may not know about dogs, the single factor that make house training much easier, is that dogs are instinctively very clean animals. They prefer to keep the areas where they sleep and eat clean. Additionally, dogs will quickly and easily develop preferential areas where they urinate and defecate. For example, a dog that is used to eliminating on a concrete or gravel surface, will naturally gravitate to those surfaces to eliminate rather than to use the nearest patch of grass or dirt. When house training your dog, you'll want to use these natural canine habits to your advantage by quickly establishing a designated area for him to do his business.

Controlling Your Dog's Leash Pulling

Leash pulling can be found in adult dogs as well as puppies. Sometimes it's due to excitement. For instance, when your dog first realizes that he's going to get to go on a walk with you, he may become overly excited and immediately start tugging on the leash. If this is the case, it usually only requires a few minutes to calm your dog down before the leash pulling will subside. Stand with him on leash for a minute or two until he settles down, and then continue on your walk.  

If the problem is one of control, however, some retraining may be required. In this instance, settling your dog down won't do you any good. What's missing is the sense of hierarchy we spoke about above. You haven't clearly established yourself as the alpha dog in your dog's mind. So what you'll most likely want to do is take a step back and return to training your dog to obey the basic obedience commands. The structure of a formal dog obedience school might help as well. Just be prepared to receive as much training as your dog does.

While dog training tips can help you better understand how to work with your dog, if you need help with other dog challenges (such as biting, barking, tugging on the leash, and others), check out these top three dog training courses: Dog Training

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