FYI: we may earn a commission for qualified purchases made through the links in our articles (learn more).
Training your puppy to do what you ask is easy when you know how to do it, so here are some tips for top dog obedience training. Instant feedback works best, so praise and reward your puppy as soon as he does well.
What is obedience training for dogs
Obedience training for dogs is one of the most important activities that owners can do with their pets to create a stronger bond and improve their dog’s quality of life. The top dog obedience training techniques we are sharing here are simple, straightforward, and effective. Dogs constantly rely on their owners to guide them, understand what they need and how to behave in certain situations. However, this is not an easy task especially since all dog breeds are different and require different techniques when training.
This dog training program provides an overview of the most essential techniques in obedience training for dogs, so you can effectively work with your dog and teach them to behave properly. Owners not only need to be aware of the positive aspects but also must pay attention to negative behaviours and what actions they should avoid at all times.
What challenges should I expect in dog training?
When it comes to obedience training for dogs, one should not underestimate the amount of effort required from both sides in order for this process to run smoothly. In other words, if you don’t have enough time or patience, then this practice may end up being too much work and could potentially become rather frustrating.
Tips for dog obedience training—The steps to take before you begin
Before starting the dog training process, it is vital for owners to ensure their dog’s wellbeing so they can enjoy this activity together. Thus, both parties should be in good health and feel comfortable about taking part in the process. Also, both humans and animals need to be properly prepared before getting into any activities that will involve them working closely with one another.
Mistakes in dog training and how to avoid them
Aspects such as pack behavior or dominance and submission are also essential when it comes to obedience training for dogs. If these variables are not correctly addressed during the first stages of the pet’s life, you could encounter some problems down the line. In most cases, a simple instruction of “no” is enough to make your dog stop a certain behavior but if they don’t obey this command then you will need to exercise more authority and use stronger methods such as shouting or physical contact.
Hold your puppy’s attention by keeping your puppy obedience training sessions short and fun. And always remember, training is a gradual process. Consistency and repetition are the keys to success.
The sit command
Training your puppy to sit on command is a great way to begin puppy obedience training. He’ll master it quickly and gain the confidence to successfully learn more complex commands. Say sit in a firm tone when you see that your puppy’s about to sit. As soon as he sits, immediately praise him. After a few repetitions hell make the connection, and if you consistently praise him hell soon be sitting whenever you give the command. Dog training hand signals are very effective.
But if this technique doesn’t work, grab a treat. While your puppy is standing in front of you, say sit and bring the treat up from in front of his nose to just above his head. He’ll follow it with his nose and at the same time his rear end will go down, so that he ends up sitting. As soon as he does, give him the treat and praise him. Repeat until he sits on command.
The stay command
Start your puppy obedience training for the stay command with your puppy sitting in front of you. Say stay in a firm tone, and if he’s still sitting after a second or two, reward him with praise and a treat. Repeat the process several times each session, but delay giving the positive reinforcement a few seconds longer each time. Don’t punish your pup if he breaks out of the stay prematurely just say no and start over again. He’ll soon learn to associate the stay command with staying in place. Once he learned the command, you can gradually increase the distance between you, but make sure you always return to your dog before reinforcing his behavior. You want him to stay, so don’t reward him for moving away.
The come command
Come is the probably the most important command you’ll teach during your puppy obedience training. Put your pup on stay, then kneel in front of him and in a friendly voice say Brutus, come (substitute your puppy’s name). Reinforce him immediately when he comes to you. As with all dog obedience training, repeat the process until he gets it.
The heel command
You want your dog to walk calmly beside you without touching you, so its critical to keep your puppy’s attention. Begin by standing with your puppy next to your left leg, holding one of your pup’s favorite treats near your waist. Say his name followed by the command heel. As soon as he looks at you, take two steps forward. If he moves forward still in the heel position, reward him immediately. Do this repeatedly, but only reward him when he stays tucked in close to your left leg. If he forges ahead or straggles behind, don’t reward him, just start again. Gradually increase the distance you walk with each successful repetition, but don’t forget to reward him each time he does it correctly.
Only when your dog learns to respond to YOU and your family will dog obedience training be successful [1]. Here are some articles with information on puppy training that I think you will find useful:
- Introducing Off-Leash play while training your dog
- Introducing Correction as the second step in dog training
Leave a Reply