Introduction to dog training
Most people need to know that training dogs is a fundamental concept when it comes to owning a dog. In a nutshell, the main goal is to instill obedience in the dog and establish himself as the leader of the pack. This is also a good time to bond with the dog, as training will be fun.
When can dogs be trained? Puppies have short attention spans and therefore most training centers have a minimum of 3-6 months for formal training. Keep in mind that while dogs can still learn new tricks when they get older, it becomes more difficult to send them into obedience training when they are a few years old and set in their ways.
You can send your dogs for training at dog training centers or you can train them yourself. Those who have previous dog training experience will be able to train dogs on their own.
Key Factors for Dog Training Success
- Consistency => Use the same command and hand signal every time. Even if the dog doesn’t hear the command, use the same command again instead of trying another command
- Simplicity => Use simple words or signs. Only one command should be issued at a time. Don’t mix commands. I was guilty of not following this when I first got involved in dog training. I used to say ‘Sit down’ to my dog while he was thinking in English. Unfortunately my dog doesn’t know English and got confused if he wanted her to ‘sit’ or go down.
- Reward => The love of the dogs has been rewarded. The rewards should be immediate after each exercise. You can praise or treat the dog. Note that you are encouraged to say ‘Good boy’ instead of food treats, as the dog would expect a food treat each time he performs a command.
- Confident => Be confident when issuing commands. Your dog would pick up on your insecurities and simply not obey.
- Fun => Both you and the dog should have fun. Never punish the dog if he doesn’t do the commands correctly. Instead, use rewards to encourage the dogs to obey the command.
- Feasibility of the command => It has been my experience that my German Shepherd does not like being on hot or wet ground. Give commands when you think the dog would either have no problem or would have the ability to carry out the command.
Canine Good Citizen Command List
Dogs don’t need to know many commands and the list below is usually sufficient. Make sure you have a training leash handy.
- Heel
- sit
- Down
- to come
- Stop
- To stay
