Dog Training Tips

Finally, you have him – your new dog. But how do you ensure that the energetic dog or puppy you’ve brought home becomes a trustworthy canine companion?

Here are some basic tips to help you shape your dog into a healthy, well-adjusted pet:

Learn to think like a dog

TTo help your dog become part of your family, it is important to understand how your dog thinks. You must know what your dog craves, what he fears, and what motivates him toward the behaviors you desire.

Aside from basic needs of food and exercise, dogs have two main motivations: a desire for acceptance, and a desire for order. These two motivations go hand in hand -- since dogs are pack animals by nature, they crave order and hierarchy, and they seek approval from the leader. A well-behaved dog is a dog who understands his place within the family and who feels accepted and confident in how to please his owners. Once you learn to think as your dog does, the adjustment period will go much more smoothly.

Establish a social hierarchy

Dogs seek order and authority, and you must assert your leadership confidently so that your dog will accept his role as the submissive companion. You must never allow your dog to “win” in a battle of wills. Signs of weakness will cause him to doubt your ability to lead. Never back down while scolding your dog. Your dog is testing your authority, and no matter how many times you have to repeat the rebuke, you must persist until your dog submits to your leadership. A dog’s instincts tell him that whoever goes first is the leader. Your dog should never be allowed to walk in front of you, pass through doorways ahead of you, eat before you, or take food away from you.

 

Learn to speak canine

Dogs understand spoken language; however, a dog’s primary dialect is non-verbal.

Your dog is very sensitive to changes in posture, facial expressions, and gestures. Accompany vocal commands with hand gestures; the combination of auditory and visual cues will help your dog to learn more quickly. Also, use posture and facial expressions to communicate – focus on being a dominant presence with your body language. Whenever your dog does something correctly, shower him with praise, attention, or treats to show approval of his behavior. There is no need to hit or strike your dog – your dog is eager to please you, and a stern “no” will go a long way.

 

Create a daily routine

Because dogs thrive on order and authority, they function best within a regular daily routine. Try to feed your dog at the same time every day, and create a stable “bathroom” schedule. Set aside time each day for focused training, followed by relaxed play time, as well as a time for exercise. Bedtime should also be clearly established, and whether you place your dog in a crate for the night, put him outside in the yard, or allow him to sleep beside your bed, the nightly routine should be consistent so that your dog understands when to remain quiet and still.Keeping a regular routine will ensure that all your dog’s needs are met on a daily basis, and will help your dog to function confidently within a framework of acceptable behaviors.

Be consistent

Your dog is searching for signals as to which behaviors are acceptable or inacceptable, so it is imperative that you remain consistent. Decide immediately which commands or gestures you will use for a desired behavior, and which keywords you will use for praise or rebuke. Make sure to use your chosen signals consistently – you are teaching your dog a new language, and he needs to associate words and gestures with specific meanings. Training your dog will take repetition and patience, but if you are consistent, your dog will come to understand what is expected of him.

Socialize your dog

Dogs are social beings who need interaction with people, dogs, and other animals. When initially socializing your dog, avoid potentially frightening situations. Involve your dog with people or animals you know and trust, so as to minimize the chances of a negative experience. Take along some treats and be ready to reward good behavior.Do not allow your dog to display aggression. Keep him leashed, and address any inappropriate behavior with a firm “No!” If necessary, step between him and the object of his attention to show you are in charge. Repeat the rebuke, but be ready to praise him when he responds properly. Socialization enables the dog to recognize patterns of behavior and to discern friendly strangers from threatening ones. Frequent socialization is the key to preventing unwanted aggression toward strangers, children, or other animals.

 

Allow expression of your dog’s natural instincts

Though dogs have long been bred for domestic purposes, they still retain many of their natural, wild instincts. Failure to provide outlets for your dog’s instincts can lead to anxiety, aggression, or destructive behavior. Breed awareness can help you identify your dog’s natural urges[iii], but you can also recognize your dog’s instincts through careful observation. If your dog tends to chew on the furniture, dig at the yard or carpet, or shred linens or paper, provide a purposeful outlet for the behavior. Make sure your dog has access to bones and chew toys, mark off a “digging spot” in the yard, or provide him a chosen blanket to shred or chew on. Praise him for using the appropriate outlets – once he learns to channel his instincts, both you and your dog will be much happier.

 

Maintain clear boundaries

Clear behavioral boundaries are vital to helping your dog understand what is or isn’t pleasing to you. To achieve this, you must be consistent with your commands and rebukes. If you don’t want the dog to sleep in the bed with you, never allow him on the bed, even for a moment. If you don’t want the dog to bite, do not allow him to nip at you during play. When your dog is provided clear, consistent rules and boundaries, he will quickly learn which behaviors are acceptable, and will be much more confident and at ease.

 

Set realistic goals

Many dog owners have lofty goals for training, yet are disappointed because their dogs struggle with basic commands. It is important to set realistic goals for yourself and your pet, and to allow realistic timelines for training your dog. Complex behaviors such as bringing in the morning paper or putting away his own toys are certainly possible, but the essential behaviors such as housebreaking, leash-walking, and basic commands (no, sit, stay, down, and come) must be taught first. Training your dog to obey promptly and reliably can take weeks or even months. However, once your dog associates obedience with approval, his eagerness to learn will increase. Be patient, and do not show annoyance during your training sessions – your dog will sense your disapproval and may begin to view training sessions as negative. If you are patient and consistent, your dog’s knowledge of commands will grow exponentially, and eventually you will be able to train him for even the most complicated behaviors.

 

Provide mental and physical stimulation

Dogs are intelligent, social beings, yet they are also agile and energetic. A healthy dog requires both mental and physical stimulation. Requirements for physical activity vary with breed, but all dogs need consistent, daily exercise to release their natural physical energy. Exercising your dog can be as simple as taking him for a daily walk, or involving him in your own exercise routine. If you are unable to provide adequate exercise, find a trusted friend, neighbor, or even a professional dog-walker to help you meet your dog’s physical needs. Your dog will also need adequate mental stimulation. Like humans, dogs crave social interaction and entertainment. Involve your dog in family activities as much as possible; allow him to be present during relaxation time – while watching TV or playing games – and to accompany you to dog-friendly outings such as parks. When your dog must be left alone, provide him entertainment, like a favorite toy or bone. Providing toys to occupy your dog’s mind will relieve anxiety and prevent inappropriate chewing, barking, or whining.

Dog ownership is a rewarding experience, but it can also be very challenging. These 10 Tips provide the basis for developing a deep relationship which will benefit both you and your dog for years to come.

SitStayFetch - Dog Obedience Training

 

What Is It?

SitStayFetch presents an unusually detailed and thorough look at how to both prevent and deal with the more common problem behaviors exhibited by dogs. As the owner of a moderately troublesome mutt myself, I’ve spent a fair amount of time searching the Net for reliable resources on this topic, and I have to say that the level of knowledge and detail contained within the pages of this compendium is unusually exacting for an online book.

Not only that, but – again, unusually for this medium – the information at hand is actually (gasp!) reliable. Yes, that’s right - this one’s a whole new kettle of fish. Written by a seasoned dog trainer, you can relax in the knowledge that all the tips and advice included are tried and true, and come from Stevens’ real-life experiences as a professional dog trainer.

What’s Covered?

There’s a pretty impressive range of information packed into this guide. It’s not just the problem behaviors that are covered: the book starts off with new-owner advice (how to choose a puppy/dog, the best places to get one from, breed information, puppy/dog-proofing your home, the first vet visit, housetraining, etc) and then moves on to the more advanced stuff: behavioral problems (such as aggression, dominance, chewing, digging, excessive barking, separation anxiety, to name a few), intermediate-level obedience commands, health-related dog problems (allergies, cat/dog coexistence, fleas, heatstroke, and so on), and advanced commands and tricks.

Particularly Good Parts

In addition to the contents listed above, there’s also a pretty impressive section on dog whispering, which – in case you haven’t heard of it already – is a method of dog training based on a philosophy of clear communication and mutual respect. It’s been popularized in recent years by Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”), and is becoming increasingly well-known as an alternative and humane method for disciplining and training your dog. SitStayFetch has dedicated an entire section to dog whispering: Daniel Stevens explains the background of the technique, how to utilize voice and body language to your best advantage, and how to use the technique to calmly, assertively, and effectively correct and train your dog. Step-by-set instructions are included for the common commands (sit, down, come, stay, quiet, etc).

It makes for some pretty interesting reading – and, after trying out the basics on my own recalcitrant pooch, I was amazed at how effective the techniques suggested are. Highly recommended!

I Love Freebies (Who Doesn’t?)

There’s just something about getting something for nothing. And, although my magpie-like acquisitiveness may have led me into less-than-productive purchases in the past, in this particular case I’m happy to report that SitStayFetch hasn’t let me down: the freebies included with this book are not only numerous, they’re actually useful(wow!)

The book itself costs $37. For this price, you get a complete and detailed manual on training your dog, preventing and handling behavioral problems, and a whole bunch of general-knowledge tips and advice.

You also get a handful of practical freebies: four bonus books, dealing respectively with advanced housetraining how-to’s and troubleshooting (including both the crate- and paper-training methods); a detailed study on resolving canine aggression; how to effectively groom your dog (including information on coat care for specific breeds, dental care, and nail-clipping how-to’s); and finally, how to begin training your dog for security work.

Another particularly useful freebie: a personalized consultation with a member of the Kingdom of Pets team. If you’ve got an issue with your dog that you’d like some individual attention on, you can flick them a quick email and receive a personalized, thorough reply packed with expert advice and practical tips.

SitStayFetch: A Thumbnail Sketch

Altogether, I’m pretty impressed with this package. I’ve owned dogs on and off my whole life, starting from when I was ten – I would have thought that I was better-prepared than most to handle the quirks and caprices of my canine friends.

But since reading this book, I think my pre-SitStayFetch self was (embarrassingly) perhaps a trifle more complacent than knowledgeable - I’ve learned more since reading this manual than I’ve picked up in a near-lifetime’s worth of contact with dogs (do you know how to stop your dog from tugging on the leash, without using a check-chain? Well, I do – but until I got my hands on a copy of this book, I certainly didn’t!)

Several of the training techniques present a refreshingly common-sense, down-to-earth approach to dog training; others require a little more effort (take dog whispering as an example) but yield some pretty dramatic results. I liked the way that more than one training technique is detailed, to allow the reader to pick and choose the techniques that best suit themselves and their individual dogs.

I have no qualms in recommending this package to anyone who owns, or is thinking about owning, a dog. You don’t need to have a “problem pet” for the manual to be of assistance: there’s information included that’ll be useful to any and all dog owners.

In a nutshell: highly recommended.

To visit SitStayFetch CLICK HERE