Basic Dog Training

The Beginnings of Obedience Training

When has a dog been shaped to become the dog he is to be, when is it all grown up? You will have the greatest influence on him the first few months of his life. It is crucial to start training your dog from a young age. Do you want your dog to sit when you tell him? To heel? To come when you tell him? If this is what you want for you and your dog, you will have to invest time into some basic dog training. These are the most basic parts of obedience training for your dog.

You can spare yourself downright embarrassment from chasing and shouting after your dog when you let him off the leash. Expecting him to be obedient on shouts and demands like "get here right this instance" will not prevent him from running around the park, chasing after any distraction or jumping up on people in competition for attention. To "sit" and "come" are the most basic of training for your dog. For various different reasons these commands are used. It is essential for your dog to teach him these commands.

The first thing to know is never to change a command word. Always use the same command for "come" that you are going to use in the future (with your dogs name). It requires only the most basic of techniques to teach your dog to come. Repetition and praise are the tools to success. Repeat the teaching daily, several times, with long breaks in between so that your dog does not get bored. You want him to enjoy it, therefor remember the treats! You can even do this in the house. Have a toy in one hand and a treat in the other hand. It is the simplest way to get him to come. Walk away from him. Call him enticingly with the command word and hold out the toy. You give him the treat when he comes over to you.

After mastering the come command you can proceed to the sit command. Again it only requires basic dog training. If you find this a slight bit harder, just stick to the basics of repetition, firmness and praise. Call him to you with your come command. Place your hand firmly on the end of his back, say "sit" and gently push down his backside. Praise him and give him a treat when he sits his bottom down. Bend down to him to feed him his treat. Delay giving him his praise and treat, when you want him to sit longer.

Do you want it to be fun for you and your dog? Just use maybe 5 minutes or so at a time, as often as several times daily. Preferably it should not be for hours. Never forget to reward your dog for obedience. Don't forget to reward yourself as well! It is effective and it is simple. It is basic dog obedience training!