Dog training Basic Commands 101
There is an array of many valid reasons for dog owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful pet. The fact is that, obedient and well trained dogs are happier dogs, and less likely to have issues with people or other dogs. Many residential communities require that all of the dogs living in their neighborhoods and communities be well trained. This is especially true for known or perceived breeds thought to have aggression and/or behavior problems Dog breeds like pit bulls and Rottweilers for example have this type of reputation.
Training your dog properly will make your dog a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children and a great deal of excitment. Studies have consistently shown that proper dog training has a large and deep impact in decreasing the number of dog bites and other common dog behavior problems in these households.
Whether you are training your own dog, or having someone else help you train him, there are certain basic dog training commands that must be mastered properly in order for a dog to be considered truly trained and said training to be effective. These basic, time tested dog training commands include:
- Heel It is important that every dog learn to walk beside his owner on a loose lead and not be pulling ahead nor lagging behind
- No The word no is one word that all dogs must learn, less you be unable to make your dog's behavior cease immediately in potentially dangerous situations. Training your dog properly to respond to this important cease word can save you a ton of trouble.
- Sit Training your dog to sit on command is a integral part of any dog training program.
- Stay A well trained dog should be capable of remaining where his owner commands, so stay is a very important command in training your dog as well.
- Down Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick for visitors, it is a required key component of any successful dog training program.
Proper dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing pet. Training your dog the right way actually strengthens the natural bond that already exists between dog and his handler. Dogs are by their very nature pack animals and they look to their pack leader (you) to tell them what to do. The key to truly successful dog training is to set yourself up accordingly as that pack leader.
Establishing yourself as pack leader is a the most important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand fully. There is only ever one leader in every pack of dogs, and you the dog owner must establish yourself as the dominant animal in order to properly train and bond with your dog. Failure to set yourself apart as the leader will certainly produce a wide array of dog behavior problems.
A properly trained dog will respond effectively to all of it's owners commands, and will not display overt anxiety, displeasure or even confusion. A proper dog training program will focus heavily on allowing the dog to learn exactly what is expected of it and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors when they happen.
In addition to making your dog a good member of your home & community, obedience training will fulfill some your dogs own needs, including exercise, the security and comfort that comes with knowing what you expect of him, a strong feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship and bond with his handler. Dog training in fact, gives your dog an important job to do, and an important goal to attain.
Giving your dog a job is much more important than you may realize. Dogs were originally bred by humans in order to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding personal property and even protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do at all and this often leads to boredom and neurotic behavior from your dog.
Basic dog obedience training, and ongoing training sessions will provide your dog with an important job to do, and he will he grateful for the respect and responsibility. This responsibility is especially important for higher energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Frequent training sessions are a great way for these higher energy dogs to use up their extra energy and learn to enjoy themselves.
Incorporating some playtime into your dog training exercises is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from being bored with the exercises. Playing with your dog will strengthen the crucial bond between you the pack leader and your dog.
