Ongoing training is vital

There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many communities require that the dogs living in their neighbourhoods be well-trained. This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behaviour problems, dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers for instance.

And of course, training your dog well will also make them a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behaviour issues encountered by dog owning households.

We are now at Week Four of Cocoa’s training at PetSmart. The behaviours taught this week help to prevent unsafe situations by keeping Cocoa close to us on the leash and taught him to return.

When considering training your dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:

Come
The goal is for your dog to come to you without a verbal cue. You can practice the ‘come when called’ by gradually adding more distance between you and your dog in a safe environment with little or no distractions. Remember to avoid saying the cue or your dog’s name, use other happy sounds and reward with treats, praise, and petting.

Heel
It is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging.

Respond to the word No
The word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this essential word can save you a ton of trouble.

Sit
Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.

Stay
A well-trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is an essential command in dog training.

Down
Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

For a safe on-leash encounter, your dog must remain calm and focused on you in the presence of other stimuli. This will help keep you and your dog safe in a variety of situations. It will prevent your dog from becoming overstimulated, jumping on passersby, and dragging you in pursuit of another animal. This behaviour also enhances your bond and your walk.

Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a vital concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behaviour problems.

A properly trained dog will respond to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviours.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of your dog’s own needs:

• the need for exercise,
• the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it,
• a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler.
• dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more indispensable than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do essential work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no significant job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behaviour.

Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide the dog with an indispensable job to do. This is especially critical for high-energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Training sessions are a great way for these high-energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.

Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the essential bond between you, the pack leader and your dog.