Dog training – the basic commands
There are plenty of reasons for
pet owners to train their dogs. Dogs actually are happier knowing what it
is their owners want and expect from them. They look to their pet owners
for guidance and approval. A dog that is not trained or one that does not
understand what is required to make their human companions happy, is a
going to be either very unhappy or a pain in the patooski.
And of course, training your dog well
will also make he or she 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 behavior problems encountered by dog owning
households.
Who wants a bunch of muddy paw prints on
their nicely cleaned jeans or skirt? Oyee... the last dogs I pet sat for
made my entire outfit a muddy mess. I didn't bother to clean them, I just
reused them on my next visit since I knew I'd end up with a new patturn of
paw prints.
When considering training your own 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:
Heel – it is important that any dog learn
to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor
lagging behind.
Respond to the word No – the word no is
one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this
important 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 a very important 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.
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
very important 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 behavior problems.
A properly trained dog will respond
properly 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 behaviors.
In addition to making the dog a good
member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some
of the dog’s own needs, including 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 important
than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important
work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people.
Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to
boredom and neurotic behavior.
Basic obedience training, and ongoing
training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is
especially important 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 all
important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.
Article by Shannon
Kimberly
Lover of all animals, pet sitter and often times pet rescue. Favorite Pet
Today, Cairn
Terrier visit:
http://cairn-terrier.gahzoo.com
Article may be reprinted as long
as you keep the two links live as is. :) and the article is unchanged.
