Obedience Training For Dogs: What Every Dog Should Know

Are you interested in obedience training your dog? Obedience training your dog is a good idea for a number of reasons. Dogs that are trained are usually much happier dogs. They don’t get into trouble as much as untrained dogs. They have better communication with their owners. They get to go more places since trained dogs are usually welcomed.

People enjoy meeting trained dogs. And trained get more petting and treats! Plus, there is often a closer bond between a dog and an owner when an owner has taken the time and trouble to train the dog. Obedience training for dogs is not really too difficult but it does require a commitment on the part of the owner. You need to spend time training your dog each day and you have to be consistent with your praise and training. Here is some information that should help you with your obedience training.

1. Where should I start with obedience training for dogs?

Most people begin by teaching their dogs basic obedience commands such as sit, lie down, stay, come, heel, and how to walk on a loose leash. These are simple commands but they form the basis for everything your dog needs to know. Before you can teach your dog more complex commands, he will need to know these basics.

2. Is it hard to teach a dog basic commands?

No, it’s not hard to teach a dog basic commands as part of obedience training for dogs. However, you do need to work with your dog every day. It’s best to work in two or three short sessions (15-20 minutes) instead of one long session. Dogs are a little like children. They have short attention spans and they do better if you break up the sessions so they don’t get bored. Keep the sessions short and fun. And remember that you can’t just train once a week and expect your dog to learn anything. You need to practice with your dog every day or the lessons won’t sink in.

3. Can I train my dog anywhere?

More or less. You can do obedience training for dogs in your living room, in your backyard, or anywhere that you and your dog can focus and where you won’t be interrupted. It’s usually a good idea to work in an enclosed area so you can work off-leash for some of the lessons. For example, when you are teaching your dog to come you will need to be in a larger area so you can keep at some distance from your dog and encourage him to come to you. You will eventually need to practice this exercise without any kind of cord so you should use an enclosed area so your dog won’t get loose.

4. Should I give my dog treats with obedience training for dogs?

That will depend on the kind of training you are doing, but, in general, the answer is yes. Most training allows for dogs to be rewarded when they do something right. Positive reinforcement training encourages the handler to give the dog praise and reward every time the dog does something right. But even traditional dog training usually allows the handler to give the dog a treat as a reward when the dog does the right thing, though usually not as often as with positive reinforcement training.

5. Where can I find obedience classes?

If you are interested in obedience training for dogs, you can check with your local kennel club, with pet stores, animal shelters, dog training clubs, and with private trainers about classes. Most towns and cities have some of these resources and they will either offer obedience training classes or be able to refer you to a place that offers classes. Most classes are group classes that may have six to 14 students and their dogs in the class. Smaller classes are definitely better since you will get more individual attention from the instructor. If you work unusual hours or you prefer private instruction, you can talk to a trainer about coming to your home for individual lessons with your dog. You will pay more for individual lessons but you and your dog can benefit a lot from this type of situation. Some people prefer to train their dogs on their own. There are plenty of good books on obedience training, as well as CDs, DVDs, and other resources. If you like training your dog yourself, there’s no reason why you can’t teach your dog obedience.

It’s a good idea for all dogs to learn some basic obedience lessons, whether you go to a class or teach your dog yourself. It’s not hard to teach a dog obedience training for dogs. Remember to stay upbeat and positive and make your training fun. Practice a little each day with your dog. Keep your training simple and work on the basic commands. If you follow these basics then your dog will learn very quickly.

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