Dog Obedience Tip: Decide What You Want!

Before you start any dog training you need to decide exactly what you want your dog to do. Ask yourself…

• What exactly do I want to train my dog to do?

• What is the most direct and simple route to teach this to my dog?

• Do I have everything I need to teach my dog what I want from the start?

Figure out exactly what you want your dog to do before you try to train it and then take the shortest route to get there. You dog basically wants to be accepted in the pack (your family) and wants to please you. It has to figure out what you want. The easier you make that for your dog the quicker you will see the desired results. The trick is to not confuse your dog.

If you are having a dog training session or just enjoying everyday life it is easy to unknowingly reward your dog for unwanted behaviors. Whenever your dog tries to get you to do something and you do it, your dog is training you. Be sure to reward your dog only for behaviors that you want.

Practicing positive reinforcement dog training can be very effective and is based on the simple principle: Reward your dog for behavior you wish to see repeated and ignore behavior that you don’t.

Give your dog every opportunity to be successful and your dog just might surprise you.

Establish Yourself As The “Alpha” Pack Leader

• Always establish yourself as the “Pack Leader” from the start.

• Be balanced. Practice the exercise-discipline-affection method.

• Be calm-assertive. Never scream at your dog or lose your temper.

• Be confident. Stand straight with head up and shoulders back.

• Be fair. If you give your dog its food or a chewy, let it keep it.

• Exercise is extremely important and daily walks are a must.

• Find ways to satisfy your dog’s chewing need.

• Include your dog as part of your pack/family.

• Learn about the nature of dogs and dog training.

• Only allow your dog to sit on your lap or next to you when invited.

• Pack leaders eat first. All humans are pack leaders.

• Practice calm assertive leadership and patience.

• Set rules and boundaries.

• Think of ways to keep your dog from being bored.

• Toys belong to you. You decide when your dog gets to play with them.

• Use common sense and consistency.

• When letting your dog out, require it to sit first then open the door.

• When taking your dog outside, you go through the door first.

• When going inside, you go through the door first.

• You decide where you are going on a walk and you lead.

• You decide when the dog gets to stop and sniff, pee, etc. on a walk.

• You decide when you are going to do any activity.

• You control your dog’s food.

• You choose where the dog sleeps.

• You decide what furniture the dog is allowed on, if any.

• Don’t allow possessiveness over food, toys, or people.

• Don’t allow out-of-control barking or excitement.

• Don’t allow your dog to wake you up.

• Don’t create an excited atmosphere.

• Don’t let your dog initiate or control an activity.

• Don’t make a big deal out of leaving the house or returning.