Article Title: Dog Training Tips
Author: David Beart
Everyone with a dog can offer you dog training tips. Often,
people in the street or at the puppy park believe they already
know everything there is to know about training a dog, after
all, look at their little precious. Well behaved or not, this is
the apple of their eye, and because they love them and think
they understand them, they believe their behavior to be just
normal, everyday dog behavior that is acceptable. Of course,
after you get through wiping the muddy paw prints off your shirt
that their large lab just mottled you with, you might be polite
and agree for argument's sake.
Training a dog is not a once and done deal. When you train a
dog, you are asking them to communicate in a language that is
foreign to them. If you've ever learned a foreign language you
know how impossible it is to retain the information if you never
use it. Your pup has the same issue. If you train him once to
sit and roll over and then ask him to do it again a year later,
he probably won't get it. He might sort of remember. But that
Johnny on the Spot immediate reflex we all admire in other
people's dogs doesn't come without constant work.
Dog experts and regular dog owners alike will never truly
understand the great depths of their dog. In fact, one of things
that attracts us most to them is their humanistic qualities
wrapped up in a package we can't completely understand. And when
we get a fleeting glimpse of it, such as their massive and
impenetrable devotion to their humans, we feel magically
connected to them on a deep emotional level. We want the best
for them, and so we convince ourselves that allowing them their
"spirited antics" is part of loving them. This is both true and
untrue.
You never want to "break a dog's spirit." You want to guide his
spirit so he can channel it into good, even great, behavior.
That's exactly why it is so important to pick and choose which
dog training tips you listen to. Anything that implores violence
should be discarded (that includes a well known television
program that attracts more attention than necessary) and softer
and milder methods can be used.
Your desire is to instill leadership in your dog, not fear or
threat. A dog will follow a good leader, and work hard to please
a good leader. Think about your daily routine. How often does
your dog take the leadership position? Every time you let your
dog scurry out the door in front of you or walk paces in front
of you, or cut you off as you try to make your way into the
kitchen, he is dominating you and you are permitting him to take
a leadership position. Simply making a concerted effort to be
ahead of your dog will start sending him a clear message.
Don't make it a race. You won't win. He is faster than you.
Instead, use verbal commands, like "wait," or "halt," when you
want him to let you pass. Release him when you're sure you will
arrive at whatever your destination may be before he does.
You'll notice he will try to beat you if he can figure out where
you're going. He'll speed up or down the steps just to get there
first. He is trying to take your leadership.
As your leadership skills improve, you should never have to use
your hands or even a leash to get your point across. Using your
hands to discipline you pup may give him issues. You want him to
associate your hands with good things like being loved and fed.
Use your vocal tones. Use disapproving guttural tones when your
pup is messing up and use high pitch happy tones when he's doing
a good job. You don't even have to use words, beyond those
necessary for commands, just tones.
When you and your pal embark out into the world on a walk, it
doesn't matter where you're going or how happy he may be to get
there, the leader's place is in front. If you want him to be the
leader, then allowing him to walk ten paces ahead of you will
suffice. If you want to be his leader, then he should remain in
a "heel" position throughout the entire walk, and even into the
home. Remember, you don't want him to be ahead of you when you
go into or out of the home.
Think like a pack animal for a moment. If there's danger to the
den, or there's suspicious behavior lurking about the den, the
leader goes first. The leader asses the situation. You need to
let your dog know that you have it under control, and that he is
to remain passive to your judgment. It may take a little time,
but these simple dog training tips will go a long way in
establishing your dominance. As he accepts your leadership, you
should begin to notice a marked improvement in the way he
responds to other, simple commands, like "sit."
There's nothing quite as pure and simple as the love of a dog.
They tend to bring out the best in us, even when we feel our
worst. The more you seek better ways to train and handle your
friend, the stronger your relationship with him will be. Being
cautious about the dog training tips you abide by is just
another part of being a diligent and thoughtful owner.
Considering all we expect of them and how little they expect of
us, it really isn't so much to put a little forethought into
their daily lives. After all, they live for ours.
About The Author: David Beart is owner of the
http://www.professo
information, family, relationships and household issues.
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