Dog Training Fundamentals

Training a dog is about positive reinforcement, leadership, structure, education, and socialization. A dog's training is predominantly based on positive reinforcement. There are several methods to train a dog or puppy, some of them are good, and some are not. Gaining the knowledge of how to go about things is not too difficult, and you don't have to be a master dog trainer to do it on your own. There are many guides online that can help along the way, such as The Dogfather's "The Perfect Dog", or the SitStayFetch dog training program.

Behavior training can be a big hurdle for most of us. However, most of it is really not that difficult. You will soon know exactly how to effectively reward good behaviors with treats that provide you with maximum results. Be very clear about what behavior is allowed, and be even more clear about what isn't. Dogs are masters of intonation. If you use a stern voice when handing out discipline, they will recognize it.

Obedience training is the best thing you can do for a dog or puppy. It won't fix every behavior problem, but it is a solid basis for fixing almost all problems. Obviously, not every problem your dog as can be solved through obedience training, but it is an excellent way to be put in a position to solve most of them. The rewarding process is simple. If your dog behaves well, hand out a reward and praise. In both The Perfect Dog and SitStayFetch, obedience training is a fundamental part of the dogs training.

Potty training a dog is such an essential issue for dog owners that even a single exclusive tip turns out to be extremely helpful. Choose a single command to let the dog know it's time, and use that command consistently. Any time the dog gives off a signal that it needs to go potty, say whatever command you chose and then take the dog outside. Be sure to praise your dog for going potty.

Leash training a dog can help tremendously when taking your dog out on a walk. A couple weeks of leash training should be sufficient to let the dog try to walk by your side without a leash. If things don't go well, keep the leash on for another week and then try without the leash again. A dog will pull on a leash because of the pressure they feel when you pull back. Once your dog starts to pull, let out all the tension in the leash and go in the other direction. As your dog comes to your side quickly praise your dog and gather up the leash.

The basic principals of how to train a dog are positive and negative reinforcement. It can be difficult for new dog owners to learn how to properly train their dog. Remember to focus on the most important things first: aggression and obedience. It will be considerably easier to train an obedient dog. Correctly training a dog will be rewarding in many ways. Are you ready to learn how to train a dog?