There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful
dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely
to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many
communities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoods be well trained.
This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behavior
problems - dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers for instance.
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.
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.
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