Some pet advocates feel that obedience training should be a prerequisite to adopting an animal and for pet ownership, especially for a dog. Man's best friend is a common moniker for a dog, and one of the ways he could earn that great title is through some basic dog training. How your dog's behavior affects other people around you is your responsibility as a pet owner, so don't you think that dog training is an important part of owning up to that?
You have several options when it comes to obedience training for your dog. First, if you have extra money in your budget, you could take your dog to an obedience school. There are a number of professional dog trainers who establish their own schools to teach pet owners how to train their dogs. These trainers have been exposed to a large number of dogs with different temperaments, behaviors and neurosis. Chances are that they would be able to help you with training your family pooch.
Another option is to train your dog on your own. To accomplish this, you need plenty of patience, love, doggie treats and most of all - information. Search the internet for dog training websites for pointers. Rent instructional videos to provide you a basic guide of how to get started. Check our some books from the library about dog obedience training. There is a plethora of information out there for you. And because some dog breeds have certain quirks bred into their genes, you may want to even find a source of training information for your particular breed of dog.
There are a few basic commands that should be an essential part of your dog training. The sit and stay command is the one that owners often practice first. These are especially helpful when you are in a public situation. Too much stimuli can have your dog excited in no time. But with the sit and stay command, your dog will stay in one place. An obedient dog is the best thing for some peace of mind.
Heel and come are two other basic commands which dog owners should teach their pets. Heel is the command you want when you are walking in a public place. Whether your dog is on a leash or not, with the heel command, you are telling your dog to stick by your side. The come command exerts a measure of control over your dog. This is perfect for those times when your dog wants to run off or chase something like the mailman or a squirrel.
If you and your dog can learn a few of the basic commands, you will find that your relationship is a lot easier and calmer. The trust factor will also come into play and the dog will respect you as the owner, the dominant person. When trust and respect is present, your dog definitely earns that "man's best friend" title. Training should be a definite for any dog owner. And the best time to start is when they are still puppies. Just remember - be patient and dole out lots of love in the process.
