First Things First
The first thing you have to do if you want to train a dog is educate
and begin training yourself. Then armed with knowledge you can guide
and teach your dog in the most rewarding way possible.
Don't Become Overwhelmed
You don't have to teach your dog everything in one day. You just have
to start. In fact if you tried to teach your dog everything in one
day you and your dog would have a miserable time and most likely not
learn much. Training a dog does not have to be a chore, it should be a
joy for you build the relationship with the canine in your life! It is
something that is beneficial to you both and makes both lives so much
easier!
Where do I start?
There are so many great resources available not only on the
Internet but also on television, in books, local professionals and so
much more. You may be wondering where to start? What should you do
first?
Well, the most important thing is to just start! If you want to start
with some small changes or if your trick training, maybe a simple trick
then go for it! Do your research & make sure whatever you are
teaching that you are teaching correctly. Start applying positive
reinforcement. Which
basically
means rewarding/praising your dog when they have done well. There are many things
we can give place to
by reacting incorrectly. You will need
to take control and begin some, consistent training as soon as possible
so your dog or puppy can learn the many important lessons a dog needs.
What is dog training?
Dogs are trained for many reasons. Below are listed different areas of the
dog training field as well as a brief explanation of each.
Basic Commands Like Sit, Stay, Come
Obedience/General Behavior Knowing boundaries, seeing humans as leader of the pack, potty training, good habits, stopping bad habits.
Trick Training Normally for fun or entertainment. Rollover, crawl, beg, retrieving etc.
Service/Assistance Training Teaching dogs to assist humans with disabilities.
Work Training Dogs who are trained for the work field. Such as aiding police, military, farm workers etc.
Show/Sport Dogs taught to perform in dog shows, agility courses and more.
Medical/Therapy Dogs are now being used in the medical field from sniffing out cancer to soul lifting therapy.
Hunting One of the earliest types of dog training. Dogs were
taught to help gather food by aiding hunters with tracking, capturing
etc. Many dogs are still trained to aid hunters today.
Protection/Guard Generally dogs are naturally
protective of their humans and territory however many dogs have
advanced and polished training in this area.
What about puppies, should we train them? Can we wait till they are older?
Those adorable little bundles of joy, enthusiasm and a few other surprises. The answer is
yes, it is very important to train your puppy. It is the best time. So,
NO
don't wait! They have so much to learn but don't give up if your dog is
already grown, they can still be trained! Though it is extremely better to
train your puppy before they learn bad habits & behaviors. Training
your puppy will save you from many problems & struggles as they
grow older. How ever don't expect them to learn everything in one day,
they are puppies after all. ;)
Will it be hard to train my puppy or dog?
It does take some work, patience and consistent commitment will be required. It
won't
always be easy but it
won't always be difficult. It is well worth it to have a happy, healthy &
well behaved dog. One who is a blessing to you and those around you.
How long will it take to train my dog?
There is allot to factor in when estimating how long it may take to
train a dog or puppy. It depends on what you are teaching them. How
much you work with them and a little of the dog or puppy themselves.
What takes one dog 5 minutes to learn may take another 5 days.
Generally, it never takes them too
long to at least to begin to make progress. Don't
give up on them, if you teach your dog the correct way they
will learn soon enough. Though you will actually never quit training your dogs,
it's an on going process they are
still learning new things and so are you.