First Steps in Training Your Dog:Tips and tools for success

Why does your dog need to be trained?

Few people know this about their dogs, especially first puppy owners, but raising a dog without proper training could be an equivalent to the animal abuse. Training a dog from the very first years of life will bring quite a couple of advantages for your pet and its relationship with you, his owner.

Under the control of their masters’ voice, all properly trained dogs will be able to enjoy a much wider freedom, as well as a longer time spent without a leash.

The sooner the training will start, the better it will be apprehended by the dog, and the optimal age for preliminary initiation would be approximately 2 months. After a short period of accommodation between the dog and his master, the training can start in slow, graduated steps.

leash training

 

The first steps

At the beginning, the most important tool to get your dog’s training started will be consisted by small and frequent rewards. Always make sure to bring along some of his favourite doggy snacks, and also that he’s not fully fed. It will be much easier for your dog to retain commands when appreciated for them after the execution and rewarded through his favourite food.

One of the very first exercises for a beginner will require for you to bend over in front of your dog, so that he can be in the direct eye contact, after which you will show him the reward and approach it to his nose so that he can smell it. With a low voice say his name and give him the command “Sit”.

If the dog does not sit from first try, slightly press his lower backside to the floor, making sure the dog still sees the reward just like people who play free black jack games. As soon as the dog has sat, compliment him and caress him to show your appreciation, making sure he doesn’t stand up.

Each time the dog will sit, give him the reward after this. Repeat the same strategy 5-10 minutes each day and, when you are absolutely sure your dog has learned the command, start lowering the times you give him the reward.

It’s different with every breed

From all dog breeds, some of the fastest learners and smartest have proven to be Japanese dogs, but the first steps of training are most likely to be easily apprehended by most breeds when the above scenario is followed accordingly.

The next most important command will be “Lie down”, and the best way to start would be to have your dog sitting first. Again you will bend over him and make sure he sees and smells his reward, after which you will simply have to lean lower and lower until the reward reaches ground level, taking a few steps back for your dog to be able to follow your movement.

When your dog is lying down you can start practicing the third important command, “Wait”. When he is lying down, keep the reward closed in your fist and withhold it a couple of times before actually releasing it.

Each moment you will spend playing and showing that you love your dog will help him evolve and attach to his master more and more, and will eventually lead to a completely matured, trained and devoted pet.