Dog Training for Obedience - How to Pick the Best Program

by Ira Nelson

A search of the internet will reveal a plethora of courses, concepts, videos, and programs aimed at obedience training for dogs. Many are cutting edge and some are dated and no longer accepted by experts in the field. How does one go about finding one that is reasonable in its approach and yet effective in teaching your dog?

For most dog owners there are some very basic reasons for wanting to mold the behavior of their pet. A dog without some basic dog obedience training can be like that annoying uncle in the family who has none of the social graces, always loud and obnoxious, makes a mess of the house, always sticking his nose into other peoples business - you know what I mean. You still love him but you just wish he wasn't around so much.

Well, you should want to be around your dog. Isn’t that why you brought him into your home, to be your friend and companion? This will happen when you find a reciprocal level of respect and understanding. This in turn grows out of finding the best way to communicate with your dog making sure he clearly understands what the boundaries are and what you expect from him.

Common to all reputable dog obedience methods should be the understanding and acceptance of the following basic concepts, though they may be stated differently:

* It’s important to understand that dogs are pack animals and thrive when there is clearly defined leadership and they know what is expected of them. This is important to understanding how the canine mind works.

* It is your job to be the leader – consistently, repetitiously, persistently, and patiently.

* Tied in with patience is the tone of voice you use. Commands should be given firmly with no ambiguity, but also patiently with no yelling. Your dog must not be confused once he understands what you want. There can be no refusal or ignoring of your command.

* Reward and corrective action are also basic concepts in any dog training for obedience course. Reward could be in the form of praise a treat, or a ‘click’ (clicker training) while corrective action could be in the form of withholding praise, a treat, a scratch, or a firm ‘No.’

Dog Training – Basic Obedience

It’s always good to start with the basics. Look for a program that starts with these fundamental concepts and commands:

The Come or Come Here (Recall) command is very important for control of your pet. Nobody wants a dog that ignores them nor do you want to have to mount a search party every time he is outside and off his lead.

Stand and Stay, Sit and Stay, and Down and Stay commands are very helpful especially in situations where there are groups of people and activities where your dog needs to be kept away or out from underfoot.

Walking on and off lead, sometimes called ‘heeling’ is very important training as there is nothing more unpleasant then having an uncontrollable dog pulling and tugging on the leash and lunging at other dogs, animals, and people.

In addition to these basic commands many methods will include turns, fetch and carry, back up, crawl, shake hands, catch, climb ladders etc., and all of these with hand commands as well as verbal commands.

Other behaviors and/or problems that will be dealt with in a well rounded dog training for obedience program are house training, excessive barking, biting and nipping, chewing, digging up the yard, aggression, and jumping up on people and furniture. There may also be some discussion of the best dog obedience training equipment to have available.

This is a snapshot of the things to look for in a reputable dog obedience training program. Of course a good method and system for training are key to the welfare and safety of your pet, but also to your peace of mind and enjoyment of your canine companion.

For additional tips on researching this subject go to Dog Obedience Training

If you are trying to train your new puppy go to Puppy Training.

How to Choose a Good Obedience School for Your Dog

by Patrick Carpen

Everyone who owns, or who is deciding whether or not to own, a puppy wants their puppy to be properly behaved, housebroken, and trained. Many people do not know all of their options when it comes to proper puppy training and obedience. Most decide to do the training all on their own, only to find out that it is not an easy thing to accomplish. There is another option, and this is obedience school; however, finding the right school for your dog can be challenging.

There are many factors which can lead to a dog owner wanting more obedience from the dog. Maybe you come home to find your house in total disarray with puppy urine all over, precious items broken, and furniture and shoes chewed up. Maybe you cannot have any visitors without first locking up your barking, yelping, and jumping dog. It could be that your dog just will not listen at all, even when you call him, and this means that you have no way of controlling your dog at all. Your dog might be a continuous barker, which can lead to problems with neighbors and even the police. Your dog could even be a danger to someone without your even realizing it. All it takes is just one mishap, and a dog who has no obedience whatsoever may not know how to control his fear or anger, and may lash out at someone else, causing harm to someone, and possibly even legal trouble for you.

Dog obedience school and trainers can accomplish a lot for both you and your dog. They will teach your dog basic commands, such as sit, stay, come. They will also teach your dog proper socialization skills when it comes to socializing with strange people and also other animals, especially other dogs.

Choosing the right school for you and your dog can be more difficult than you think. You want to find a school that offers the things you want for your dog, and also offers these things in a way that makes you feel comfortable. You want to know that your dog will be well-taken care of, and will be treated kindly and gently. After all, you are not sending your beloved friend to doggie boot camp. There are a few things to consider when you are looking for the right school for your dog.

One thing you should try to do is choose a school for which you have received great recommendations. Maybe you have a friend or acquaintance who has sent their dog to a particular school, and who can provide you with a good recommendation for the school into which you are looking. If you do not know anyone who is associated with a particular school that interests you, you can simply ask the school for a few names of people who have had their dogs trained with the school, and you can find out from these past "students" what they thought about the school. Having some knowledge of someone else's first-hand experience with a particular school is always a good idea, and it helps to give you more peace of mind.

Another good idea when choosing a school is to simply visit the school beforehand. Stop by on your way home one afternoon, and this will give you a better idea of how the school functions, whether or not the instructors are friendly and inviting, how the instructors work with the dogs, and the overall atmosphere of the school. These are all very important things to consider when choosing the right school.

Finally, you should get some basic information on how the school and training work. The best source of information of this nature is from the instructors themselves. Go to the school and request information about how the training is designed, how the instructors interact and work with the dogs, and any other questions or concerns you may have.

Following these simple steps will ensure your dog and yourself are happy with the choice you have made.