Open Communication - Dog Obedience Training Basics

Although dog owners generally consider their delightful pets to be a child and part of the family, it will help to always bear in mind that dogs are just animals and not children and so a slightly different type of obedience training is required. Having said this however, dogs, just like children will misbehave and take chances especially when they think you?re not looking.

Dogs, not children, or at least hopefully not children, will chew on furniture and in some cases, everything else in sight, jump up on things and people and may even snap at you when hand feed. It?s important to help your dog understand what your expectations of it are and dog obedience training and the specific instructions that go with it are the key to achieving this. Think of it as similar to the first year in kindergarten.

Ultimately all your dog will want to do is please you once it understands just which of you is in charge. Once the ground rules are established your pup will do mostly as directed. Dog obedience training will require you to be the disciplinarian but this does not mean to suggest that it requires shouting or hitting of the animal. Any voice commands such as sit, stay or fetch can be taught with a smooth, firm but not necessarily loud voice.

By recognizing your dog?s correct or desired behaviors with praise will make the animal aware of what is wanted from it and it will become open to more advanced dog obedience training. It?s important to note that some types of breeds will require being handled in a specific way for example the dog may only listen to one person in your family and as such that person should take responsibility for all the obedience training. Often households will have more than one type of dog and so each dog should be trained separately, if necessary.

?Old Dog? Obedience Training ? It?s Never Too Late

The familiar saying that it is not possible to teach an old dog new tricks is not necessarily true as dogs can and will be open to dog obedience training no matter what their age, so long as it is done correctly. Dog obedience training should start as soon as the dog arrives at its new home, regardless of the animal?s age, as it has perhaps developed habits that you may want to ?unteach? it before it begins to learn the way you would like it to behave.

It is important to note, however, that some old habits may find their way back into your dog?s routine. Dog obedience training requires consistency and patience and it?s up to you to ensure your dog understands clearly what is and what will not be tolerated. If today one thing is ok for the dog to do but tomorrow it gets reprimanded for doing the same thing it will become confused about what is expected.

Our recommendation, if you have never trained a dog in obedience before, is to get to a dog obedience school, if possible, to learn some of the basics. Alternatively check out Dove Cresswell and Dog Training Online's Free Lesson to get you started. You don't want to get off on the wrong foot, paw or bark.

Tyler Reese writes articles, reviews and topical tidbits for theobedientdogtrainer.com. To find out more about dog obedience training and general dog training secrets go to www.theobedientdogtrainer.com