Behavior Tips : Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience

Basic obedience is critical for any dog to have a complete understanding of the necessary skills. An obedient dog is not only a safe and healthy dog, it is a dog that will allow you to live together in harmony. Do not let your dog become a misbehaved terror that is a pain instead of a joy.

Unfortunately, many dogs that are not properly trained often end up in shelters or pawned off on other families since their original owners deem them to be a problem or uncontrollable. In many of these instances, the problem is the owner and not the dog, so be a responsible owner and train your dog on the correct obedience skills immediately.

Your obedience training should commence once your puppy is around four to six months of age. At this time, your puppy is developed enough to be conscious of his behavior and capable of retaining information and skills learned.

Even though your pup may be ready to learn, he still needs to learn in the correct manner. For this reason, break your training sessions into chunks so ensure your dog is not bored or tired of the training session. You dog’s attention span may be quite short, so develop your training sessions around this given time so that the maximum training takes place in the minimum time.

Begin your obedience training from the beginning. Start with the basic skills and then build on those once your dog has mastered those skills. Work in a logical progression and only advance once your dog shows he has full knowledge of the previous skill and is able to perform each time without hesitation. Ensuring your base your obedience training using a stair step method will increase the chance of success for both yourself and your dog.

Start with the most basic skill that any dog should know—sit. Use a hand gesture in addition to a verbal command that will notify the dog the exact task to perform. Always use the same hand gesture and verbal command when training or instructing your dog on any obedience skill. Repetition is incredibly important for dogs, as they tend to comprehend skills better if the same aspects are present each time.

Additionally, use a verbal command that you can easily use and say. Although it may be fun to use a foreign language for you to train your dog, if you cannot remember the correct pronunciation of the commands, you may want to reconsider your decision. Keep practicing the sit command throughout the day in several small training sessions. Even after you have moved onto another obedience command, still remember to practice the sit command and use it on a daily basis.

After your dog has mastered the sit command, work on the down command. Once your dog is in the sitting position, instruct him into the down position, again using a verbal command and a hand gesture. Just as with the sit command, you should use the same hand gesture and verbal command each time to ensure repetition. Your dog should be able to execute the down command from both the sitting and standing positions before advancing onto more obedience commands.

Again, break your training sessions into several short sessions instead of one long, boring marathon event. Practice giving your dog commands in a variety of situations, for example at home, in the park, or on a walk so he is used to responding regardless of the environment.

Your dog may have difficulties correctly executing the commands in the presence of distractions, so work immediately to handle the situation. Your dog will need to obey especially well in distracting situations, so following your commands at all times is imperative.