Without proper dog training, you and your dog may end up having problems that you may not be able to overcome. We love our dogs as if they were members of the family — which in many cases, they really are. And when we see their cute little faces and bright eyes, it is so hard to discipline them.

There are many books on training your dog. Check any bookstore and you will see a whole long list of dog training guide books. Some of these books are pretty thick and comprehensive. No one is born knowing how to train a dog and it is not the kind of information that you just pick up in passing. In other words, you need to be taught to teach.

Here is a complete guide to what you need to know about dog training. Before you get into all the details on howto teach your dog specific behaviors, responses and tricks you need to integrate the essentials into your entire relationship with your dog.

Establish that you are the boss. This is absolutely essential. This does not mean being harsh or mean. It means showing the dog a firm and consistent level of mastery. Once the dog understands who is in charge, he becomes a happier creature. The stress of trying to understand his life is removed. Be consistent in your rules for behavior. If he is not allowed on the furniture, making an exception will only confuse the dog. If he is confused, the training will fail. Sometimes being on the furniture, to use this example, will be allowed and sometimes not. So from the dog’s point of view, it’s a 50-50 chance of getting scolded so he will get on the furniture and hope for the best. Don’t be aggressive. All aggression does is teach the dog that being aggressive is desirable and he will respond with aggression. He is so eager to please you that he will emulate you. Dog training should be a pleasant and calm experience. Don’t get frustrated. Your dog does not understand frustration and will get mixed messages. If you are teaching him something and are frustrated he will think that you are frustrated because he is not catching on. You might just be frustrated because he is not responding the way you want because he does not understand your instructions. Keep to a schedule. Sometimes dogs have indoor “accidents” because you did not take him out for a walk so he could relieve himself. If a dog has to pee, he has to ***. Getting cross at him for making a mistake in the house that was caused by you not letting him out on time is very hard on your dog.

Teaching your dog needs to have these factors as part of the overall and ongoing process. Dog training calls for diligence and commitment but the rewards are well worth the effort.



By: Mel M

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There are three stages of dog training and it is crucial that you understand them if you are going to effectively train your dog properly. When you understand each one, you will be able to identify your dog’s progress and use this to sharpen many aspects of your dog’s training.

If you are interested in teaching tricks or doggy dancing, then it is extremely important that you learn to recognise these different phases. You will find that your dog will progress at different stages for different behaviours. As you shape your dog’s responses you will have to keep in mind what stage your dog is up to in its development.

If you wanted to teach your dog to drop, roll over, play dead and then jump back up again. You would need to do this in segments. It would be impossible to teach it as one movement. Your dog will need to first learn how to drop, then roll over – all the way, then lay its head down and then it would have to learn that it couldn’t get up until you gave it a release command. This can be achieved by chaining the separate actions together. As you began teaching each stage separately you will need to be aware of the different phases your dog is up to in its learning.

The first stage is the teaching phase. At this stage, we are literally teaching or showing the dog what it is that we want him or her to do. We use rewards and/or treats after every successful attempt during this stage and we must be very patient.

The teaching phase involves you showing your dog what it is that you want. This may involve handling your puppy and using luring to get your dog into a position that you want.

When we are teaching sit, we hold a treat right in front of the dog’s nose and then move it backwards. The dog will naturally move into a sit position then you will reward and release. If the dog doesn’t move into the position that you want, it doesn’t get the treat. As you place the treat in front of the dog’s nose, give the command ‘sit’ as well. Once your dog will simply ‘sit’ without you luring it into position, it has moved from the teaching to the training phase. This will happen almost over night with most puppies but other commands may take weeks if not months to train.

It is important in behavioural training to remember the teaching phase too. For example, some dogs and most puppies cannot help themselves and have to jump all over you. If your dog is learning to ‘sit’ and is in the teaching phase you cannot expect to be able to redirect it and reward for sitting. You may have to hold your puppy in a sit or ‘four on the floor’ position, as I call it, and then reward with a pat. You can do this by putting your thumb in its collar and holding it down. If the puppy goes to jump up, hold it down and give it long firm strokes down its back and praise the puppy in a calm voice.

When your puppy has learnt not to jump on you but wait in a sit for a pat and the attention it craves, it is in the training phase.

The second stage is the training phase.

At the training phase we can begin to sharpen your dog’s response time and the way they respond. At this stage, you will have to be satisfied that your dog knows the command, both verbal and hand signals.

You should also be using treats intermittently during this stage too preparing to wean your dog off them completely.

If your dog knows how to sit but it kicks its legs out to the side or isn’t relaxed, now is the time to begin to sharpen up this behaviour. How? It’s easy. When you ask your dog to sit and it doesn’t do it the way you would like simply don’t reward. Say ‘no’; take a step back and then re-command ‘sit’. I always take a step back to give my dogs the opportunity and the space to correct their behaviour.

There is no need to use harsh corrections or to start yelling at your dog. I have very well trained dogs that hang off my every word. I have never hit them. I just don’t reward for behaviour I don’t want. Instead, I re-command and wait for them to think and then do what I do want.

Once you are confident that your dog has completed the training stage, it’s time for you to move him or her onto the proofing stage. This is the third stage.

There are as many different times and places to get your dog through to the proofing stage. They are only limited by your imagination. Proofing your dog means that your dog will perform any thing you have trained it to do any where. Some places that come to mind our children’s playgrounds, schools, dog parks, shops or near farm animals or livestock. Just make sure that you have your dog on leash and have control of it to avoid getting into trouble.

Most people make the mistake of taking their dog out in public long before it is ready. Sure, it can perform complicated tasks at home but in the park with so many other sights and smells? I don’t think so.

While I introduce basic obedience commands to my puppy classes, I say over and over again, this is the worse environment to begin teaching your puppy because there are far too many distractions. Who wants to learn to sit when there is a room full of other puppies and people to sniff, lick, roll around with and wreak havoc with? No sane puppy I know! So while I demonstrate the how’s and whys, I tell my clients that they will have to begin to practice these commands at home where it is quiet and there are few distractions.

When proofing your dog it is important to remember that you will have to take a few steps backwards in its training. Don’t expect too much and always, always reward for effort. If you begin to lose your temper and you appear to be nagging your dog to do something it doesn’t understand your dog will shut down and won’t listen to you at all.

You may also have to increase your dog’s motivation when proofing it. This means that you may have to use very special treats such as cheese or kabana, be much more enthusiastic with your voice and give very generous heart-felt pats. You are going to be up against a lot of very interesting distractions so you will have to arm yourself appropriately!

Always be patient and remember to reward what you want; wait patiently for what you would like from you dog and don’t use force or punishment. This will help you build a much more meaningful relationship with your dog based on trust and respect.



By: Sue Day

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Dog is probably the most domesticated animal in the whole world. Considered as the man’s best friend, it is just normal to see a dog in every household. They are mostly loved by everybody, treated as a member of a family in most instances. There are numerous breeds of dogs and that is the very reason why dog training is very important. Dog training programs vary depending on the breed and their behavior.

There are numerous approaches in training a dog that will depend on how you want the dog to behave. Generally dogs are sociable animals but pet owners nowadays wanted their pet to follow certain instructions with ease. This requires the expertise of professional trainers who are the masters in dealing with different behaviors of dogs. The most common dog obedience training are sit, down, stay, come, close, heel and up.

The common nature of a dog is to give pleasures to their master. However there are certain actions of dogs that are innate such as barking, chewing and chasing cats. This may give you difficulty in the training which will sometimes make you scream at your pets and you eventually become frustrated. Nevertheless with the proper dog training these types of behaviors can be resolved in a matter of few weeks, making your dog and your life much more enjoyable.

A number of pet owners wanted their pet to be trained for simple and even complex tricks. Dog tricks are usually for personal, family and guest entertainment. However, there are some tricks that may be of great use within the household of the pet’s master. Dogs are intelligent animals but training them is always achievable through trial and error. You may have probably seen a dog trying to solve the problem on his own. They are one of the most diligent animal they will always try with the best of their ability to get the result that they want.

lthough a successful pet training still rely upon on how supportive the pet owners are. Good supportive exercise in the home will speed up the mastery of a skill that is being developed. Understanding the dog behaviors is also a key to have a fruitful dog training. Using the natural instinct of the dog will speed up the learning process of the dog. Always keep in mind that the dog is a simple creature and therefore needs proper training technique.



By: Ann E Smith

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The aim with this exercise is to teach your dog that ‘wait’ means ‘hold on for a moment’. The release word then follows, meaning ‘okay, now you can get what you want’. This word can be used: before the dog is fed, before he goes through a doorway, before his lead is removed, before you let him out of the car, on walks, if he is pulling on his lead, when your dog is excited, as it is a good way of getting him to stop and listen to you.

It is a good way of stopping your dog for a moment and regaining control. The first stage involves using a treat. Sit or kneel on the floor and have your dog on one side of you holding his lead or collar. Have a treat in your other hand. Put it on the floor but prevent your dog from getting it by holding him or by picking up the treat again.

When he is not struggling to get it, let him go forward and encourage him to eat it. Hold your dog, put the treat on the floor and say ‘wait’. It is vital that your dog does not get the food, otherwise he will learn that ‘wait’ signals a great game where he grabs any food he can. Hold your dog or pick the food up again if he is trying to reach it.

As soon as he is not pulling towards the food, say your release word and, if necessary, encourage him to eat the food by pointing to it, or moving it. It’s a good idea to repeat this technique in different situations. Ensure that your hand movements are not giving your dog more cues than our voice. Therefore, be aware, if you point at the food, that you must release your grip on your dog’s collar, for example. Even when your dog can do this with a piece of food, it does not mean that he will know what you mean when you do not want him to jump out of the car. Remember situational learning – you must teach in every different set of circumstances. The rules are the same.

‘Wait’ means ‘hold on’. You must ensure that the dog does not move and get the reward. As soon as your dog stops pulling forward, you can reward him by giving your release word. The reward to your dog will be doing what he wanted, for example getting out of the car, going off his lead or going through the doorway. It does not matter what words you use, provided everyone is consistent.

Use whatever words suit you. You could teach your dog to stay when you say ‘bananas’ and to wait when you say ‘apples’. It would not matter to the dog, but we as owners would find it much harder. Therefore, decide on the word you prefer, write it on your dog dictionary sheet, and keep to the same word.



By: Andy J Jones

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This is perhaps one of the most challenging issues facing a dog owner, be it a puppy or a wild one.

- Does your dog seldom listens to you?
- Do the barking, the biting or the housebreaking issues drive you crazy?
- Are you embarrassed by your dog in public?
-…..Or maybe you just want a happy, disciplined dog?

Are you ready to get your dog to listen to you, anywhere you go? And fix all of your dog’s behavior problems, the quick and easy way? And make your dog a happy and affectionate companion in the process?

Good. Because you’re about to learn the same techniques used by professional dog trainers to save time and money by learning dog obedience training that doesn’t require you to waste time using stuff that doesn’t deliver maximum results in minimal time.

All dog owners should know some basic training methods, as it will prove helpful to you in long run. And basic training for your dog implies the achievement of a basic education for the dog – the learning, communication and responding to basic obedience commands.

Some of the most basic training command that should be taught in the first place are:

* Come
* Sit
* Stay
* Wait
* Down
* Stand
* Okay
* No
* off
* Leave it
* Drop it

ALWAYS BE A CONSISTENT COMMANDER – Basic dog training methods can be taught efficiently and effectively by repeating with the same commands, pointing out the desired action, reinforcing the good behavior and keeping your dog’s attention. You do it by calling out the same basic commands many times during the day including during play time and while walking your dog.

TIMING YOUR DOG’S TRAINING – One of these key aspects concerns the time of the training sessions. Dogs respond best to short, sharp commands so training moments with your dog should be short, intense and interesting so that he wouldn’t loose his attention, interest and capability of responding to the demands. Starting with small goals or 10 minutes of intensive training may go a long way in helping your dog to train successfully. Dog training must always be only conducted when your dog is alert. The best time to train your dog is when it’s hungry.

DON’T GIVE IN TO YOUR DOG’S EVERY DESIRE – Always exercise discipline first and then affection. Never give out rewards just because your dog gives you a pitiful or cute look but only when he or she performs a correct behavior. Once your dog has learned your commands and hand signals, begin to give lesser rewards.

Conclusion, it is always a pleasure to own any dogs with some form of basic training. They are fun, reliable, less unlikely to misbehave and will not only exhibit good behavior and manner but it will also benefit everyone.



By: Adewale Geoffrey

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Dog owners are sometimes faced with a behavior problem and don’t know how to deal with it. In my book, “The Amazing Dog Training Man,” I came up with an acronym that anyone can use as a tool to understand and deal with any behavior problem.

Here is how you can use The M.U.T.T. Method to deal with any behavior problem.

M – Manage. The first step in dealing with any behavior problem is to properly manage the behavior. Management of behavior will not fix the problem, it will just help contain the problem. For instance, house training will not be fixed by using a crate but it will definitely help manage the behavior. A muzzle can help manage a dog that is being aggressive towards other dogs. So the first step is to think about managing the behavior.

U – Underlying. Every behavior problem has an underlying reason. You need to figure out what the underlying reason is. Say your dog has a digging problem. Why is the dog digging? Is it frustration, boredom, breed specific, etc. Let’s say you are having a house training problem. Is your dog stressed for some reason, is there a health problem, and so on. Once you figure out the underlying problem you can move on to the next part of the M.U.T.T. Method…

T – Train. Now that we have the behavior managed and we have figured out the underlying problem, we can start to train the dog. Let’s go back to the digging for a moment. If the dog is digging because of frustration we can remove the frustration and give the dog some other activities. If the dog is digging because it’s breed specific (terriers live to dog) then we can teach the dog to dig in a designated area and so on.

T – Time. Once we have started to train a new behavior we need to be patient and give it some time. The behavior experts say that it takes at least 21 days to learn a new behavior. So as your going through the process be patient and stick to the plan.

Behavior problems can be difficult do deal with sometimes. When you understand why the behavior is happening and what you can do about it, the problem is much easier to deal with.



By: Eric Letendre

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Is your dog one of those that pulls at his leash constantly whenever there is a distraction? A child walks by, or he sees another dog? If a cat or small animal scoots by, or if a car wooshes in front of him, does he tug to get closer? Is he hard to manage while visiting the vet, or when you have visitors?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, then your dog training needs to include self-control measures. A child is taught similar things when they are growing up (don’t put your hand on the stove, or you can’t have a cookie unless you ask, first), a dog requires the same kind of love and attention, too. Just as you would teach a dog how to sit, speak, come when called or stop, you also need to provide dog training related to self-control.

A few simple guidelines are all that are required for owners to follow. Join me here as I briefly discuss them.

Teach Commands, Not Actions

When your dog lunges at something, instead of pulling tight on their leash to get them to stop, you should instead be telling them what to do in a firm voice. Tugging, even lightly on their leash only tells a dog who the master is, but not what behavior he should be exhibiting. Use this time constructively to practice commands that are appropriate in the situation, instead.

Treat Your Dog like a Friend

Realize that sometimes, your dog just won’t be able to do what you ask him to do, just like a good friend can’t sometimes as well. Dog training shouldn’t be about who is in charge, but instead about compromise and taking variables into account as required. So don’t ask your dog to sit still if he is truly excited about something – ask him instead to sit quietly.

Show Doggy How

Unless you show, or tell, your dog how to react, he won’t know how. Instead, he’ll do what he always does, which is pull and tug at his leash. Give him positive ways in which to respond to every tempting situation, and with some guidance he’ll be able to do what’s right.

Speak On His Terms

When you raise your voice or talk sharply, a dog hears this tone as being excited, similar to barking. It reinforces his already excited behavior, and gives him the idea that you are excited too, so it should be okay! Instead, use your dog training to speak softly and in quiet tones to get your dog to calm down, and he’ll realize soon enough it’s not appropriate behavior for the situation.



By: Kevin Simmons

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Nothing will be more important to your dog training success than keeping a good log. It will be your reference for years to come. This log will prove invaluable in providing you with short cuts and reference material. If kept right, it can cut weeks off your training time. The big three ring five subject binders with the pocket folders in them seem to work the best. Get one binder for each dog you train. Make headings on the pocket folders. Some suggestions – yard work, live bird training, gun training and retrieval. Then put the appropriate information in that section of the notebook.

Keep expense information in the folders. It can come in handy to know what you have spent on each dog. Yes, dog training does cost money. The receipts in the folders can help you find places you may be able to cut costs. If you are doing this for a living, the receipts will be handy for tax purposes. You need to keep several small pads that will fit in your pocket. Put the name of each dog on the front if you are training more than one. As the day’s events unfold make notes in the pad. Transfer these notes into your log binder at the end of the day. Keep this log in a safe place. As the years go by, you will see how valuable it is.

When you are out in the field jot down everything you think is important and then some. Did the dog do good or bad on this part of his training? Did you, as a dog trainer, do good or bad? Keep track of not only the dogs’ performance, but the trainers as well. Was there something that upset your dog during the day? If mistakes were made, what can you do next time to correct them? You are probably thinking, “I am trying to train a dog here. I do not have time to write all this down”. There should be breaks in any dog training session. Use this time to write your notes. Develop a kind of short hand for certain phrases. It is really easier than you think.

The day is done the dog taken care of and put in the kennel. Now is the time to transfer your notes to your big log. Don’t say, “Oh, I can do that tomorrow”. While it is still fresh in your mind is the time for updates. You will be surprised what you will forget overnight. That shorthand might not make as much sense tomorrow. You may even remember a few things you did not jot down.

If you have a computer, and everyone seems to these days, copy your loose-leaf log into Word or Notepad and save a copy to a disk for backup. It cannot be stressed enough how important this log will be to your dog training efforts. It contains what worked and what did not. It will make starting a new dog and new dog training session that much easier.

You will, over time, develop your own style and methods for keeping this log. This article just provides you with the idea and basics. Nothing is too silly or trivial to include in your log. Things that seem trivial may prove important in the end. Good luck and may all your dog-training efforts produce champions.



By: Michael Russell

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The most common question asked by new dog owners is ‘how do I train my dog?’. There are several ways of training a dog, I am going to explain to you a few techniques which have proven both quick and effective. Remember the most important aspect of training a dog is not method, but consistency and always remain positive with your pet.

Toilet Training.

I have found the most effective way to toilet train a dog requires a clicker. A tool you hold in your hand which clicks every time you press it. You first must get you dog used to the clicker. To do this keep clicking it until you get a reaction from your dog, then reward him with a fuss and a treat. Do this 20 times in a row everyday for a about a week. Get him used to the sound so that he associates the sound of the clicker with something good, this is when you get begin toilet training him. To do this take your dog to a specific toilet area and encourage him to go, it will take a while to start with. When he is finished press the clicker, give him a fuss and a treat. Make sure you do it as soon as he has finished though.

Walking On A Leash.

The most common problem with a dog is pulling on the leash when walking. I am going to share with you a few tips to prevent this.

Firstly do your best to always walk your dog after it has used up a bit of energy, especially if it has been inside all day waiting for you to come home. Do this by playing fetch in the garden for example.

Start using a ‘gentle leader head collar’. They work in a similar way to a horse bridle, by controlling the head you can control the rest of the body.

Use a treat to teach him where he is supposed to walk. Hold a piece of food in front of him with your free hand so he follows it. Reward him every couple of meters.

Always keep the leash a little bit slack. If you pull on it your dogs natural reaction is to pull back, so keep it loose.

General Tips.

Keep each training session short. Your dog has a very short attention span so if you train him quickly but frequently he will learn a lot faster.

Make it enjoyable. Give him lots of praise when he does something right , but don’t be too sharp with him when he doesn’t. Make it something that you both look forward to and it will stop seeming like a chore and more like fun.

Always use different places to train your dog. If you only train in one place he may seem to be learning and progressing well but as soon as you go somewhere else it will be completely different. Keep changing locations so he doesn’t get used to just the one place.

To be a good dog owner you need to do more than just training. Dogs spend a great deal of time doing nothing but waiting. So when you do have the time make sure your dog gets enough exercise, both mental and physical. Make sure you are providing your dog with a good diet.. Check the labels for poor quality meats, chemicals and dyes. A good quality diet will help prevent bad behaviour and poor health. In the wild dogs live in packs, with a leader. Make sure your dog knows you are the leader so it knows where it fits it. Do this by controlling when he does anything, such as sleeping and eating. Patience is one of the main things that will make you a good dog owner. Having a dog can be very frustrating at times, especially puppies, so always do you best to be patient with them.

I hope this information will be useful to you improve you and your families relationship with your dog.



By: Brett Landon

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Why should I train my dog? He is so small and cute and for sure he is not dangerous! I have a neighbor and she thinks, that her sweet little Tiny is only ‘playing’ when grabbing someone with his teeth. It is true, that the dog is careful and normally doesn’t bite, but I am the mother of a three year old boy who loves dogs. Unfortunately my little son is not afraid of dogs at all, which means if he sees a freely running dog, he wants to play with it. Especially if he sees my neighbors’ dog, he wants to fool around with the dog. I always stay close by and the dog already realized, that he better behaves if the mother is around, as it happens from time to time that I have to grab that little fury fellow in order to prevent him from getting too enthusiastic.

When I talked to my neighbor – a sweet and friendly lady – about my concerns she was surprised. She said, that the dog had never bitten a child (which is true, but this doesn’t stop him from biting adults) and that I am obviously able to handle the dog (of course – I am much stronger and taller!), so there is no real need to train her little pet; dog training is so cruel and breaks the will of the dogs and she wants her dog to live happy and free.

Hearing this answer, my mouth drop open: she is an intelligent and educated lady and treats her dog like a baby! My neighbor firmly believes in educating children and teaching them the difference between right and wrong, but with her dog that’s something else. Somehow I am able to understand her. If Tiny sits in front of me, looking at my plate, pretending to starve any minute, it’s really difficult to stay strong and give him nothing else but a strict “No!”

I asked my neighbor if she thinks that Tiny had the intelligence of a small child. “Yes, of course!” was the immediate reply. “Well,” I said “then look at my son. He is a happy little boy, free to explore his surroundings, not afraid of anything; as you know I am a very strict mother. Do you have the impression that my son’s spirit is broken?” “No” she replied “he seems to be as happy as a little boy can be.”

“He is” I confirmed “and you know why? Because he knows exactly what he is allowed to do and what he isn’t. I think Tiny would be more happy if he knows exactly where he stands and if he learns to be obedient.” “Oh, but he obeys!” my neighbor was about to proof the dogs’ obedience: “Tiny! Come here!”

Tiny was sitting in her garden, sniffing at something, pretending to be deaf. “Maybe he can’t hear me?” my neighbor felt uneasy. “Tiny is about ten steps away. I can even hear him sniffing. He just doesn’t want to come.” I tried not to be too offensive “If you open one of his tins, he will come running.”

That is exactly where the problem is located: dogs that are not trained only do what they want to do and what they feel like doing. Especially with small dogs, which are often very nervous, a wrong movement can scare them and they feel like biting. If a small dog bites it is not as dangerous as if a big dog bites, but still the bite can do some damage. That’s why it is important to train even small dogs and they will be much more adorable too.

A trained dog is much more relaxed, knowing where he stands in the pack, feeling even more loved and taken care of. Does it require some effort to train a? Yes, it definitely does, but the results stand for themselves: a happy dog and relaxed neighbors! Guess it’s worth a try.



By: Angelika Juritsch

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