What's The Best Way To Train A Dog? Some Must-Know Tips

By Sandy Kleiman

Using a dog obedience training program should be something that all dog owners look into. Not only do you want your dog to behave in a certain way (and be a "good boy"!), but you will also naturally strengthen the bond between you and your dog.

It's important that you remember that with any dog training program you want to approach it as though you are a teacher to your dog. You don't want to be a ruthless enforcer just as much as you don't want to let your dog think that he or she is in charge! Remember - you are teaching your pooch how to behave and become a well-behaved dog that will make any dog owner jealous.

Who's the best person to train your dog? You of course! It's a great way to strengthen your bond and make your pup the best behaved dog on the block.

Obviously you don't want to just go in the backyard and start yelling commands. To properly train your dog you need to have a game-plan in mind. For that reason we included a link at the bottom of this article that will take you to a couple of proven dog training programs you can use at home. In the meantime, let's go over a couple of general tips you should keep in mind when training your pooch.

The first thing to always keep in mind is that you want your dog to be in the right frame of mind before you start any "training session". Make sure they have gone to the washroom so they aren't distracted. You also shouldn't start training right after they have ate - it's easy to get sleepy after eating.

Why do this? So that your dog isn't distracted during your training. You want him or her to be completely comfortable.

Another tip is to have a little play time before you jump into training. This makes your dog relaxed and more receptive towards you.

Make sure that you have some treats ready for your pooch so you can reward him - just like humans dogs will continue to behave a certain way when there is something in it for them! Of course you don't want to give away too many of these as this can confuse him. Reward your dog only when appropriate.

If your dog runs off during a training session, don't chase after it. Simply use an authoritative voice and call him back; then reissue the command you are working on when your dog returns.

There are going to be times where it just looks like your pooch is absolutely clueless about what you are expecting of them. This is normal and you can't let yourself get annoyed or mad at them. Instead, find ways to better communicate with your dog so you get the most out of your future training sessions.

You may have to help him out and physically show him what you want him to do. There are times that it might be frustrating, but this will get a whole lot easier over time. It will pay off in the long run!

If you have decided to train your dog on your own, pat yourself on the back! It's an incredibly rewarding experience that will pay huge benefits in the long run. You (and your dog) will be happy you decided to do it on your own. Good luck! - 29953

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