You are proud of the new member of your family, the furry four-legged creature who is full of unconditional love and will be with you for many years. All too often, however, a new puppy or dog can wreak havoc on your home, garden and neighborly relationships. Dog training is a must for a happy home life and a happy puppy. The right approach, combined with professional dog obedience training, will ensure that your newest family member fits right in. Here are four secrets the pros use to succeed.
1. Who is the best dog?
Dogs by nature travel in packs, with the alpha dog being the pack leader. There can only be one alpha dog in each pack; otherwise chaos would ensue and the safety of the pack would be compromised. Your dog needs to understand that you are the alpha dog of the pack. You communicate this to your dog by attending to your lead, such as when you take him for a walk when you get home from work, or by successfully completing a dog obedience training course together. You also exercise your alpha dog status by controlling your dog's food. When he knows you're feeding him twice a day, it cements your position as top dog.
2. Consistency is key
Virtually any dog trainer will tell you that humans are generally to blame when dogs are not successfully taught commands. This is because dogs see the world in black and white, while humans see the world in shades of grey. To humans, "Come" and "Come" mean the same thing; a dog on the other hand may understand “Come on” but have no idea what his owner wants when he says “Come on. Use consistent vocabulary and tone whenever you want to change your dog's behavior or teach him a command.
3. Mutual respect leads to obedience
A happy and healthy human-dog relationship is based on mutual respect. Your dog respects your position as pack alpha and you respect his needs. Contrary to what you may read, respect and obedience do not grow from a packet of dog treats, nor do they grow from fear. Excessive rewards and excessive severity will lead to erratic behavior, while appropriate praise and correction will lead to respect.
4. Timing is everything
Timing comes into play in various aspects of dog training. The saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" isn't quite right, but it's much easier to train a puppy than an older dog. Some people make the mistake of involving their dogs in long and drawn-out training sessions. Like young children, dogs' attention spans are relatively short, and fun 15-minute sessions will produce results rather than hours of exercise. Timing is also key in creating your alpha role. For example, an alpha dog eats first, so you should only feed your dog after eating.
Dog training is a must, but it doesn't have to be a chore. Regardless of where your dog is being trained—Chicago, San Francisco, or Miami—you should find a dog trainer that you and your dog enjoy and work with to make your new family member feel at home.
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