Dog Training Tips

Dog training is the single most important aspect of raising a dog, well besides regular vaccinations. Basic obedience, alone, is a great way to keep your dog safe; by teaching simple commands like "leave it" and "wait," can really save your dogs life one day. "Leave it" can stop your dog from snatching up medication or another toxin that has either fallen on the floor or that has been left behing; "wait" can stop your dog from progressing further, such as running out into the road or out the door when you're not ready.

Positive training is the most effective form of dog training; but using the clicker and positive reinforcements will teach your dog what behaviors you want him to repeat with certain commands.

Once you tackle basic obedience, you can move onto fun tricks and agility, which will help stimulate your dog's mind and keep him exercised (if you opt for agility).

For more information, check out:
Dog Training Tips, Help, and Techniques

Behavioral Problem Solving

Behavioral Problem Solving with your dog can make a happier you and a happier dog... Not to mention a happier neighbor... Find out problem solving tools and techniques to help you and your dog cope with each other.

In many cases, behavioral problems can easily be eliminated by starting basic obedience training from the get-go. Basic Obedience Training Part 1 and Basic Obedience Training Part 2 includes the basic commands like walking on a leash, leave it, give, sit, down, stay, wait, and come. I am constantly reworking and refining basic obedience commands with my dogs. Basic obedience, believe it or not, can save your dog's life one day. If he decides to charge out the front door ahead of you, you can give him the 'wait' command that will tell him that he cannot move but you can. This will insure that you dog is kept safe.

Clicker Training

Have any of you heard of Clicker Training? I find that it is one of the better techniques towards training dogs. I have found the quickest results when using a clicker than without. I began training my new puppy without the clicker, and she basically understood what I wanted, but as soon as I picked up my old clicker and began using it when training with her, she began catching on quicker and quicker. It is pretty simple to clicker train. You can use your voice as a sharp 'yes' when the desired behavior was reached; the sharp 'yes' is in place of the clicer as we all have our voice with us at all times, but maybe not a clicker. This is what I started with when training my new puppy, but I was not getting the results I desired in the time frame I had hoped. When picking up my old Karen Pryor I-Click clicker, MIA quickly began responding to simple cues of 'sit,' 'down,' 'sit/stay,' 'down/stay,' and 'speak.' Many more behaviors are added to her 'behavior glossary,' with every click of the small, hand-held clicker.