Training Dog

One of the few things that dog owners or prospective dog owners think about is whether or not they will need to train their dog. Although training a dog Is not absolutely required unless your dog gives a particular trouble, a small number of training to remove bad habits and set boundaries for your dog should be well thought out. Rather than this, a well trained dog will feel very much securer in your house when it recognises its boundaries. Even in the wild, a dog will have some sort of enforced boundaries of behavior by the pack structure and hierarchy that exists. At the end of the day, your dog is part of your 'pack'.



A very important spot to note on dog training is that whatever kind of training should be approached from the perspective of 'positive reinforcement'. This simply means that you should reward your dog with praise, a treat or yet better, both for any positive behavior that he presents. Achiever will come quickly to anyone who praises a dog for good behavior. As is can't be told for someone who punishes a dog for NOT presenting good behavior.



E.g. - Whenever you call for your dog to sit and he does, you give him a treat. In the dogs mind sitting down when told equals treat. Simple.



Now what if you tell the dog to sit and he does not, and then you punish him? In the dogs mind you have just dealt out a random punishment for nothing. This will only assist to confuse your dog and bring him to mistrust you.

Positive reinforcement is the piont.

One of the most common mistakes that dog owners make is to train their dog wrongly and end up with bad habits. Typical examples include barking, face licking, jumping up. Let's look at each of these.



Barking - Most dogs’ bark, that's a fact. It's WHEN a dog barks that determines whether it's normal behavior or a bad habit. Whenever your dog only barks when someone comes to the door - alright. This is normal territorial behavior. Your dog is warning you - as a member of its pack - that there's possible danger at the door.

If your dog spends the best part of its heating living barking at nearly anything including you, and so it's formed into a bad habit - but one that's easy to bring around.

The first mistake that people make is to shout "Quiet" or "Shut up" at their barking dog. The main reason why this will not work is simple. Your dog barks, then you 'bark'. From your perspective you are shouting at your dog to shut up. From your dogs’ perspective, you are barking along and enjoying the noise.

A more effective method is to wait for a pause in your dogs barking then heap lots of praise and a treat upon your dog. As soon as the barking starts again, ignore your dog, walk off - anything but DO NOT pay your dog any attention. Then, when the barking stops its treat time again. It won't be long before your dog puts two and two together.



Face Licking - Face licking is an overthrow from your dog’s puppy days. Face licking is a way for a puppy to get its mother to regurgitate food for them. You will often see this in the wild. Also wild dogs will lick the face of a higher member of the pack to express and accept their submissive status in the pack. Unfortunately, because you and your family members are higher in the pack, you get the licks!

At first sight face licking isn't a problem but should still be avoided due to health concerns. Never allow a dog lick a baby or toddlers face. This is likely to bring out the baby to germs that its resistant system could not be able to handle. Similarly whenever your dog has worms or has been looking into other dogs’ faeces or even grooming itself, the last thing you want is for your dog to come and lick your face. Try and discourage this behavior using certain reinforcement.



When your dog approaches your face firmly - but not shouting - say “No!” If the dog does not back off push him away from your face. When the dog first responds to the "No" phrase, it's time for a treat. Keep this up consistently, and the dog will realize face licking is unacceptable.



Jumping Up - Jumping up may not seem such a bad habit, but if there are young kids near it can be quite unsafe. Your dog won't know that jumping on you is o.k. but jumping on the children Is not. This will just confuse the dog. Try to discourage this behavior through telling the dog "Down!" All time he jumps up. Give him a treat while he first answers and every time after until you just need to use the words.



There are lots of simple ways that you are able to train your dog. These are just a few. There's no need to tolerate bad habits in your dog since they can be so easily remedied. Oh, and never give ear to the phrase "You can't teach on old dog new tricks", you can - it is never too late.

For More information : Caring for your dog