Being a new pet parent, you may feel overwhelmed in welcoming a dog at home. While you make sure that you have all the pet supplies at home, you should also be thinking about basic obedience training. Setting up the appropriate behaviours and expectations both in and outside of your home will definitely take some time and patience, but it will be worth it your efforts in the long-run. A well-trained dog is happier and healthier than untrained dogs, and so are their owners.
Training your dog may seem a very big project. With a consistent schedule and program, you will find the task to be less daunting. Let us look at the ways to begin dog obedience training at home.
Choose A Training Method
Choosing a training method that works best for your canine friend is going to make things easier for you. Trainers agree that dogs respond better to positive reinforcement techniques of using praise or treats. “Clicker Training” is another interesting method that involves using an inexpensive clicker which makes a distinctive clicking sound when pressed. The pressing of a “click” is done to convey good behaviour of dog.
Introducing Equipment
There are some basic training supplies that can make your process easier and effective. To start with obedience training, you will definitely need a dog collar or harness that is comfortable for your dog. Once your pet gets accustomed to having something around the neck, you can add a leash to it. Healthy food treats and toy chews are the biggest motivators that your dog enjoys. Take your time to present all training tools so as to condition a positive response from your pet.
Set Up A Training Schedule
Training a dog works best when you set a consistent schedule which includes short sessions (about 10 to 15 minutes) every day. Try to stick with one type of training per session so your dog does not get confused and aggressive. Remember to keep sessions crisp, fun and cheerful. If your dog looks tired, bored or distracted, shift the training session to some other time. Pups tend to have shorter attention spans whereas adult dogs tend to get bored easily.
Essential Basic Commands
You can start by teaching simple commands (stay, sit, lie down, and coming towards you when called) to your dog. These are the most fundamental commands that every dog should understand. Once your dog masters these basic obedience rules, you can move on to fun and advanced tricks. It is better to stick to one command per session until it is well understood. Ensure to use these commands in your daily life for better pet’s better retention power.
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Create Suitable Environment
Since pets tend to get distracted easily, remember to choose a place for training where you will not be disturbed. Once your dog gets accustomed to a particular indoor environment, you can extend the practice outdoors and around different people.
Final Words
Remember every dog is different. Some dogs take a little more time to teach and learn commands. So do not expect to get it done right with first few attempts. There will be instances when both you and your dog feel frustrated but with regular practice, it will become a fun and bonding time for both of you.
