Dogs can be tremendous companions and good domestic pets. We have called them “man’s best friend” forever because of that. But in order to be a excellent doggy resident and a trusty family pet you must train your dog well.
You must start training your puppy for obedience as soon as he arrives at your home. The training will be ongoing until he is about a year old and then while he may be considered “fully trained”, you will still need to work with him to keep his skills razor-sharp for the balance of his years. A well-trained dog is a joy to own and a joy to be around.
The number one directive of dog training is that you must be the “alpha dog”. Some people may not like that phrase but the reality is that dogs are pack animals and they expect to have a leader. You must be the leader and all of the human members of your family unit must outrank your dog in the pack order. Dogs will do everything for the leader of the pack so that must be you.
Your dog must never be permitted to show dominance. He needs to wait to eat until after you have finished eating. This is a subtle but very imperative thing when it comes to establishing domination. He must never be permitted to jump on you or other people either.
Never let your puppy do things that would not be suitable for an grown-up dog. This includes jumping and nipping at you and other people. You must be consistent when you train a dog because they cannot reason like a human. A dog will not realize that it is okay to jump on you in your play clothes but not when you are in a business suit. Consistency is vital in dog training.
A crate will make all of your training easier. Dogs truly want a restful and cozy home that is their own and they feel protected and secure in a crate. At the beginning your puppy may whine but you will need to just leave him there and he will adjust. A crate will make housetraining and obedience training both much easier.
It is vital for your dog’s protection that he knows how to sit and stay. You must be able to control your dog at particular times and he must be yielding with your orders in order to avoid troubles like running off and jumping all over the visitors that come to your house.
Walking on a leash and heeling are also part of the basic training that your dog needs. After that you can move on to fun things like fetching. Well-trained dogs are the most enjoyable to own and to be around so do not slack on your pet-owner responsibilities.
