Although there are various techniques used to train dogs, the basics of any training regime are consistency and plenty of exercise. Discipline and affection are also key to a well-trained dog. Dogs need a leader, and if it’s not the owner, then they’re happy to take the role.
Consistency
No matter what training methods you implement, without consistency, your dog will be confused. Consistency means including the whole family and any friends that your dog regularly encounters. Dogs will follow precedent, so if you allow your dog to jump up on a passerby, then your dog will try to jump up on other people too. Make sure the whole family understands and follows the rules with your dog, or else your dog will learn when and with whom it can misbehave.
Children
Children are at a greater risk for injury because dogs learn quickly that they don’t have to follow the rules with them. Kids should learn the dog’s obedience commands with an adult’s supervision, and the dog should learn that they must obey children, too.
Regular Exercise
To establish leadership in the dog’s mind, family members should eat before feeding their pets. In the dog’s world, whoever eats first is dominant. Another way to establish leadership is exercise. Many dog trainers say, “a tired dog is a good dog,” so regular exercise is a must. There is no better way to demonstrate that you’re the leader than by properly walking your dog. Your dog should walk next to you calmly with a loose leash; walking incorrectly will reinforce to your dog that it is in fact the leader. If your dog pulls at the leash, wanders, zigzags, or stops to relieve or mark, it’s the one making the decisions, and this reinforces the fact the dog is the leader. Walking your dog when it is tired makes it much easier to keep your dog from pulling you.
Balance Rewards & Discipline
Affection and rewards are good, but too many people only give praise and treats and skip the discipline. Make sure you are not sending mixed signals! Do not give your dog any positive attention while it is misbehaving. For example, when a dog whines, some people think they should reassure it, by stroking it and saying it is okay. But not only is this telling the dog that it is okay to whine, it also tells the dog that when it whines, it will get praise and attention. This is where people must pay close attention to the signals they are sending to their dogs, because entrenched behaviors become difficult to correct.
Avoid Repetition
Another common mistake is repeating obedience commands to your dog. If you tell your dog to “Sit” and they do not do so, repeating the command “Sit” multiple times encourages the dog to ignore you more. The best training technique is to tell your dog to “Sit”—and if they do, praise them! If they don’t, make them sit by pulling up gently on the leash and pushing down with your hand on their pelvis. Dogs start to ignore commands when people repeat them and don’t follow through. A command should be said once, and then you should follow through with making your dog do what you asked.
Remember—in any method of dog training, consistency and exercise are key to training an obedient dog. This makes sure that your dog is a happy and healthy member of your family!