LifeWithMyDogs is supported by our audience. When you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a small affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your cost is not affected.
**********
Basic Training For Dogs Make Great Pets
Â
Basic training for dogs is crucial to make disciplined canines out of our furry friends. Take note that adorable and caring four-legged pals are only good to hang around with. Yet well-behaved pooches are better to live with as trustworthy companions. After all, when we have control over our fur kids, we can handle situations better. Plus, with basic training commands for dogs, a house becomes a great place for pet parents and their fur kids. A homeowner gets peace of mind knowing that he or she has control over his or her pet.
Also, Fido feels loved, more confident, sociable, and happier when trained. So tutoring canines with the fundamentals matter since they help in many ways. All in all, pet education creates exceptional breeds or tykes. Thank goodness, resources to provide the basic lessons to our furry pals are plenty. Likewise, they are available online. Even if pooches have preferences and pursue things, they can pay attention. With their strong senses, they are receptive and usually respond to commands. In this post, we’ll supply you with a few tips to let you begin elementary pooch training.
Â
The Purpose Of Basic Training For Dogs
Â
Puppies and grown canines attend classes or get educated at home to make them better pets. The lessons they learn make them more obedient, sociable, and skilled. Once they take in and accept instructions, they turn into different canines. That is to say, they become disciplined, functional, and healthy in mind and body. Hence, people don’t use basic training commands for dogs at random. Folks often instruct pooches to manage them better and help them with their dealings.
Â
In training pooches, they also get enough mental and physical stimulation. That’s because trainers often put them in a variety of situations to comprehend and adapt. During sessions, they usually feel challenged yet engaged at the same time. Folks give orders to dogs in a friendly and fun environment to help them learn while having a good time. All the while, our furry pals get a boost in confidence and a better bond with humans. When training with other pooches, our fur kids also get along with fellow canines. A study even showed that attending such sessions makes dogs more compliant. Still, humans get the benefit of understanding their four-legged companions better. So it’s a smart idea to let Fido undergo training for about 8 to 9 weeks.
Â
Basic Training Commands For Dogs
Â
Obedience is one of the main goals of canine fundamental education. The reason for this is that this aspect of basic training for dogs keeps canines safe. With a disciplined pooch, you don’t have to worry about leaving the door open or when your pet is off of a leash. So, whether you have a spoiled puppy, untrained rescue dog, or new buddy, you need to have control over it.
Â
Here are the essential instructions every canine owner should be familiar with.
Â
Heel
Â
This order is helpful in the sense that it helps owners keep their pets to their side per command. This maintains staying on the sidewalk. It’s even one of the things that could help you show control of your pet during competitions. For this one, you must have something to get the attention of your furry friend. Usually, a tasty treat with a strong scent will do. Also, the goal is to lead your pup to your left or right side (whichever you prefer) and give a reward after.
Â
To do this, bring your buddy to your side and walk at a slow pace first. Stop from time to time while saying heel until the dog recognizes that it needs to halt and stay by your side. When he or she follows, award him or her with praises and treats. But make sure that you only reinforce whenever success gets achieved.
Â
Sit
Â
This is yet another one of the orders for basic training for dogs. With this instruction, you can get a pooch to go into a sitting position. This is beneficial since it may also help owners to get their canines to stay put for a while. Hence, it’s one of the most helpful things you could teach your dog to do.
Â
It’s not that difficult to let a four-legged friend stay but it may take a few tries before your buddy gets it right. As usual, use an attractive treat that draws a dog to follow. Get it to see and appreciate it while you say “sit”. When your pup sits then don’t hesitate to award its effort. Try to pat or push down its rear a bit to encourage it to sit but never exert a lot of force. Give praises when your dog gets the idea and repeat the command several times.
Â
Stay
Â
Usually, this command starts with an instruction to sit first. But it doesn’t follow that it must always begin with a canine sitting first. But, in most cases, it involves staring straight into the eyes of your furry companion. When your buddy is steady in one place, tell him or her to stay. Back away or go in another direction while keeping steady eye contact for a bit. When your four-legged friend stays per command, appreciate it by expressing your admiration. Use whatever treats you have that appeal to your buddy too. Repeat this often until you get your canine to follow it well and fast.
Â
This requires leaving your pet for a while and having a bit of distance from it. Remember to only hand over treats when your buddy gets it right. Try to ignore mistakes and keep trying until your pet turns compliant. It’s best to include this as a part of the basic training for dogs since it helps keep a dog from being too clingy. Also, it may aid in making a canine remain somewhere when you need it to.
Â
Come
Â
Letting pooches learn how to come when called is very crucial. It’s not only since “come” is one of the basic training commands for dogs. This instruction is usually the one that pet owners often use. After all, from time to time, you want to show your pup something to get its attention or help it. This can also turn out to be helpful in emergencies. At least, with this command, your buddy will come to your aid or steer clear of trouble when you would shout the word. So make time to let your four-legged friend learn this.
Â
Be patient and start by setting a close distance between you and your furry friend. Say come and wait until it goes to you before giving a reward. You may have to draw its attention or show your enthusiasm to encourage it to go to you. Be generous whenever your buddy would run to you when called to show your approval. Try again when your fur kid gets distracted and award him or her when he or she keeps obeying you. Call your buddy not only while you’re facing it but also when it’s facing your back to check its obedience. Still, keep training until it follows you even without treats involved. So you may have to spend time training to make everything perfect.
Â
Things Needed For Basic Training For Dogs
Â
Before teaching basic training commands for dogs, it’s important to prepare first. Certain items must be available before sessions begin to ensure success later. Also, the place needs to be conducive to learning. With the right things and areas to use for training, the chances of schooling success turn higher. So it’s imperative to make these coaching aspects ready before you begin.
Â
Rewards
Â
This may come in the form of doggie treats like biscuits, chewies, or animal products. Some of our fur kids treat play time and thus toys as their prizes. What’s important is to use those that your pet responds to and appreciates. After all, the purpose of these goods is to recognize good behavior. Likewise, they are there to aid to reinforce favorable deeds. Usually, dog owners and even professional canine behaviorists use them for operant conditioning. Hence, we can say that these things are essential when instructing our pooches.
Â
Some pet parents don’t believe in using rewards. They think giving punishments for undesirable behaviors is always the solution. There’s proof that this isn’t the case at all. After all, always penalizing pooches may result in lifelong mental health problems. So it’s not surprising why many experts recommend using various treats instead.
Â
Clicker
 Remember learning about Pavlov’s dogs in high school science class? The clicker uses that same principle. Through training, the dog learns to associate the sound of the clicker with a reward, starting with offering a food treat, then weaning to just the clicker.Â
Some consider this an important item when it comes to basic training for dogs. It’s because it helps make reinforce good behaviors with efficiency. Along with using treats, it becomes useful in rewarding canines. Trainers make dogs associate the clicking sounds it makes with something positive. With success, the clicks give our four-legged friends a sense of appreciation. Hence, it helps in awarding positive behavior and saving on pet treats.
Â
This is a device that is not only handy but quite effective when used right. It’s easy to carry and requires only timing the clicks to make it work. Even if a pooch does something good and gets rewarded with treats, it’s still useful to press for clicks. After all, a dog has very sensitive ears and can locate where sounds are coming from. Using a clicker helps to make the feeling of getting treats equal to hearing clicks. It may take time before our furry buddy gets used to the sounds but, with consistency, it should work. Thus canine experts usually bring this along when coaching dogs.
Some Don’t Use a Clicker
While clickers are popular, many people choose not to use them. The clicker is, of course, just one possible training tool. And some people find it awkward to use and even unnecessary.
I learned to train using verbal rewards (good boy or atta girl, for instance) and am one of the trainers who just isn’t into clickers. For some, I see they work well. For me, my dogs like the sound of my voice or the pat on the head just as well.
For people who learned to train without a clicker, they may seem useless. The choice is up to the trainer, of course.
Â
Collar and Leash
Â
While giving basic training commands for dogs, it may often be necessary to have these items. After all, pooches are independent thinkers and curious creatures too. So, from time to time, they may prefer to do something else and get distracted by a lot of things. Having a collar and leash puts pet owners in control. They allow humans to tug canines by the neck to pull them away or lead them somewhere. Sometimes, folks even connect a pet harness to a leash. Yet using a collar with a line may be enough. As long as you get the ones with the appropriate size and tightness, you should be fine.
Â
It may involve punishment when training with these to get dogs to concentrate. At least there’s positive reinforcement by praising a dog on a leash too. Still, these items help a lot with establishing dominance over our four-legged friends. Take note that canines are pack animals and they often follow leaders. So putting on a collar and a rope may permit you to show that you are the head.
Â
Target Stick
Â
One of the things you could have while you walk or train your buddy to do things is this type of rod. It’s also ideal for basic training for dogs since you can use it to lead a canine. Some models come with clickers attached while others only have a spot where to place treats. It’s even possible to create an original version. What’s important is to have the kind that you can use to direct a canine to perform certain activities. So pick one and then master using it.
Â
You can use it to let a canine do some of the basic training commands for dogs like heel, come, and look. After all, you can tell a pooch to follow it and to go to your side or in front of you. It’s even useful when getting a furry friend to face you. Hence, some trainers make sure to have one as their training aid when coaching dogs. It’s worked to help many pooches obey commands and it may be useful to most if not all training canines.
Â
Â
Last But Not The Least
Â
Basic training for dogs is very important since it helps develop positive behaviors. Letting canines follow instructions to do a few things help them stay under control. Aside from that, it also keeps their minds and bodies active. Still, with the commands, the lives of pet owners and the trained pooches become easier. Hence, there’s no doubt about the positive value of the basic training commands for dogs.
Â
Be patient and have fun while you’re educating your pet. Always remember to use positive reinforcement. Make sure to only award good behavior and add praises while you’re at it. We hope that you enjoyed or at least found useful things in this post. If you have some ideas to add to it, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Thanks for reading and good luck with your dog training!
Read More
