DogTrainster.Com

Source from: travelguy.typepad.com

Just About Dogs
By J. Foley

Most people today are aware of the fact that obesity is becoming an epidemic worldwide.  The problems that this condition bring about have nothing to do with how one looks, but rather the fact that obesity is associated with diabetes, sleep apnea, arthritis, and a myriad of other very serious health problems.  And what is truly sad about this epidemic is that it seems to actually be affecting pets as well!  No doubt the type and amount of dog training treats that owners indulge their pets with has a lot to do with this problem.

Many owners, especially those with a new dog or new puppy, are far too eager to reward their dog with an edible treat or with table scraps, and most have very little knowledge of how dangerous this can be to a dog’s health.

If you’re an owner that may be guilty of overindulging your pet with dog training treats, what are some things you need to consider when it comes to the type and amount of treats, and what are some of your other options for rewarding your dog?  Let’s take a look at the subject of dog training treats and see what other choices you have.

For one thing, remember that dog training treats are not your only option when it comes to rewarding your dog.  Pets respond to positive attention from their owners just as much as anything else, and perhaps even more so.  Petting your dog, giving her reassuring words, and playing with her are just as rewarding as any fattening treats!  Choose some favorite toys that you and the dog can play with for a few minutes, such as a ball you can toss around or a rag that she can tussle with while you hold it.  This means that you can play with your dog for a few minutes in place of those dog training treats without having to spend hours at the dog park.

Positive attention and rewarding your dog can also mean petting and grooming as well.  Dogs enjoy being brushed if it’s done properly, and this type of physical attention when used in place of dog training treats can keep a dog calm and soothed, as opposed to making her fat!

This doesn’t mean that you need to stop using dog training treats altogether; they simply need to be used more sparingly.  Also, consider the ingredients of the treats you choose.  Some these days are nothing but fat and sugar, but if you do some shopping, you’ll find other brands that are leaner with protein and very little fat.  Dogs enjoy the taste of protein as much as they do anything else, so finding dog training treats that are made with lean meats such as chicken and turkey are just as enjoyable to your dog as any other.

If you find that your dog is becoming overweight then it’s time to rethink how and when you use dog training treats and think about other rewards instead.

Source from: examiner.com

Jeff Millman - Dog Training Examiner

Did you know that there are training tasks you can work on when you are with your dog without even much thought? I always stress to my clients to “put the trainer hat on” a little more frequently throughout the day to achieve their goals. If you just think about training a little bit more every day, you can work on a list of goals whenever you are with your dog and he will be better trained before you know it!

Dogs (and people) learn through consistent patterns. Here are some examples of patterns that you can teach your dog every day. The key is to SAY THE CUE ONCE and then gently help your dog understand the meaning.

Turn right, turn left. When you are walking your dog, say, “left” or “right” a half-second before you turn that direction and then gently guide your dog that way. If you work on this whenever you walk your dog, eventually he will turn the correct direction on his own.

Stop. Say this every time before you stop your dog at a curb or before he hits the end of the leash if he is forging ahead on a walk. A more advanced exercise is to do the same while you are running. Make sure you don’t jerk your dog when stopping.

Excuse Me. My dog, Ranger, used to lie down in front of the refrigerator all the time when he was a puppy. He would seemingly read my mind and do it right before I needed something out of there. All I did was say, “Excuse me”, pause for a moment and gently opened the door. The small movement touched him and he got up and walked away. Now, all I need to do is say, “Excuse me” wherever he is and he understands I need him to move out of my way.

These are just three examples of training strategies you can use every day. What do you do with your dog to work on training on walks, during mealtimes, or other times?

Source from: americanchronicle.com

by Mailey McLaughlin

Whether your dog is just a puppy or well into adulthood, there are many things you, as a pet owner, need to be aware of. Training your dog is an important step in starting off on the right foot and teaching him obedience. All dogs - no matter how old - need some form of training so that they can be easily handled in all situations. A wise investment in your new best friend would be basic training or obedience classes that will help you to build a bond and learn to control your dog. TV shows, books, and articles abound on dog training, but tips that are truly effective are harder to come by if you don’t do the necessary research.

There are many reasons for training your dog. Training allows the dog to understand your expectations, helps him become calmer and more relaxed in all situations, in new places, and with new people, provides him with much-needed structure, makes him easier to manage, and perhaps most importantly, helps keep him out of the shelter. Unfortunately, the biggest reason that dogs are in or are returned to shelters is due to their lack of training and out-of-control behavior.

Dog Training Tips: The Necessary Commands

Because dogs thrive in packs and are naturally social, once they come to your home, they expect you to be the leader. Training your dog appropriately with a few highly effective dog training tips teaches him to follow you, understand your necessary commands, and learn to accept his place in your “pack.” To avoid problems later in life, it’s recommended that you enroll your pet in obedience and/or training classes early on, or at the very least, begin training your dog yourself, rewarding him each time he learns a new command. The following dog training tips are some of the more vital guidelines in ensuring your pet will be a well-behaved, functioning member of your family. If you have the patience and the time, here are some ways to begin training your dog at home:

* Always enforce your commands - don’t let your dog ignore a command, but most certainly reward him when he does follow it. If your dog does not follow it immediately, help him perform the command, then reward. Above all, however, do not call your dog to you and do anything negative to him when he comes. If he disobeys and you react with anger, your dog will learn to fear you and may not listen to you in the future. Attempting to integrate any other dog training tips after that may be futile.

* Reward your dog immediately when he listens. Positive encouragement in the form of treats or praise is always welcome and helps the dog learn that he is doing well at responding to what you say. During training, have treats in hand and deliver them quickly when the dog performs correctly. Don’t punish your dog or ‘rub his nose in it’ should he have an accident. When training your dog, these tips will help you avoid discouraging or even confusing your pet.

* Master one command at a time - go slowly and over time, your dog will learn the command. Don’t overload multiple commands into one training session as this approach will likely result in failure. Most experts recommend 5-10 minutes at the most for one session. You’ll need to be patient during the process of training your dog; chances are that your dog won’t respond to every command or even learn them in just a few weeks - it will take time.

* “Sit,” “Come,” “Stay,” and “Lie Down” - these are perhaps the four most important commands your dog needs to know, and all helpful dog training tips from books or your vet should cover these comprehensively. Once your dog masters them successfully, you will be able to manage him in all situations and control his behavior around other people and animals. For dogs that may like to run free, “come” is a necessary command should he manage to wriggle out of his collar and/or leash.

* Maintain solidarity with training - in family situations, make sure that everyone follows the rules with training your dog. If you’re the only one using commands and the rest of the family is ignoring certain behaviors that the dog exhibits and not re-enforcing the dog training tips you’ve been using thus far, then your one-on-one training sessions will largely be forgotten. Re-enforce commands each day as repetition is key.

* Keep it fun - this is a time to grow and bond with your pet; make training your dog fun for both of you. Once he masters the basics of these dog training tips, move on to the fun tricks, like “roll over,” “shake,” and “play dead.” Your dog will begin to look to you because you’ll have made your role clear.

Assume the Role: You are the Pack Leader

It is your responsibility to be aware and responsible for your pet - your dog relies on you to take care of him at all times. Providing him with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and one-on-one training will ensure that he has a long, healthy, and happy life with you. Don’t leave his behavior up to chance - you can ensure that your new best friend is obedient and happy just by integrating some of these simple dog training tips into his routine. Assume control as leader of your pack and your dog will look to you in all situations that may arise.

You are the best person when it comes to training your dog - he trusts you, after all. More importantly, training your dog will keep him safe and protected, which is something all dog owners should want.

Source from: huliq.com

To acquire a puppy is a joyous as well as memorable event as the puppies are the cutest friends and companions of humans, but puppy and dog training requires knowledge and expertise.

Supple fleece, puppy kisses and the cutest faces in the world, all these good things mix together to create a sensitively charged experience. The moment a puppy enters your custody; motherly instincts begin to develop in you, and before long you will accept the puppy a member of your family. It is really a very tender feeling to have a pup at home. It also mixes up with everybody nicely.

Love and softness are the most vital ingredients as you raise your puppy, but only love is not enough to train your puppy. If you feel and wish to train your puppy in a better manner you must take proper initiatives to do so. Initially you may practice a few days of bliss with the new member of your family but soon after the first date has ended you will understand that your ideal puppy is far from faultless. Almost all the puppies come with in-born faults. They defecate indoors, chew almost everything, use their teeth as playful weapons and cry loudly when they are left alone. The puppies are almost like little children and they also have the tendencies to disobey you and your instructions.

Therefore it is very much essential for you to make proper and immediate arrangements to start training your pup. As said earlier, the pups are like little children and they have the tendencies of testing boundaries, avoiding rules and do whatever they like to do. Therefore they need guidance for adopting correct habits.

Training is training, and it should be done in the true meaning of the term. Your idea of training the dog must be to develop good eating habits as well as behavioral habits in him. It means that you should adopt an appropriate training style that will treat your puppy as you want him to be.

Before you start thinking of training your puppy, decide what exactly you are looking for in your puppy. It is important that you seriously think and decide what you want the end results to be. As far as the present status of training methodology is concerned, many suitable methods are available for your dog to get train in. You should look for the correct trainer or training school only after you do your thinking part.

It is always advisable to train your dog by yourself (Consider purchasing our e-book “Train Yourself To Train Your Dog”. You must take care of the following things before you start the training process:

Do not get aggressive in your behavior even if your pup is not able to perform according to your commands.

Do speak in a consistent manner and don’t use harsh voice while giving commands.

Speak continuously with your dog and repeat words you like him to understand and follow. So you should utter words like ‘Stand up’, ‘Sit’, ‘Come’, ‘Go’ etc and also show him the possible response which he could show to these words.

Don’t forget to reward him if he follows you correctly. If he is not able to follow one command properly, do not repeat it right then.

Take your dog for a walk and let him develop the habit defecating outside. In a few days, your pup shows the correct response to your commands and makes you a proud owner.

Save yourself a lot of time as a dog owner and train your dog to be obedient. It gets so much easier for both you and your dog when you have trained your dog´s obedience.

All dog owners, at some point of time or the other, have to administer dog behavior or dog obedience training. Most dogs suffer from behavior problems at some time in their lives. It is important for the owners to understand these problems and the techniques that can be used to correct these problems. Let us take a look at some of the general principles of dog training:

• A large number of dog behavior problems occur due to separation anxiety.

• Dog aggression and problem behavior like biting, digging or barking comes from the lack of communication between the dog and its owner.

• Dog behavior problems can be corrected by applying dog obedience training in the early stages.

• Set clear-cut boundaries of unacceptable and acceptable conduct for your dog and make it clear to them.

• Whenever your dog suffers from a behavioral problem, there is some cause or trigger behind it. Therefore, it is vital to identify these triggers in order to solve the problem.

Some of the common behavioral problems faced by dogs include aggression, biting, baking and chewing. Though it is all natural behavior for dogs, but it can prove to be extremely expensive and annoying for its owners. Some of the ways in which stop dog biting include:

1. Make your dog undergo both mental as well as physical exercise.

2. Provide tasty dog chews to your dog. Make it clear that if your dog wants to chew something, it should be his toys only.

3. If there is some particular thing like a furniture leg which your dog likes to chew, then you can coat is which a substance with a foul taste such as cayenne pepper or bitter apple, so that your dog doesn´t chew it.

It is quite sad that most of the dogs who suffer from behavioral problems end up in different animal shelters. If you do not want to bid farewell to your beloved pet, then you have to manage their aggression or destructive behavior with the help of appropriate dog behavior training. Combining proper techniques of dog training along with some patience and commitment, you can surely achieve great results with your pet dog. Dog training can make a huge difference to the life of your dog.

Article Source:  azstarnet.com

Owner needs to be good ‘pack’ leader

By Jennifer Sterba

Local dog-training experts say that when a pet fails to learn a command or behavior, it’s often because the owner failed to communicate or train his or her dog. In other words, the fault lies with the owner, not the dog.

Thom McKinney, owner of Dog Day Adventures, started his business two years ago after learning everything he could about dog training and behavior.

“Some sources will tell you that some breeds are more malleable, trainable or designed to please the trainer more,” he said. “There is some merit to that. However, lots of people nowadays have mixed breeds.”

But any dog has the desire to please, and tapping into that desire is the key to motivating your dog to learn.

So we asked our experts to tell us, how can you tell if your dog — er, owner — is trainable?

Is your dog focused on you?

Steve Dell, owner of a Bark Busters franchise in Tucson, said that on an initial visit, he’ll put the dog in a sitting position and watch the dog’s eyes. If the dog is looking at the owner, he’s paying attention. If he’s looking all around, at the child down the street, he’s not focussed.

“If the dog is not focused, then we’re going to work on a variety of things to get the dog paying attention to the owner.”

Who’s the boss?

“All dogs are trainable,” Dell said. “They all want to follow a good, strong leader.”

Dell said he interviews the owner on the dog’s living arrangements.

Where does the dog sleep? Does the owner put his food down and then pick it up later, or is the dog allowed to graze all day? How does the dog behave in the car?

“These things go a long way in helping me help the owner assume leader-of-the-pack status.”

Do you speak his language?

One of the biggest stumbling blocks in dog training occurs when the owner says, “No!”

The dog doesn’t understand the difference between “know” and “no” for starters, Dell said. So right off the bat, the owner is possibly confusing the dog.

Second, Dell teaches owners to read their dog’s body language and communication style.

The obvious growl translates to, “Hey, you’re out of line,” Dell said.

How quickly does your dog follow commands?

“It can be a verbal command, but oftentimes when I meet a new dog, I can just point to their rear area or on the ground and they often will sit,” McKinney said.

That’s why making eye contact with your dog is so important, he said.

Most dog trainers recommend interchanging verbal and nonverbal commands, even changing to just facial expressions, he said.

Does your dog know how to please you?

“If you’re only punishing your dog when they do something bad, they don’t know what to do to please you,” said Christopher Beeson, co-owner of Dawg House, a dog day care at 750 N. Stone Ave.

Beeson said it’s important that positive reinforcement and repetition go hand-in-hand. He suggests ignoring any bad behavior and focusing on praising and rewarding positive behavior.

“That’s what makes them look smart,” he said, “when they’re only doing something that pleases our species.”

Article Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com

By Deborah Wood

Behavior problems are the No. 1 reason animals are turned over to shelters, and the leading cause of death for dogs under 3 years of age.

The good news is that almost all these problems are preventable. Spending a little bit of time and effort today is relatively painless. And it can avert a sometimes sad, always difficult and usually expensive problem later.

Here are seven simple rules to observe if you want a dog that is a pleasure to live with:

Rule 1: Start early. Every Wednesday night, the puppies take over Dog Days Dog Training in Vancouver, Wash. There is equipment to play on, new friends to make during structured playtime, basic commands to learn and plenty of potty breaks.

“It’s important to get a puppy socialized in a safe, controlled environment,” explains Julie Wilcoxson, co-owner of Dog Days and trainer of the puppy kindergarten class. Puppies grow into calmer adult dogs if they’re exposed to noises, people of all ages and other dogs while they are still young.

In a good kindergarten class, the dogs have supervised play with other puppies that match up well for their size and temperament. They learn simple commands and learn to be still in their owners’ arms.

While socialization is important, it’s also vital to use common sense with puppies that are still getting their vaccinations. Don’t take puppies to places such as public parks where unvaccinated dogs are likely to be. Look for safe, clean environments where careful owners take their dogs.

Your veterinarian may be able to recommend a good puppy kindergarten class. Another place to look for puppy kindergarten and other dog training is the Web site of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers: www.apdt.com.

Rule 2: If you didn’t start early, train your dog now. One study showed one of the biggest differences between dogs that are given to shelters and those that aren’t was obedience classes. Dogs that know such simple skills as sit, come and walking on a leash are better companions than those that don’t. And dogs can learn at any age.

Rule 3: Exercise your dog. Barking, jumping and constantly nagging his owner to play ball are signs that a dog isn’t getting the exercise it needs. A tired dog is a good dog.

Walking your dog is a good start. Dogs bond with the people who walk them, and it’s great for both of you. For most dogs, all it takes is a pleasant daily walk to feel calm and bonded.

For other dogs, a long walk is just a warmup. Siberian huskies and border collies were bred to run hours a day. Riding your bicycle with your dog, playing fetch or taking your dog to doggie day care can all be alternatives for these high-energy dogs. Don’t let size fool you: Many little breeds, such as Jack Russell terriers and even some tiny papillons, may need more exercise than large dogs.

Exercise needs generally decline with age, but not always. Some dogs crave a high level of physical activity their whole lives.

Rule 4: Make your dog earn his dinner. Feeding your dog two meals a day — and making him work for his food when you feed him — may transform your dog. Ask him to do a simple command (such as “sit”) that he knows well before you put the bowl down. Wait patiently until he does what you ask before you feed him.

Ask your dog to do a command before giving treats, too, and even before petting him. If your dog doesn’t do what you ask, just turn away and don’t give the treat or the petting. Soon, your dog will do the simple command when you ask.

This is a gentle, calm way to show your dog that you are the kind and benevolent leader. You may be stunned at how much closer your relationship with your dog becomes just from this change.

Rule 5: Teach your dog impulse control. Lots of dogs know “sit” or “come” but become wild and crazy when something exciting happens. The star of the obedience class may jump on guests when they arrive at your door.

“A dog that has good impulse control learns that being polite is what gets him what he wants,” says Suzanne Malick, training director for Pup-A-Razzi in Beaverton, Ore.

She recommends selecting a behavior that comes naturally to the dog, such as sitting or lying down, and rewarding the behavior every time the dog does it. That behavior becomes a way for the dog to communicate back to you. When he wants something, he’ll begin to offer the default behavior — and you’ll have a dog that is calm, rather than excited, when he’s hoping for something fun.

Rule 6: Deal with little problems before they become big problems. If you have a puppy, don’t allow him to do anything now that you won’t allow when he’s full size. If you don’t want a 70-pound adult dog jumping up and licking at you, don’t let the 7-pound puppy do it.

Deal with irritating habits when they start, before they progress to dangerous behaviors over time. For most dogs, ignoring the bad behavior and rewarding the good behavior quickly shapes a happy, well-behaved dog.

Rule 7: Ask for help if you need it. Even in the best families, sometimes there are troubled kids. The same thing happens with dogs. If your dog is aggressive or has other behavior you don’t know how to deal with, ask for help now. The longer a dog practices bad behavior, the harder it is to change. Talk with your veterinarian about whether your dog might need a referral to medical intervention by a behavior specialist.

Article Source: articlesfactory.com

By Daniel Waser

Dog training is the responsibility that YOU signed on for when you brought your dog through your front door for the first time. The whole dog training experience can be pleasant for BOTH you and your dog. Dog training does not have to be hard or frustrating. It is therefore vital that you adopt the ideas from the dog training tips that strive towards long term success, and not temporary satisfaction.

When dog training we must respect, understand, and use the rules Mother Nature has imposed upon the system we experience as a developing individual. Using only proven methods that are psychologically sound for DOGS during dog training is so important because it makes the process natural, with quick results and eliminates subtle dog training mistakes that very often sabotage all your efforts. By applying gentle and proven dog training principles you can easily prevent behavior problems and promote a loving, cooperative bond between you and your dog. Whether this is your first dog or one-hundredth, dog training will prove to be an invaluable resource in the education of your new canine companion.

Use The Right Body Language So Your Dog UnderstandsDogs are highly intelligent animals and many dog owners do not give them enough credit when it comes to the way they can read and understand our body language. The body language that we display has a major impact on how well a dog will obey our commands and listen to us. You can also quickly stop your dog from displaying an improper behavior if you are using the correct form of body language.

An overexcited dog who likes to jump on every guest that comes to your door. We all go through this with our puppy or adult dog at some point in time and let’s use that as our example. As soon as the guests arrive your dog is overwhelmed with excitement and happiness about who is at the door and whether or not they are going to play with him.

What do they smell like? Do they want to play? Do they have dog treats? How about I just jump all over them and see? If we were to decipher his emotional behavior, this is exactly what your dog is thinking.

And meanwhile, to get your dog to stop being so excited and jumping on everyone, you are giving every command possible. One thing that makes him more excited is, when you try shouting. Maybe you try to shout even louder or you try giving harsh and loud “Off” commands but that it’s not working too.  Eventually, you are getting so stressed with trying to pull your dog off that and yelling it turns into one big chaotic party.

And yes, the term “party” is a great way to explain it because to your dog you are just joining in on the fun and excitement that he is feeling. Can you see now how your body language and the way you are communicating with her voice comes across to your dog? You are only adding to the situation as opposed to changing our dog’s behavior.

Communicate better with your dog by using the following body language tipsIn the above example of the overexcited dog who can’t seem to stop jumping all over the house guests, you understand now that your body language and excitability only made your dog feel more enthused about what it is he was doing. Therefore, regardless of what action you are trying to communicate with your dog you must take a different approach to the situation. A few basic body language tips that you can use are below:

1. Do not chase him around the house, when you’re angry at your puppy or adult dog.  You may be upset with them, but to your dog, he thinks you’re playing a game and he will run around forever.

2. Display a very bold and upright body position, when you give your dog a command.  Stand up, chest forward, and head back. Your dog will have more respect and a slight bit of intimidation, which can help with training him.

3. Do not add to the problem by getting feisty if your dog is extremely excited. Instead, move slowly and talk in a soothing tone of voice.  Display the same behavior you wish him to use.  Doing so will calm him down and it will be much easier to change his behavior.

Article Source: articlebiz.com

By: Bravo Seo

Probably one of the biggest concern in looking for the perfect way to train your dog is to inquire in an institution that can be able to provide you with the most up-to-date, integrated and common sense approach to dog training. California has many dog training schools featuring a variety of approaches and philosophies.

Dog training is one of the most important aspects of owning a pet dog and dog training obedience is something that owners can do for their dogs or puppies by themselves. The most necessary factor in instructing your dog is through effective communication. The trainer should clearly what does he want to transpire to his pet dog. Simple lessons like telling your pet dog to “stay,” to “sit” and to “off.” Remember that almost all dog breeds can be trained, only if you are armed with the right knowledge in dog training. A good reason for obedience training is the establishment of a foundation wherein the owner and his dog can learn to effectively relate to one another. The first thing obedience training does is to create a common language for the owner and the dog. This, in turn, lets your dog know the proper response – or behaviors - that you expect in place of socially maladaptive behavior. This process can also be effectively called as dog behavior training.

To properly train your dogs for obedience, you can try the following training styles. The main types of training are leash/collar training and reward training, whereas the leash and collar training considered a hard training and traditional style developed from military dog training and reward training to be the soft training style which dogs are rewarded using food for every job well-done.

There are some basic dog training ideas that may come handy to every trainer. Training your dog requires a good deal of persistence to be both an enjoyable and successful for you and your four legged friend. Including in the list is giving your dog small jobs like sitting for dinner, lying down before doors, or teaching your pooch down/stay sessions for five to twenty minutes at a time teaches your dog control and gives him something to do when around other people or things that would otherwise distract and putting away dogs and puppies on your beds and furniture to give them a sense of limit. Ensure that training your dog is never too stressful or tiring for either of you, and it will always be easier and more effective training your dog if he is happy and contented.

If you have an aggressive dog, don’t minimize the seriousness of the situation. Standard training techniques will probably prove ineffective with an aggressive dog. One-on-one help with a professional trainer may be required to see results with aggressive dog training. Training aggressive dog first requires some basic understanding of why dogs become aggressive. There could be several reasons that accounts for your dog’s aggressive behavior. It is hard to train an aggressive dog but with the right techniques; it becomes less of a pain.

Article Source : DogTrainster.com - Ultimate Resource and Tips for Dog Training

By Joanne Kok

Learning new things can be stressful for your dog especially in the beginning when concepts and teaching methods are new. If your dog refused to eat during the early stages of training, stop the program and have a play session or calm your dog until it is relaxed and begins to accept treats again. This process may require 3 to 4 sessions but it is worth going through it to develop your dog’s positive attitude towards obedience.

Conduct 3 training sessions a day, each session lasting approximately 20 minutes while allowing at least 1 hour rest in-between sessions. In a 2-week period, there should be a total of 30 sessions.

Week 1 And Week 2

1) Teach your dog the “heel” command. Repeat a series of 3 to 5 circles and perform 5 series of 4-step “heels” per session.

2) Teach the “sit” and “release” command. Command your dog to “sit”, let it stay in the sit position for a moment then give the “release” command to release your dog from the “sit”. Repeat this series 5 times per session.

3) For each session, work on a series of 1 exercise and move to another exercise (i.e., work on one series of 4-step “heel”, then a series of “sit” and “break”, and finally a series of 4-step “heels”’).

Although dogs need repetition to learn a skill, you need a variety of exercises to keep them interested as they bore easily.

Week 3 And Week 4

1) Reinforce the “heel” command. Test the “heel” command from lessons learned from week 1 and week 2.

2) Reinforcing the “sit” and “release” command. Begin training your dog to hold the “sit” position starting from 5 seconds and gradually stretching the time to 10 seconds.

3) Begin teaching your dog the “down” command (use treats to lure your dog to teach it the command). Repeat the series 2 times per session in week 3 and 3 times per session in week 4.

Week 5 And Week 6

1) Continue to reinforce and test the “heel”, “sit” and “release” commands. Begin to include distractions when training “heel” and “sit” to train your dog to continue focusing on you even there are distractions.

2) Extend the concept of holding position to build patience by extending the “sit” from 5 – 10 seconds to 30 seconds – 1 minute before releasing the “sit” command.

When you test your dog, you should repeat each test until it passes the test 3 consecutive times.

3) Start to reinforce the “down” command in week 5 by removing the treat and shoulder help. During week 6, begin reinforcing without any bodily assistance. You can reintroduce treats as the reward but do not tempt your dog. Only reward your dog after it has successfully completed the “down” command.

Training sessions may become more stressful for both you and your dog as you progress from the teaching phase and enter into the more difficult reinforcing phase. If you find a particular test too tough for both of you; stop the exercise and continue to practice the skills individually, you can repeat that particular test a few days later.

While the length and regularity of the sessions remain unchanged since the first week, the sessions are becoming less predictable and require varieties to make them as interesting and effective as they can be.

Week 7 And Week 8

1) While continuing to reinforce and test the “heel”, “sit” and “release” commands, don’t forget to reinforce the “down” command as well. In 1 of every 3 sessions, add distractions to your basic commands. Improve “down from a stand” exercise with the “down” command.

2) Extend the time-span of the holding position and begin teaching the “stay” command.

3) Begin combining the different commands when training. Teach “sit” and “down” from your front and testing motion “down” and motion “sit”.

4) Start teaching the “come” command. Put your dog on “sit/stay” position, while walking backwards monitor the position holding skills. Body language plays an important role in teaching this command and sending the wrong signals sometimes causes your dog not to hold the position.

Week 9, Week 10 And After

1) Reinforce “stay” and “come” command. Always practice a short leash recall to reinforce the final finish position. Repeat at least 10 times per session. “Come” is the most important command but the least practiced of all the other commands.

2) Conduct test and reinforce all obedience commands. Practice all commands equally, working on each command as little as 1 or as many as 5 repetitions per series though you should avoid creating patterns.

Make exercises targeted towards your practical obedience application. Include distraction training in at least 1 out of every 3 obedience practice sessions.By Joanne Kok

Learning new things can be stressful for your dog especially in the beginning when concepts and teaching methods are new. If your dog refused to eat during the early stages of training, stop the program and have a play session or calm your dog until it is relaxed and begins to accept treats again. This process may require 3 to 4 sessions but it is worth going through it to develop your dog’s positive attitude towards obedience.

Conduct 3 training sessions a day, each session lasting approximately 20 minutes while allowing at least 1 hour rest in-between sessions. In a 2-week period, there should be a total of 30 sessions.

Week 1 And Week 2

1) Teach your dog the “heel” command. Repeat a series of 3 to 5 circles and perform 5 series of 4-step “heels” per session.

2) Teach the “sit” and “release” command. Command your dog to “sit”, let it stay in the sit position for a moment then give the “release” command to release your dog from the “sit”. Repeat this series 5 times per session.

3) For each session, work on a series of 1 exercise and move to another exercise (i.e., work on one series of 4-step “heel”, then a series of “sit” and “break”, and finally a series of 4-step “heels”’).

Although dogs need repetition to learn a skill, you need a variety of exercises to keep them interested as they bore easily.

Week 3 And Week 4

1) Reinforce the “heel” command. Test the “heel” command from lessons learned from week 1 and week 2.

2) Reinforcing the “sit” and “release” command. Begin training your dog to hold the “sit” position starting from 5 seconds and gradually stretching the time to 10 seconds.

3) Begin teaching your dog the “down” command (use treats to lure your dog to teach it the command). Repeat the series 2 times per session in week 3 and 3 times per session in week 4.

Week 5 And Week 6

1) Continue to reinforce and test the “heel”, “sit” and “release” commands. Begin to include distractions when training “heel” and “sit” to train your dog to continue focusing on you even there are distractions.

2) Extend the concept of holding position to build patience by extending the “sit” from 5 – 10 seconds to 30 seconds – 1 minute before releasing the “sit” command.

When you test your dog, you should repeat each test until it passes the test 3 consecutive times.

3) Start to reinforce the “down” command in week 5 by removing the treat and shoulder help. During week 6, begin reinforcing without any bodily assistance. You can reintroduce treats as the reward but do not tempt your dog. Only reward your dog after it has successfully completed the “down” command.

Training sessions may become more stressful for both you and your dog as you progress from the teaching phase and enter into the more difficult reinforcing phase. If you find a particular test too tough for both of you; stop the exercise and continue to practice the skills individually, you can repeat that particular test a few days later.

While the length and regularity of the sessions remain unchanged since the first week, the sessions are becoming less predictable and require varieties to make them as interesting and effective as they can be.

Week 7 And Week 8

1) While continuing to reinforce and test the “heel”, “sit” and “release” commands, don’t forget to reinforce the “down” command as well. In 1 of every 3 sessions, add distractions to your basic commands. Improve “down from a stand” exercise with the “down” command.

2) Extend the time-span of the holding position and begin teaching the “stay” command.

3) Begin combining the different commands when training. Teach “sit” and “down” from your front and testing motion “down” and motion “sit”.

4) Start teaching the “come” command. Put your dog on “sit/stay” position, while walking backwards monitor the position holding skills. Body language plays an important role in teaching this command and sending the wrong signals sometimes causes your dog not to hold the position.

Week 9, Week 10 And After

1) Reinforce “stay” and “come” command. Always practice a short leash recall to reinforce the final finish position. Repeat at least 10 times per session. “Come” is the most important command but the least practiced of all the other commands.

2) Conduct test and reinforce all obedience commands. Practice all commands equally, working on each command as little as 1 or as many as 5 repetitions per series though you should avoid creating patterns.

Make exercises targeted towards your practical obedience application. Include distraction training in at least 1 out of every 3 obedience practice sessions.