Thursday, November 6, 2008

Dog Obedience Training in a Flash!

By Anthony W Robinson

When you mention dog obedience training to many dog owners, images of dogs bolting, biting, chewing, and just about any other behavioral issue they can conjure. It doesn't have to be that way. In fact, it really doesn't take long to train your dog as long as you're willing to continue the training on a daily basis. There are a few basic commands in dog obedience training that every dog should know to be a well rounded pet.

Sit Stay Fetch

These basic commands should be the building blocks of any dog obedience training and are not hard to implement. Reward training is the key here. To get your dog to sit, show him the reward first, then give it to him after he sits. Make sure he doesn't snatch it from your hand, and don't ever throw a treat to your dog, as this teaches them to "snap" at them. (This hurts when the treat is still in your hand.) The stay command is done the same way, but after your dog sits, take a few steps back while repeating the command. In this dog obedience training, you walk back to him and give him the reward. Don't let him come to you to get it. You'll have to start with shorter distances in the beginning of your dog obedience training and gradually increase how many steps back you take. Fetch is the most fun of these three, and is great exercise for your dog.

Drop It

This is an essential command in dog obedience training. Do this after you've mastered the other three above. Since your dog is now used to being rewarded for obeying your commands, he will be more likely to listen. To get your dog to drop the unwanted item, repeat the command with the treat in your hand. The moment he drops it, reward him with the treat and plenty of affection. The goal in dog obedience training is to let your dog know that obeying your commands not only gets him a treat, but also your approval. Getting your approval is the number one motivator for your pet, since dogs are social animals and want to be included and accepted.


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