What One Should Know About Poodle Training

By Lisa A Collins

Proper training is important for all dogs, but especially so with Poodles. These are really great dogs, amazing dogs, but if they are not trained properly when they are young they will end up developing poor behavior problems, such as barking incessantly and chewing destructively. They will attack shoes, clothing and other things around the home if they are not trained.

Poodles also tend to be quite stubborn and dominant, especially if they are not shown who is in charge of the home, and so this can also cause a damper in their training. It often takes a lot more time and effort to train a Poodle than another breed of dog, and any potential Poodle owner definitely needs to be aware of this before they go through and decide to get one of these dogs as a pet. It is important to start training the dog as early on as possible in order to get the best and most permanent results.

There are a few great tips in particular that are helpful for Poodle training. Basic dog obedience should be the first step, and then as the dog makes progress the owner can add in more lessons. The come command is one of the first and most important lessons that an owner should teach their dog, and to do this the owner needs to order the dog to "Come!" and right after they have given the command they need to pull the dog towards them and praise them. Praising the dog both verbally and physically is very important because this is going to make sure that the dog understands that they have done well.

Heel is another important command to teach the Poodle in Poodle training and to do this the owner needs to command them to "Heel!" while they are walking out with the foot closest to the dog. It is important for them to remember that if the dog's head or neck is not level with their leg then they need to jerk the dog into this position, otherwise they will never learn.

One of the most important tips an owner needs to remember when it comes to Poodle training is to be repetitive. Most dogs are forgetful but the Poodle is especially so, and so more than ever it is important that the owner be consistent with their training to stave off future Poodle problem behaviors. Even by missing just a day of training can leave the dog confused and they may even forget everything that they have already learned.

Being firm but friendly is also very important, because dogs respond better to positive reinforcement than to anger and frustration. When an owner is giving commands it is important that they use a happy and friendly voice. Praising and rewarding the dog is necessary to show them when they have done well, and it is important not only to verbally praise the dog but also physically, by patting them on the head for instance. This will make sure that they realize what they are and are not supposed to do and make them strive to continue doing well.

Lisa Collins has spent years researching the history of the Poodle breed. The Poodle has a long and rich history. By studying Poodle information you can understand why they are such a popular breed today.