How to Train My Dog - Some Tips to Get Started

By Adam N Jones

The most common question I hear is how to train my dog. How you go about this depends on several factors. There are always choices for training your dog. You can learn as much about it as you can, from books or online courses and do it yourself. Or you can hire a professional dog trainer or bring your dog to an obedience school. Before you decide which route to take, you should ask yourself these questions.

What Is the Age, Breed and Temperament of My Dog?

A puppy is the easiest to train, as it has few bad habits to unlearn. If you have gotten your dog at an older age, or you have a dog you just never got around to training, you will have to work a bit harder at it, but it's still possible. Certain breeds are easier to train than others. And individual dogs vary greatly in temperament as well.

How Well Trained A Dog Do I Want?

The expectations and hopes of dog owners varies a great deal. Some people consider a housebroken dog who does not bite people well trained. If this describes you, you can, in most cases, do the training yourself. There are exceptions, of course. If you have a dog with a behavior problem, you may need additional help even for basic training.

Does My Dog Have Behavior Problems?

A new puppy who is not housebroken is not a behavior problem --it's just normal. A full grown dog that has frequent "accidents" does have a problem. You should first get your dog examined by a veterinarian to rule out any medical problems. After that, you have to decide whether you want to tackle the problem yourself or get outside help.

The severity of the problem also comes into play. If the worst thing your dog does is chew on your slippers, you may be able to live with that. If he snaps hard enough to draw blood, this is a problem you are going to have to address.

However you decide to train your dog, and to what extent, you should always remember that consistency is the most important principle. Dogs have very short memories. If you start training for a couple of days, then forget for a few, you will have to start all over again each time. Along the same lines, never reprimand your dog for something he did in the past --even five minutes ago. He will not know why you are angry, and just become frightened and confused.

Remember, when you are wondering "how to train my dog?" that it takes patience no matter how you do it. Dogs want to please, but they require regular and dedicated attention. If you provide this, you will sooner or later get the results you want.

How to train my dog is one of the easiest questions to answer. That is if you know what works and what doesn't work.