Dog Obedience Training – Why It’s For The Best

July 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Having a dog isn’t always a walk in the park with a loving and loyal companion. Living with the often demands some meeting of the ‘minds’. You dog’s mind is not in the level of people and you have to keep that into perspective even if it is easy to lose track because of the dog’s lovable nature. Their minds ‘operate’ uniquely forming a set of ways and instinct that requires distinction when developing techniques on how to train them for obedience.  

The best time for pups to start obedience training is at a tender age of 2 months. This is when they begin to explore beyond their immediate surroundings as well as their mother and siblings. The longer you wait the longer and more difficult the training becomes as each age group requires some tweaking in the strategies for maximum effect. This does not also mean that you cannot teach old dogs new tricks. It is also important that you first spend time with your dog while he or she undergoes regular training. The purpose of this exercise is to set the tone for how you and your dog relate and communicate with each other.

Ordinarily, there are two basic classifications of dog obedience training. The first classification is known as the leash type, as known as “hard” type. The second is the reward type, also known as “soft type”.  Their applicability is based on the breed of your dog, your dog’s tendencies and what you intend the training is for. If you want consistency in your dog’s response, it is recommended that you employ the leash type. This is best for avoiding situations where your dog gets easily distracted as in the case of K9 dogs that need to focus on their master and at the same instance forego with the instinct to fight.
It is essential in absolute terms that you consider the leash style as merely a tool to ‘connect’ with a dog therefore you must be very careful in its implementation to ensure success in teaching, correcting and reinforcing good behavior. Inconsistency in the use of the leash in training could lead to confusion in the dog’s part rendering the obedience training unsuccessful and a waste of time.

On one hand, the reward style of training elicits the obedient behavior through rewards that include treats or praises. Treats usually come in the form of food or toys. It is an excellent way to train dogs on different types of skills. These skills range from simple actions to elaborate ones that include, but is not limited to, performing tricks, tracking, detecting scents and arresting criminals. This style is preferred by more trainers and owners because it does not employ any physical manipulation of the dog though nudging or yanking instead the obedient behavior elicited more naturally or voluntarily.  

You must keep in mind that when you enroll your dog in obedience training, it is important to reinforce good behavior and correct bad behavior as soon as they surface. Incorporate in the training ‘feelings’ of compassion and understanding so that you and your dog can enjoy the rewards of your efforts in tandem.