Dog Obedience Training
Start Your Dog Obedience Training, gently and firmly,
as soon as you get your new dog.
Dog Obedience Training: The Problems You May Face
If you are starting your dog obedience training with a puppy or a young dog, then you only have one
problem. Your new friend knows nothing about the right way to behave and you have to start from scratch but you do
not have the many problems of correcting bad habits learned before you got him. While he may be
boisterous and excitable, his size will be a further advantage, because he, or she, will be easy to handle and you
won't be drawn into a wrestling match.
 On the other hand, if you are
hoping to train an older dog, that has already developed bad habits, you will face a different set
of problems. It will be bigger and stronger and may have developed an independent disposition, especially if
it has been indulged or ignored by its previous owners.
Possibly, the most difficult candidate for dog obedience training could be a rescue dog
that has spent some time in a shelter, having been abandoned by its previous owners, as too difficult or
aggressive to handle. There, you may have a full set of bad habits, ranging from extreme nervousness and
timidity, to aggression caused by fear or previous abuse.
Of course, this is by no means the case with all rescue
dogs. Mostly, they just crave love and understanding and a feeling of stability and security and
the correct dog obedience training methods will provide all that.
Dog Obedience Training: The Basics.
There are 5 basic commands that your dog must learn and obey at the outset of his dog obedience
training. They are not difficult, but they are essential. Most dogs are just anxious to please but they need to
understand what you want them to do.
This is an important part of your obedience training for dogs. Be
Consistent. When your dog learns the word "Sit" (or any other command)
always use that word. Don't carry on a conversation with your dog, you will confuse him.
Give him a simple order.
NO. At first, your dog will do many things
which are undesirable, just because he doesn't know any better. The sooner he understands the meaning of "No!" the
better for everyone.
Sit. A dog does not have to be taught how to sit,
it is natural behavior. He just needs to learn to do it when you tell him. Note: You don't ask him,
you tell him!
Down. This is a natural progression from the Sit position
and makes it much easier to get him to Stay.
Come. If your dog will not come to you when he is off the
leash, then you have real problems. I know, because I suffered this for a year, with the first dog we had.
Adam Katz, the dog training expert, at dogproblems.com, has an excellent Free article,
entitled "Training a Dog To Come On Command". Get it at Dog Obedience Training While
you're there, you might want to sign up for his Free Weekly Newsletter.
Dog Obedience Training: Aggression.
Aggression, whether it be to other dogs or people, is one of the most common problems
encountered in obedience training for dogs. It is important to find out why the dog is aggressive, because
there are several very different factors that lead to this behavior.
FEAR. The dog may feel frightened or threatened and if it feels trapped, the
only way is to fight.
TERRITORIAL AGGRESSION. He may feel it is his duty to protect the home
and family against intruders. Most dogs will bark a warning when anyone approaches the property but some may
attempt to "drive off" any visitors. This is more likely with certain breeds that have a long history as
guarding and herding animals, such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers and Dobermans. Unfortunately, being bred for
these duties, these dogs are usually large and powerful, which makes their aggression all the more
dangerous.
DOMINANCE AGGRESSION. You have a major problem
here, because your dog thinks he is the Boss and you have done nothing to dissuade him of this
idea. Not only will he be aggressive to strangers and other animals, he will be dominant to family members. He
thinks he is the pack leader! Dogs are pack animals and every pack has to have a leader. YOU MUST BE THE
APLHA DOG! If you are not, all aspects of your dog obedience training will be hard work and not very
successful. Read more about how to be The Alpha Dog
LEARNED AGGRESSION. If you have adopted an adult dog, either from a shelter, or a
friend or aquaintance, then it may have learned to be aggressive from the previous environment or
indeed, it might even have been encouraged to show aggression by the previous owner. This can be particularly
difficult, as you will have to teach the dog a whole new understanding of his place in the world. In this case, you
may well need some extra help with your dog obedience training.
Dog Obedience Training. Chewing
All dogs love to chew. Your dog obedience training has to lay down the rules of what can be chewed
and what can definitely not be chewed. If
your dog is chewing your clothes, your shoes or the furniture then you need to find the reason before you work
on the cure. If your dog is left alone in the house for long periods (an hour can be a long period for a
lonely dog) then the damage to personal possesions and furniture can be enormous and devastating. In these
circumstances, not only will he be bored but he may well suffer from separation anxiety and will seek out anything
that smells of you and acts as a comforter. If your dog chews your posessions while you are present, then your dog
obedience training has not even started!
Dog Obedience Training. Breeds
There is such a wide variation between all the different dog breeds that your dog obedience
training has to reflect the size, history and temperament of your own particular dog. If your dog is not a
pure-bred animal, then you need to identify the dominant features in his make-up. A cross between a german shepherd
and a pit bull will present very different training problems to a labradoodle or a beagle/spaniel.
All pure bred dogs are classified in 7 or 8 main Breed Groups. The The Kennel Club of Britain was founded in 1873, just before
the The American Kennel Club in 1884. The Kennel Club has seven categories, while the American
Kennel Club has eight, the additional group being the Miscellaneous Group. The seven breed groups are basically
the same in both countries, although the names are different in some cases.
Hounds: Sporting Dogs (Gundogs): Working Dogs: Terriers:
Herding: Non Sporting (Utility): Toy Dogs
Dog Obedience Training. Sporting Dogs
The Sporting Group of dogs is also known as Gundogs in Britain and also as Bird Dogs and Hunting
Dogs. As the name implies, this group works in hunting game birds such as grouse, pheasant and quail but does not
actually kill the bird. The various groups within the Gundog category have different tasks in locating, flushing
and retrieving the birds, which are shot in flight by the hunter.
Because of their breeding characteristics of intelligence and obedience, sporting dogs are one of
the most popular breeds as domestic pets. They are receptive to dog obedience training and are always eager
to please. They are friendly and very good with children. They are all bred to have a soft mouth, so they
don't damage the game but this means that some of the breeds are inclined to drool and slobber.
The two most popular sporting dogs are the labrador retriever and the golden retriever. The
labrador is by far the most popular dog in the USA and in the UK. Not only is it an ideal family pet but it is
widely used as a guide dog for the blind and as a rescue dog, because of its lovely temperament and its aptitude
for dog obedience training.
Dog Obedience Training. Working Dogs
Used in its broadest sense, the term covers all breeds which are not kept purely as pets but which
perform a specific function to assist their owners in their daily life and business. Such functions would include
guarding livestock, herding livestock, hunting game, rescue work and police work.
Working dogs are, by their nature, large and strong and will not necessarily fit many
normal domestic situations. If any of these breeds are to be chosen as pets, it is important to ensure
that their home will be a suitable environment.
The two most popular working dogs are the Boxer and the Rottweiler. They are equally popular in the
USA and the UK, coming in at number 7 and 11 respectively.
There is an unfortunate tendency for some men to choose a large strong dog as a pet, to reflect
their own macho image, sometimes with unfortunate results. Unless trained by an expert, these dogs are not very
receptive to dog obedience training.
Dog Obedience Training. Terriers
Terriers were originally bred in Britain, to hunt and kill rats, rabbits and foxes. They vary in
size, from the diminutive Jack Russell Terrier to the Airedale, which is the largest of the breed. Most terriers
have tough, wiry coats, bred mainly as a protection against the hazardous environments in which they worked.
Grooming requires skill and patience.
If size is important to you, you can find a terrier to fit any size home.
Some of the smaller breeds were used to go underground in search of the vermin they were employed
to catch and kill, so they have a tendency to be enthusiastic diggers!
As a result of the jobs they were bred to do, most terriers have an aggressive temperament towards
other animals and appear always ready for a fight. However, they are affectionate and protective towards the human
members of the family and make excellent pets. Yorkshire terriers are the third most popular breed in the United
States but only rank 15th in the UK. Dog obedience training can be difficult, because all
terriers are energetic and high-spirited and have an independent nature.
Dog Obedience Training. Herding Dogs
A Herding dog (known as the Pastoral breed in the UK) has either been trained in herding or
is a member of a breed developed for herding. Some herding breeds work well with a flock or herd of any kinds of
animals; others have been bred specifically to work with certain kinds of animals and have developed physical
characteristics or styles of working that enhance their ability to handle these animals. The most common herded
groups include sheep, cattle and even reindeer. It is not unusual for poultry to be handled by dogs.
There has been a blurring of the term "herding dog" to include dogs whose primary function is the
protection of livestock rather than herding. The German Shepherd is an example of this, having been originally bred
as a herding dog but as a result of its size, strength and agility is now more commonly used as a guard dog,
especially by the police, the military and security firms. The German Shepherd is still classified as a
herding or pastoral dog by both the UK and United States Kennel Clubs.
Many of the dogs in the herding group are very receptive to dog obedience training, although
they differ in their skills. Take german shepherds and border collies, for instance. A german shepherd would not
normally be used to herd sheep, nor would a border collie be used as a police dog but they are both highly skilled
in their own particular jobs. All herding dogs require a lot of exercise and stimulation and expert obedience
training.
Dog Obedience Training. Non-Sporting Dogs
This is a very diverse group, composed mainly of those breeds which do not fit naturally into any
other group. The diversity occurrs, not only between the various dogs included in this group but also between the
classifications between the UK Kennel Club (where it is known as the Utility Group) and the American Kennel
Club.
For example, we have the diversity in size, between the Akita and the Lhasa Apso; the difference in
appearance between the Dalmatian and the Bulldog; and the different temperaments of the Chow Chow and the Bichon
Frise. You might say, in this group, there is something for everyone. The differences are not only in size and
appearance. The dog obedience training for the Japanese Akita and the Chow Chow will be much more demanding than
for the Bichon Frise and the Lhasa Apso.
Dog Obedience Training. Toy Dogs
Toy dogs (originally known as lap dogs) have a long and distinguished history. Dog obedience
training is not a high priority with these small dogs. They were originally owned exclusively by the wealthy and
were regarded as a comforter and a status symbol. Because toy dogs are warm blooded, with a body temperature
of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, they were used to sit in the laps of ladies to keep them warm - hence the name
lapdog. In China, they were also carried about in the capacious sleeves of their owners.
In contrast to most other breeds of dogs, the toy dogs did not "work" for their living, unlike
hounds, sporting dogs and herding dogs. They were bred for their small size and their cute and dainty looks. Don't
let their appearance fool you. Many of the toy dog breeds are tough and hardy and live to a ripe old age.
Care must be taken if there are young children in the family, because not all toy dogs are tolerant
of children and may be inclined to nip and bite. The children must be made aware that these dogs are fragile
compared to the average dog and are not able to withstand any robust play.
Their small size and low cost of upkeep make them the ideal companion for people who haven't got
the space, the time or the strength to train and exercise a larger, more energetic dog. Many of the toy breeds have
long or curly coats, so proper, regular grooming is essential. As with all breeds, house training is an
essential, early part of their obedience training.
Dog Obedience Training. Get Help Here
The number one source for help and information on Dog Obedience Training and all other aspects of
owning a dog, is at dogproblems.com
Adam Katz has over 20 years experience as an expert dog trainer and has helped thousands of dog
owners in 28 countries all over the world. His website is a veritable treasure trove of information and his
downloadable book "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer" is 316 pages packed with everything you need to know.
If you buy this book, you will receive Five separate valuable bonuses on: Dog Whispering; Where to
get dog supplies at Discount Prices; Puppy Training; Dog Aggression Problems; Pulling on the Leash. Adam also has a
Free Weekly Newsletter.
Of course, if you are not satisfied with this huge package, you can get a full refund within 30
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