Dog obedience training starts even before you get your puppy in your home. Instead, it starts originally with the person that you purchased the dog from. Ask the breeder or salesperson what type of training, if anything at all, was provided before your dog came into your care.
Puppies until the age of 21 days are like infants; they are only able to find Mom, eat, sleep and go to the bathroom. Anything else is pretty much beyond their abilities at this time. That fourth week, however, is crucial to any dog obedience training because this is when your animal becomes more aware of his surroundings. Any positive or negative experiences that occur during this time will affect your puppy for life, so make sure that any stimuli is in the right direction.
At the four week mark, puppies can be introduced to crate training while still at the breeder's. A wire cage, well padded and large enough for the entire litter, is placed in the whelping box at this stage. Newspaper is placed all around the floor space, so that the dogs can get used to sleeping in the crate and eliminating on the paper.
Dog obedience training at this stage of the game is gentle and supportive, and there is no punishment. Breeders and owners should take this time to play with their puppies, and get them in a group to slowly learn the "Come" command, by quietly saying the word, and praising heavily when they do respond appropriately.
Remember that timing and consistency are key when beginning dog obedience training with your young pups. The trainer should be planning, on a daily basis, when and how to work on these essential skills, and then perform them at basically the same time every day. Also, positive reinforcement is necessary immediately during or after the pups have followed the given commands, or else there is a danger of the animals associating the praise with something else other than the intended action.
Give your dogs time to think about their actions before you react to them; especially at this young age, where there are a lot of distractions (like other puppies for instance, or a grumbly tummy), they may need a bit of time to respond to a command they are learning. Be patient. However, keep in mind that young dogs such as these are not able to take more than about 10 minutes of training at a time, before they lose attention. This is not only appropriate for their young age, it's essential to their continued learning. Dog obedience training shouldn't be boring for your animal ? it should be fun!
Once you've worked through the more basic commands, make sure when introducing more complex concepts (such as Stay or Sit) that you break down the skill into small, bite-sized chunks. Start with teaching the dog how to sit properly, before you ask him to respond to the command, for instance. Many web sites have detailed progression training techniques for all of the dog obedience training commands, so feel free to search around for some ideas along this vein.
(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com. This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com. Please visit the site for more free dog training articles. Online URL for this article: http://www.dog-training-info.com
professional home cleaners Arlington Heights ...Behavior can be a huge iisue with our pets. If... Read More
Who let the dogs out?Remember this song which gave birth... Read More
There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More
Part 2: Protecting your petIf you own a cat, then... Read More
Have you ever held any Westie puppies? These tiny creatures... Read More
Having a dog is a little like having a baby.... Read More
It is Winter time again, a time of the year... Read More
Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More
The 4th Of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
Bringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge... Read More
Quieting a barking dog is a quick and easy process.... Read More
The first thing a cat owner should know about home... Read More
Presently, and throughout the 1990s a phenomena swept through the... Read More
Losing a family pet can be a traumatic experience, especially... Read More
Let's say you've made up your mind on the breed... Read More
1.) Versatility- A good dog trainer will use techniques and... Read More
Have you ever wondered what a dog thinks, or if... Read More
Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became... Read More
Over the past 30 years we have learned so much... Read More
In a world of computer games, the Internet and shopping... Read More
My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to... Read More
Dog day care programs benefit the dogs of owner's who... Read More
Bringing home a Pug can change our life, but it... Read More
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
tidy up service Mundelein ...If your kids have been begging you to get a... Read More
Would you put together a model plane without looking at... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More
A poorly trained dog can embarrass its owner and offend... Read More
Ok, so everyone who stays on top of the show... Read More
Distemper: Spotting This Dog Killer Before it's Too LateCanine distemper... Read More
Almost without exception, breeders will advertise that their favorite terrier,... Read More
West Highland White Terriers began their history as the undesirable... Read More
My dog has fleas. That one statement is enough to... Read More
Ever had a hankering for a certain breed of dog?... Read More
Puppy CarePuppy care can be a lot of work, but... Read More
As pets go hamsters are fairly easy to take care... Read More
You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More
The main ways a puppy will play with another dog... Read More
Humming birds are wonderful birds that are smart, playful, and... Read More
Your cat scratching at your furniture can not only leave... Read More
Let's face it ? everything is cute when it's small... Read More
Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became... Read More
Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More
An essential to your dog's health is his/her regular annual... Read More
Selling a HorseThe best new tool for people selling horses... Read More
A dog crate is a necessity for your dog, through... Read More
Of all the aggressive behavior in dogs dog bites is... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a feline to your... Read More
Pet |