Training a Dog
Tagged: animal, cat, dogAny young dog can be trained to understand commands and to do simple tricks. When correctly trained, it is conditioned to respond to your commands, noises, or gestures. A dog that is trained is more reliable and pleasant to be around, and it will be easier to manage in an emergency. Dogs by nature fit into a pack structure. The owner fills the place of the leader of the pack whose orders must be obeyed. Training helps a dog know what is expected of it and gives it a place in the pack where it can be comfortable. Once an owner decides to train his puppy he must be willing to stick with the job until the puppy learns the task. First, the owner should select a simple call name for the animal. The call name should be used frequently so the puppy can learn to recognize the sound of it. A training session is best begun when the puppy is hungry because it is more alert at that time. Also, the owner can reinforce the dog’s correct responses to commands with a dog biscuit or meat tidbit. The hungry dog is more apt to associate the correct performance of a task with a food reward. Wait until a puppy is at least six months old before trying to teach it tricks, but do teach it the meaning of no at an earlier age. The young dog must be corrected vocally each time it does something that you disapprove of. If you are consistent, it soon learns by your tone of voice what pleases you and what displeases you. Formal training sessions should entail no more than ten minutes of work at a time, and they should never tire the dog. Do not be impatient with a puppy when teaching it simple tricks, and never get angry. If the training sessions are not going well, break them off and resume them later in the day or even on another day. In addition, give praise and tidbits to the dog only when they are earned. Most authorities recommend that owners attend obedience classes with their dogs to learn the basic commands and techniques of training. No dog should be struck as part of training. It does no good to become angry at a dog for something he has done earlier chewing the newspaper, for instance. The dog knows you are angry but does not connect his chewing with your anger. You must catch a dog in the act in order for it to know that his action is displeasing you.
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