Jim McKiel asked: Training is usually broken down into two types: obedience and behavioral. We will discuss obedience training in this article.
Obedience training for your new puppy should begin the day you bring him/her home. You should make obedience training fun and incorporate the training with play sessions. It is so easy to train a puppy when they are having fun and the puppy has no idea that they are learning valuable lessons. Please keep the sessions short and reward the puppy when they obey a command on the first call.
Some basic commands are: sit, stay, come and heel. Focusing on these commands with your new puppy is a good start. You should practice with your puppy at least twice every day and more often if you have the time. Make each practice session short so as not to tire the puppy or let the puppy become bored. Remember make it fun for both of you.
After your puppy has completed their vaccination course, you may enroll them in puppy classes. These classes are beneficial for both the puppy and owners. Before you enroll the puppy, stop by the class and observe the instructor during a training class. Is the class fun for both humans and animals? Do you feel comfortable with the type of training? Remember, your puppy’s welfare is at stake and you want to be satisfied with the training techniques. Also, make sure the class size is small because you will receive more instructions and individual attention. This class should be fun for both owner and puppy and educational for both. If you feel uncomfortable or you’re not happy with the trainers methods you may always find another class and instructor.
Puppy classes are invaluable. Your puppy will learn or reinforce the basic commands you have taught them and will be socialized. Socialization is the foundation of a well behaved dog. A puppy that is accustomed to being around many different people and animals is better behaved and less likely to be aggressive around people or other dogs. Make sure you practice the commands with your puppy at home and continue the socialization whenever you are out with your animal whether it is the park or just a walk around the block. Socialization is so very important during the first five months of the puppy’s life. Letting the puppy get use to strange sights, sounds and smells will make him/her a more stable dog as they grow older.
There are many classes your puppy can attend. Some are called Beginning Puppy Classes, Puppy Kindergarten, Puppy Class 1 and so forth. After your puppy has graduated from the first class, you can enroll them in the next class for further training and socialization. There can never be too much socialization or training for your puppy or dog. As the puppy learns new commands and branches out further in his obedience training, he/she will become more self assured and you as the owner will be more confident and allow them more freedom in the home. Training benefits both the puppy and the owner.
As the puppy grows older, you may want to enroll them in a beginning agility class or a Canine Good Citizen class. There are many continuing classes for puppy’s and dogs and the only limit is how much time you have to devote to your animal and the cost of the classes. There are many group classes offered that are not expensive and in some communities informal classes are formed by pet owners who just want their animals to play and exercise with other animals in dog parks. Dogs are social animals and are happiest when they can run and play with other dogs or play with their humans.
There are many books and articles on the different types of puppy and dog training. If you are not familiar with certain terms like reward training or Canine Good Citizen, do your research before enrolling your puppy or dog in any class. You want a rewarding experience for both you and the puppy in training class.
Dove Cresswells Dog Training
