Basic Obedience For Any Dog

This article will be on basic obedience and motivational training for any dog. Something to keep in mind while reading this article is that there are many different ways to train a dog. Sometimes one way may work for your particular dog but not for another. I will give you some examples of        different methods to use, but understand, this way is not the only way and sometimes it takes failure to get it right.

The number one rule to dog training is being patient. Nothing happens overnight. The second thing you need to know is be happy, because if you’re not happy your dog will sense it and he/she will not be happy.

I will start off by telling you there are a couple of good ways to start dogs off on the right foot when it comes to obedience. You can start with food, like pieces of hot dog or a snack your dog really enjoys. If your dog has a high food drive this will work well for you and your dog. If you have a dog with high play drive for a toy like a ball or kong then use it as your reward. Don’t forget that this doesn’t mean you can’t reward with food sometimes.

Before you start training always remember your dog is like a child. You will have to understand that there is a teaching phase. You must first teach the dog what you want him to do through  positive motivation like (i.e. a ball or food). Start every exercise with a leash and collar. This will help you maintain control over your dog. I will give you the basic commands and the "stay"      command will come in another article.

Teaching a dog to sit:

First start off with your dog in front of you. Have your treat or ball ready for him. Calmly tell him to "sit" and then gently push on his rear placing him/her in a sit while keeping one hand on his collar so he doesn’t lay down. Once they’re in the sit, immediately give them there treat and tell them "good sit." Try to keep your training sessions inbetween 10 and 15 minutes at a time. You can do this 2 to 3 times a day. You will quickly notice after about 15 times your dog will sit for you and expect his reward for doing it. Some dogs may take longer. If you are teaching the sit with the ball or kong you would do the same exercise. The only difference is that you would immediately throw the ball in front of him once he sits.

The key to every sit, down, heel or hear is that the timing is critical. When you sit your dog don’t wait for several seconds before you reward him/her. Make it fast. This will leave a clear understanding in the dog’s mind of what you want them to do when you give the command. The longer it takes you to reward the dog for the proper action the less clear it will be in there minds of what you are asking. Remember not to start one exercise until your dog knows the first one you are teaching him.

Teaching the down:

Start off with your dog in front of you once again. Take your piece of hotdog or treat and hold it in your hand, making a fist. The dog will be able to smell it. Bring it to his nose and then take your hand all the way to the ground. The dog’s nose should follow it. Tell him "down" in a calm voice. If you have to help your dog down, go ahead and do so by gently pushing on his shoulders. As soon as the dog goes all the way down drop the treat in between his feet. Tell him/her "good down". Once you do this several times the dog will start to figure out what you expect from him/her. You can gradually start telling your dog to down after a few sessions and he/she will go down and you should drop the treat in between there feet without bending over anymore. Always      remember that the down position for a dog is the most controlled position for you.

Teaching the heel:

The heel is an advanced position for a dog. But it can be picked up very quickly if you’re happy and the motivation is continued. The heel will be rewarded in small increments and the dog must be on a leash to start this exercise.  Start off with your dog on a leach. Put him on the left or right side of you. Be consistent when doing this. If you want a dog that heels on the left always do you’re heeling on the left. There is no exception. Remember be consistent. With your dog on   either side of you put him in a sit. Once in the sit, start off by taking a few steps with the dog and tell them to "heel" while you’re holding onto the leash. Once the dog takes the first two or three steps next to you give him a treat. You will do this several times with very short distances.

Never go more than 4 steps because the dog is still in the learning phase and does not         understand what you want him to do. If your dog runs in front of you while you’re doing the   exercise make a sharp turn and gently bring him back to you, giving him the "heel" command. Do not reward the dog until he is in the position you want him in. Remember timing is everything. Even if it’s for just a few steps, reward your dog. Heeling will take longer then sit or down work. After several sessions you will be able to tell your dog to heel and he will go to your    chosen side heel for you. When he does this give him a treat. If he is a ball dog give him his toy.

Teaching the hear:

The "hear" or "come" command is very important. It can save your dog from getting hit by a car or save you from a lawsuit. You will need a 20 foot or longer long line for this exercise. A few things to keep in mind while teaching a dog to come to you during training and after the training has ended. Never punish your dog no matter how mad you are once he comes to you when you call him. This will have a negative effect on him and he will associate the come command with discipline. You do not want him to ever think come or hear is bad. At this point your dog should know the down and sit. You can start anyway you feel comfortable. Put your dog in a down or sit and take a few steps back from him. Never turn your back on him and make sure he has a long line on. Once you get about 5 feet back call him to you with whatever word your going to use (be consistent). Pull on the long line gently and bring the dog to you. Once he is at your feet give him a treat and a lot of praise. You can do this exercise several times and keep increasing the distance.

You can also do a few other tricks. When your dog is in the backyard running around keep a treat ready. Call the dog to you and when he gets there give him a treat. This will let the dog know that when he comes when he is called only good things happen. Make it a game. Call your dog often when you have a reward for him. Give your dog a lot of praise when he comes to you, let him know that he is doing a good job.

Points to remember during training:

õ Always praise your dog for doing the right thing. Just because he gets a treat or a toy that   doesn’t mean you skip the praise.

õ Use your voice. Talk to your dog like you are an excited kid and let him know you are really happy. Your voice is your most powerful tool in dog training. Let him/her know they are doing a good job. Just because you have taught your dog to do the exercise does not mean he will do it all the time.

õ You have to keep up the training. If you are at the park walking your dog tell him to sit or down and then reward him. Always start off the training in your backyard. Dogs learn better without distractions. Once you’re done with this portion of your training always proof your dog. This means take him out to several different locations and have them do all of the exercises’. The more you do it the better they get.

õ The more time you spend with your dog in a motivational environment the more trust your dog will have in you. Punishing your dog to late for something only breaks down the trust.

õ Keep your training sessions down to 10 or 15 minutes a day. Any longer than that and your dog will lose interest and will not be able to learn productively.

õ Never start on something else before your dog has learned what you started. 

õ Just go out and have fun with your dog. Always remember there is no substitute for       training.

Good luck and have fun!

Deputy Tom Fara & K9