Dog Training

Author: Cindy Frendo

It is important for you to train your dog to perform correct behaviours so that both of you can maintain a happy relationship. It is important for you as an owner to be the boss. If the dog thinks he is higher than you, he will not obey you and may perhaps even perform aggressive behaviours. The more that your dog respects you the more likely he will pursue your wishes.

During your dog's first weeks, how you treat him will impact on where he sees his place in the family hierarchy. Where your dog sleeps it must be at equal footing to you. They have trouble accepting a sleeping area that is not near you. Feeding time should be after the family as the dog must realize its place in the family hierarchy. Dogs should be kept out of children's bedrooms and should not be allowed to take their food.

Establishing a toilet area is important for housetraining. Try and place food and water bowls near the door to the area that they are to use to go to the bathroom. Your dog should be fed on a regular schedule and all family members must be aware of it. Your family members should also be aware of the toilet area. Everyone must be on the same track and perform the same training duties. Your dog should be taken to its toilet area on a frequent and regular basis. Take your dog outside and lightly force it to its toilet area. You should stand next to your dog and praise it when it performs its duties. When your dog learns this behaviour proceed to training it not to eliminate in the house.

It is essential to show how mad and frustrated you are with the dog when it eliminates in the house. Use a stern, deep voice and shoo the dog to its toilet area. This will teach the dog that he has done something bad and must correct its behaviour. Clean up the dog's mess and put it outside where the dog's toilet area is. To avoid nighttime accidents dogs should be kept in a crate until it has been fully housetrained.

Dogs love chewing and biting things. In order to train them not to chew on personal belongings and furniture, offer them some rubber bones or other hard rubber toys so that they have something to chew on that belongs to them. You should praise your dog when it chews on its rubber toys and scold them by saying no when it chews on your belongings.

It is highly recommended for dog owners to go to obedience training. Not only does this develop a strong bond between the owner and dog but it also provides an important foundation for future problems that may arise.

A good resource for dog training and puppy training is this website.

About the author: Cindy Frendo runs her own puppy training and dog training school from her hometown of Ottawa, Canada. She also runs her own website at puppytrainingrevealed.com