Dog Training Techniques for Beginners

Important Dog Training Techniques for Beginners

dog training techniquesStarting the moment you bring your new dog or puppy home, it is essential that you start training her.  You certainly don't need to be an expert in order to train your dog.  All it takes is a basic understanding of the most common dog training techniques and how they work.

 

Training Specific Behaviors

Before you begin trying out any specific dog training techniques, it is important to figure out which behaviors you are trying to work on.  Training a new puppy is quite a bit different than trying to train out a bad behavior in an older dog.  However, the basic idea is the same. 

Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

  • Learn how to correct your dog – The most common dog training techniques are popular for a reason, so you should learn how to make the corrections necessary to get the behavior you want out of your dog.
     
  • Be consistent – Your dog won't know what you want if you keep changing your responses to her behavior.  Every time the undesired behavior occurs, your response and form of correction should be the same.
     
  • One or Two Techniques – Choose only one or two dog trianing techniques and go from there, the same techniques won't necessarily work for every dog / owner pair.

    

Types of Corrections

In general, there are about four different types of corrections you should learn about, even though you will probably only use one or two of these.

  1. Verbal corrections – Dogs don't understand words, so in order to teach the "no" command, you've got to make your voice sound very gruff.  You can also teach other verbal commands, making sure to link the tone of voice with the word so that your dog understands the full meaning of the commands.
  2. Automatic corrections – Some trainers use this type of correction to forcibly get the dog back into a desired behavior, like using a leash to pull a dog away from an area you don't     want him to be in.  This type of correction is not usually advisable, although many beginners who don't know what else to do often find themselves using this type of correction.
  3. Using a collar – A variety of training collars are on the market that could assist you in training some problem behaviors like excessive barking.  You can also use it to mark boundaries     so your dog knows where she can and can't go.  Some collars give off a small shock, while others do sound or the smell of citronella.
  4. Escalating corrections – These corrections are the result of spending time figuring out why your dog is exhibiting the undesirable behavior.  If the behavior isn't necessarily something     that comes naturally to dogs, then it is definitely worth your time to find out why it's occurring.


Just keep in mind that there is no easy route when it comes to dog training techniques.  It takes time and dedication, but in the end, you'll be rewarded with a loyal, well-behaved pooch!