Dog Training

Dog training is not just a great hobby, but it is also a great way to get to know your dog better, and develop a better relationship with him/her. Dog training basically involves teaching your dog to behave in a certain manner, and to respond in a particular way to certain commands. The major reasons for training your dog are, to have a more pleasant and easy pet to be with, or to enter your dog into obedience competitions and dog shows, or for agility commands, hunting, retrieving or to used as guide dogs to aid the blind.

Dog training in its structured form, began during early 20th century. Mainly used on military dogs, Col. Konrad Most, published a book on the subject, Training Dogs – A Manuel, in 1910. The US saw a rise in the field of dog training sometime in 1939, with Hans Tosutti and Josef Weber opening schools here. Weber’s students Blanche Saunders and Helene W. Walker played a key role in spreading the traditional form of training, which was based on the writings of Most, around the US.

The basic rule is to reward desirable behavior and to correct and prevent undesirable behavior. Dog treats are great motivators for your dog, so before you begin training dogs, stock up on their favorite treats. Another important factor is the age of the dog, with the period after the puppy is 8 weeks old being the most ideal. Professional dog training does not generally begin till the puppy has received all its vaccination shots, and should be started after he/she is 4 months old. This keeps the puppy safer, though training it as soon as it comes home is a good idea.

Keeping up healthy communication is important, which involves reading the signs and gestures of your dog, which indicate whether it is scared, stressed or excited, as well as when a dog is willing to obey, are all a part of this process. The five basic commands you should focus on are sit, stay, down, heel and recall. Hurting the dog as punishment is not a good idea, and knowing where to draw the line is important. Also different dogs react differently to different stimulus, and forming the perfect blend of these factors makes a successful dog trainer.