A well behaved dog allows for much more stress free interaction with outsiders.  Friends and family members will be much more comfortable around your dog as well.  Dogs need to be taught their boundaries and your expectations of them at a very young age as it can be difficult to train them later in life.

There are many benefits of a well trained dog. A well trained dog allows for a relaxed atmosphere with his human family.  He should be able to entertain himself without the need for constant attention, therefore allowing everyone around to relax.

They will stay near you and listen intently to any instructions.  Make sure to praise your dog when indicated because they are very appreciative of this kind of positive feeling from you.

They will allow you to check them over for injuries following incident without nipping and growling.  Your dog should be comfortable with you touching any part of him whenever necessary.

A well trained dog will allow you to walk or run with them at a comfortable pace and not worry about getting tangled or knocked down.

They will be familiar with simple commands such as drop it, leave it, outside, sit, stay; and will know their physical boundaries.

These are a few of the outright signs that a dog has been well trained. It may seem very basic and simple, however; dogs need to be structured, again from a young age.  Some people do not realize the importance of this however; and start when their dog’s behavior becomes an issue. It can be frustrating to train your dog, but with the proper materials and knowledge, it is definitely possible to get there.

There are dog obedient classes and training classes in almost every city.  You can normally look online for local classes, and be able to see what training methods are used, as well as times and dates for classes.  It is an excellent way to get started with your puppy, and allows for some pretty great get-to-know and trust you time with your new friend.

Clicker training is the same form of training that is used at Sea World when training their whales and other types of attraction animals to perform tricks.  During clicker training, there is no danger or pain to any animal and this encourages your dog to follow commands.

When beginning with clicker training, you will need to allow the dog to become familiar with the clicker and understand that it is nothing to be afraid of.  It doesn’t hurt to get together some treats for your dog in order to give praise during the process.  The treat should be in very small pieces and soft.

You should begin with your clicker in one hand and the bowl of treats nearby. During this time, it should just be you and your dog to avoid distractions. Start off by pressing the clicker and then giving a treat. Repeat the click and treat routine until your dog begins to look up when you click, expecting his treat.

To teach your dog to look at you when you say his name, use the same click and treat method.  Wait until your dog looks at you after you say his name, then click and give a treat.  Repeat this regimen; however wait until he becomes a little distracted before doing it again.  Make sure to say his name only once.

All verbal commands are taught using the same process during dog clicker training. You speak the command you wish your dog to learn, place the dog in that position, then click and give a treat. After several practice runs, when you say the command your dog should perform what is asked of him (i.e., sit, stand, stay, lay down, etc.)  As soon as he does this, click and give a treat.

One command that may take a little longer to learn is stay, but you will still use the same method. Place him where you want him, tell him to stay, and take a couple of steps back. If your dog follows the stay command, quickly click and give a treat.  If he moves, put him back in the same spot and try again. Gradually move further and further back.

The possibilities are unlimited with dog clicker training.  You may spend a little extra on treats during this process, but it is well worth it when your dog follows your commands using the clicker method!

Collars

One way to attempt to keep your dog from barking is the use of collars.  There is a rather large variety of anti-barking collars on the market today.  Some provide a tiny jolt of electricity, while others give off a citrus smell activated by barking.  This seems to work well as dogs obviously have very sensitive noses, and citrus is not their favorite scent!  Other collars give off a disturbing beeping sound for the dog. You might have to try a couple of different types, but it will be well worth it when you find the one that works for you.

The Water Method

With the water method, you will need to fill a spray bottle or any small container with water.  Before you spray your dog, try first to ask him to be quiet in your normal command voice.  If this doesn’t work, go ahead and get your dog’s face wet. Don’t spray the water too close to his face. Some dogs might mistake this for play time, but if you always begin with using the word “quiet”, followed by a wet face, they will associate the two.  Hopefully your dog isn’t the type to actually enjoy this!

Entertainment

Sometimes, being alone for a dog will cause boredom and he will bark to entertain himself.  Before going away for any length of time, make sure your dog is watered and fed, has comfortable surroundings, and has his favorite toy for example.  Keeping him happy during his alone time will definitely keep the barking at bay.

Comfort

As mentioned previously, some dogs will bark when they are lonely. After making sure they are in their comfort zone when you plan to leave them alone, if this doesn’t control his barking, you may want to try leaving the television on or playing some soothing music for them.  Hearing other sounds sometimes prevents them from needing to hear themselves barking.  You may even want to record your voice reading a book for example, in order to keep your dog pacified while away.

Finding which method works for your dog might take some time and effort, but when you get there, it will be much better for everyone, including the neighbors!

Teaching your dog to heel should always be done by yourself (the owner) in order to enforce that you are the authority figure over him. There are several methods used to train a dog to heel, and a couple of very successful ones are listed below.

Using a Leash

Begin by attaching the leash to your dog with him standing on your left side.  You should hold the leash fairly tight, allowing some slack in your right hand.  Again, make sure to have your treats handy. Make sure your dog knows you have the treats as well. Once prepared, give the heel command.

Take a step ahead with your left foot and bring your right hand to a position where the dog can smell the treat.  While doing this, give a quick pull on the least and say “heel” in your normal command tone. If your dog tries to cross in front of you to get the treat, again pull back on the leash quickly and give him the “no” command. You will need to reposition him to your left before restarting the process.

Proceed walking several steps and then stop abruptly.  At that time, tug firmly on the leash and command the dog to “heel”. Give your dog a treat when he reaches the correct position. This task has a lot of repetition and may take several attempts, so use your patience for this training session.  If this method doesn’t work, move on to something else.

The Clicker Method

Most people choose to use a leash to get their dog to feel, however if you train your dog to heel using a clicker, you will lose the need for a leash!  You will need to use a leash initially when teaching the clicker method however.  Again, make sure your dog is on your left side (this is the traditional side for the “heel” command).

Place your dog in the heel position without pulling too hard on the leash. Proceed forward and after a few steps, press the clicker, followed by a treat. When you want to stop, command your dog to “sit” during the process of stopping.  After some time, your dog will get that he is supposed to sit as you stop walking.  When he does follow through and sit, click and give him a treat.

You may do this several times and then remove the leash and attempt to command him to heel without the leash.  You can do different movements, walk backward, etc.  Most dogs will pick this up fairly quickly as long as you are consistent with your clicks and treats.

Training your dog to heel is a major accomplishment and an important one as well when it comes to having an obedient dog! Once trained, the will be much more relaxing to walk with.

The following steps should have your dog sitting on command in no time!

Very important, and as with other training commands; treats are necessary in teaching your dog to sit. Wave the treat in front of his nose so he knows it is there.  Move your arm up and down, side to side and get your dog used to following your arm for the treat. Then take the treat and move it toward the back of your dog’s head which should cause your dog to sit down instinctively. Don’t hold the treat too high, because the dog will try to jump for it in that case.

Immediately after your dogs behind hits the ground, voice the ‘sit’ command in your normal command voice.  Speak slowly and clearly.  When the dog does sit, give him/her the treat.  You must give the treat instantly as the command is followed in order for your dog to understand the two are connected.

In the long run, once your dog is used to the ‘sit’ command, you will not longer need to use treats to get your dog to sit.  A good rub down or petting will be enough praise to keep him sitting when told.  Teaching the ‘sit’ command may take between 5-10 attempts, maybe during a few different sessions in order to accomplish.

Once your dog gets his ‘sit’ command, it is time to move on to other important training commands, but again, always have the treats handy in order to be successful sooner than later!

Training collars allow you to form a connection to your dog.  You will be able to find several different brands that work different ways online or at your local pet market. Most are great choices; although some can be dangerous if you don’t know how to use them properly.  You might have to try more than one to find out what works best for your dog.

If you are looking for simple training, you will probably want to purchase a traditional nylon or leather collar.  These will work perfectly well for teaching commands such as stay, sit, lay, etc.  Nylon and leather collars come with cute little decorations and designs if your dog is accustomed to a little bling.

Basic choke collars are popular and are beneficial in strict training.  If you choose to use a choke collar, you need to start with those immediately after you get your dog as this type of collar will give you better control and allow your dog to understand you are in charge.  Be careful not to make the choke collar too tight.

When your dog follows commands, you should directly loosen the collar to the point where it is comfortable for your little buddy. However, if your dog begins to backslide in following commands, you will want to right away tighten that collar back up to reinforce who is boss.  When he/she follows commands again, loosen the collar again.  Repeat as necessary.

Another type of collar used for training is a pinch collar.  These are also a popular type of collar, and are used widely by dog training professionals. These are one of the more dangerous collars if not used properly, so take caution.  There is a small window to work with when using this collar as when you pull on the collar, it will tighten around the dog’s neck with the tips on the inside of the collar, and you do not want it get too tight.  Always seek help from a professional before trying to train with this type of collar.

Citronella collars are one of the best dog training collars.  They are popular, safe and easy to use.  This type of collar comes with a remote control and if your dog gets out of line or doesn’t follow commands, you will click the remote which releases a citronella scent, which your little buddy will NOT like, but is harmless to him/her at the same time.  You definitely cannot go wrong with this type of collar.

From the moment he/she comes home, you will instantly love your puppy and automatically want what is best.  Training is the first step in becoming a tight knit family unit and the first step in allowing a peaceful existence within the home.  Below are some important training techniques to get your started!

The first and most important thing to do is get your puppy a collar. This will allow you to have your dog’s attention when needed. There are a wide variety of collars to choose from.

There are traditional leather or nylon collars, pinching collars (used mostly by professional trainers), choker collars, citronella collars and more.

If you do decide on a choker collar, mind how tight you have the collar and use it with caution.  You may enlist the help of a professional trainer to learn how to use a choker collar properly. Same goes with the pincher collar.

One of our favorites is the citronella collar.  It is completely harmless to your puppy and will only put off a smell that your dog will not like.  You simply click a button when your dog is not following commands, and the scent of citronella follows.

It is your responsibility to guide your puppy in his new life and help him understand that you are in control.  You will need to train them and teach them the commands necessary to maintain a healthy puppy and positive setting within the home.

Housebreaking your puppy requires close supervision and positive praise. Never punish your puppy for accidents, and stick to your training method without fail in order to have a successful housebroken puppy. Prevention is critical, so learning the warning signs that your puppy has to go is extremely important.

Warning signs can include sniffing around on the floor or near the door, running around, sometimes in a circular pattern, whining or jumping up at the door (which is another thing you will need to break them of it occurs).  If you see these signs, be sure it is your puppy telling you they need a bathroom break!

An important part of housebreaking your puppy is maintaining a good diet for him/her. Premium dry dog food is an excellent choice.  It is not a good idea at any time to feed your puppy food from your dinner table. This will cause poor digestion and bad habits.  If you ever need to change your dog’s food for whatever reason, make sure to make the change slowly, mixing it in with the old food.

If there is a time that you are not going to be around to let your puppy outside to go potty, it is highly recommended that the puppy be crate trained until such a time that he/she is old enough to wait until you arrive home.  If they are crate trained properly, it will also help with housebreaking as well.  Remember to never use a crate as a punishment however.

Just like with humans, when your puppy eats or drinks, a bathroom break is sure to follow.  Puppies over 12 weeks of age will go on an average of 8-10 times per day. If they begin to form any time patterns, make sure to take note and follow up.  As they grow, this will decrease, but until then, look and listen and you will have your puppy housebroken like a pro.