Bringing a dog home is always exciting. However, most of us forget that not every moment is enjoyable when you neglect dog obedience training. From the moment your pooch first comes home, you should begin training it in every little way possible. Teaching your dog commands and actions will help you control it better. Through this process, it will also start understanding right and wrong behaviors.
Dogs are like little babies. As they grow up, they start understanding what we are saying, they start understanding words. Training your dog will help you build a special connection, almost like your own language to communicate. Basic obedience training can also easily avoid many accidents that generally take place due to the lack of authority.
As soon as you bring a furry friend home, your journey of basic dog obedience training begins. It is imperative that you train your dog from day one and teach primary skills and manners to it.
Training to recognise their own name
If you haven’t named your dog yet, there is no shortage of meaningful dog names you could give your pooch! Teach your dog its name by using it regularly. Make sure you maintain eye contact and give it a treat every time it acknowledges. Rewarding your pup with treats every time it responds to its given name enforces good behavior. If you have any nick names in mind, avoid using them for a few months.
Training to walk on a leash
Dogs are not born with the skill to walk on a leash. As puppy parents, we need to help them learn this skill. Procrastinating this training session will create a lot of issues once you start travelling with your pooch. Hence, it is best to start training your puppy to walk on leash from the beginning.
So, here are a few things you should know while leash training a puppy:
- Buy a collar that is neither too loose nor too tight; there should be space for at least two fingers under the collar.
- Use a leash to let them know that they must walk with you. This helps in establishing that you are their caregiver.
- Walk ahead of your dog always.
- Learn to control your dog’s pace with the leash.
- Walk slowly and ascertain that your dog is always on your left.
- If your dog has been sitting for too long, nudge it gently to move. Do not drag your pooch or yank the leash.
- Always reward your dog with treats for good behavior.
Potty training your dog
Potty training your dog is important to ensure that it does not end up defecating in the house and dirtying common places. Take your dog out every 30-45 minutes and give it 5 minutes to adjust to new surroundings. Once it starts going at a particular spot, reward your dog with treats. You can take your dog to the same spot every day to help smooth things out for them. If you see your dog trying to excrete at a spot where it shouldn’t, use commands like ‘no’ and ‘stop’ to make it understand that certain spots are not meant for eliminating. If you are new to taking care of these little fur balls, make sure you have a new puppy checklist to keep track of all their needs.
Puppy obedience training: Essential commands
Whether it is a puppy or a rescue dog, your pooch will need basic obedience training. A well-behaved pup will respond to basic commands that are listed below:
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Sit
Instructing your dog to sit is the most basic command. It does not take a lot of time for a dog to start sitting on command, making it the ideal command to start with. Pet parents can use a treat to get their pup to learn sitting. Hold a treat close to your pup’s nose and move your hand up. You pup’s head will start following your hand, naturally lowering its bottom. Once it is in the sitting position, give it the treat! Once your dog starts responding to this command, you can progress to others.
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Stay/Wait
‘Stay’ is one of the most important commands your pup should learn. A dog who responds to this command will not start running if it gets loose. Teaching and mastering this command may need a few weeks’ time, so be patient with your pooch. Keep your treats handy for rewards!
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Come
If you plan to take your dog out without a leash, it should know to come to you on command. This will also help when it is off leash with a group of other dogs or fighting with other dogs. The ‘come’ command will prove beneficial if you choose to take it on adventures like hikes and trails.
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Heel
Dogs of all sizes must be taught how to heel, especially if you stay in an urban setting that lacks spacious sidewalks. For large breed and heavy dogs, this skill is necessary because they tend to pull on the leash. Walks with your dog will become easier once they learn how to heel.
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Drop it
Dogs are naturally curious. As your dog grows, it will start exploring its space. This may lead to it gnawing on objects in the house like a shoe, comb, remote, etc. Teaching them to respond to ‘drop it’ will help them understand their wrongdoings.
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Lay down
Many may think that this command is more of a playtime activity. It is true, you can train your dog how to play dead and have some fun. But you can also use it to control your dog in certain situations where you have guests at home.
These basic dog obedience training tips will help you get started and establish a timeline for your training! Make sure that you focus on one command for each session. After training your pooch, make sure you reward them with their favorite Cesar wet dog food. Be patient and do not forget to enjoy your time with your floof!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
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How to train my dog to be obedient?
Teach your dog basic commands like sit, heel, stay, drop down, etc. Maintain eye contact with your pooch during the training session and reward it with treats. Rewarding dogs with treats encourages positive behavior.
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Can I obedience train my dog myself?
You can obedience train your dog by yourself, provided you are ready to stay calm and patient. Training your dog all by yourself also requires you to be consistent with the training sessions. If you are planning to train your dog, set a time for your sessions.
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What are the five golden rules of dog training?
Here are five golden rules that you must keep in mind while training your dog:
- Respect your dog’s pace and go along with it.
- Stay consistent and be patient with the results of your training.
- Reward must be worthwhile. Do not give away treats easily.
- Train your dog for success. Make sure that they learn each skill you wish to teach them.
- Never punish them.
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At what age should a dog be completely obedient?
You must start training your pup as soon as possible, and they should be completely trained by the time they turn a year old.
