Dog Training Techniques

Given the fact that dogs are probably the most common of household pets, it is sometimes essential to somewhat curb their natural instincts in order to make them more adaptable to human society. Just like any human being, the mentality and natural character of each dog is different from another, even within the same breed. The level of training required to curb certain character inflections such as aggression and disobedience will depend largely on the intensity of their natural character. Dog training tips are vast and sometimes very contradictory because of the fact that different dogs need to be approached in a different way added to the fact that a variety of trainers have their own preferred methods of accomplishing the task. Some goals to achieve when imparting the training include building a strong owner – canine relationship that is heavily based on mutual respect and trust, getting the animal to retain its outgoing nature and developing its social skills and ability to make new friends, nurture and improve the animals senses and natural instincts as well as making sure the handler or owner has the confidence to be able to control his animal in any situation. Just as with children, puppies can be very confused initially, however, it is important that dog training methods are void of any acts that inflict animal cruelty or violence.

The biggest and probably most important of dog training secrets is the fact that the key to good training lies in effective communication between the handler and the animal. The animal will continuously give out signals indicating its mood – showing displeasure, fear, irritation and happiness – but it is important that the handler understands and acknowledges these signals in order to build and reinforce a bond with the animal. It is also important that the handler show a great deal of patience, especially in the first few sessions of dog training as the entire process involves a significant amount of character change to the animals natural tendencies. Just as it is important to avoid using physical punishment on a dog, it is important to regularly reward them for a task accomplished to the handler’s satisfaction. Giving the dog its favorite treat just after it has performed the required action will let the animal know that it has done what was required in the right manner. While most dog lovers will love their dog equally whether it has been trained or not, living with a trained dog is much easier as it is within the masters control to a more significant extent than one that is allowed to grow solely on its natural instinct.

Hand Signs for Training Dog

Dogs are widely considered to be one of the most common household pets all over the world. Their affectionate and protective nature has seen them often considered to be man’s best friend. Just like people, each dog has its own character. While there are some common traits between two dogs of the same breed, there are always going to be subtle differences in their temperament and personality. When house breaking a dog, it is always recommended that the animal be trained in order to allow him or her to adapt to the social requirements of a house. While not every dog owner has their dog trained, there are a number of benefits such as controlling dog aggression as well as enhancing the canine’s obedience. Dog obedience training is a process of teaching the animal to perform a certain action that is dependent solely on the signal being shown to it. More advanced modes of dog training include teaching the dog how to react in certain situations or scenarios, but these methods are mostly reserved for dogs serving in law enforcement, hunting, shepherding livestock and assistance for people with disabilities.

The most often used dog training hand signals pertain to the most common of actions expected from the canine. These are: Down, sit, stay, heel, making a loose leashed animal trot within close proximity from its owner with the command ‘close’ and recalling the animal with commands such as ‘come’, ‘in’ or ‘here’. Just as with humans, it is always better to train the animal from a very young age. The first few training sessions may even see the animal substantially confused, but it important that the animal never be physically or violently punished. It is important though to show acts of strength from time to time as, if the animal is constantly disobedient and does not see any corrective action being taken, it will automatically assume that it is the alpha male and will not be overly concerned about the master.  The most important aspect of dog training hand gestures is the communication involved. This pertains to communication from both parties involved – the handler and the animal. Dogs are very expressive creatures and it is up to the handler to identify when the animal is scared, confused, nervous or happy. When this bond has been established and the animal knows that the trainer understands its signals, it is much easier to train.

Dog Training Tricks:

Dog training is a process of making the dog do certain tricks by teaching the dog to respond to a set of commands. Depending on the methods and objectives, dog training tricks can be categorized into various segments. However, difficult dog tricks can be a lot of hard work and are better left for professional dog trainers. But, this should not discourage dog owners from trying to teach their dogs a few basic and simple tricks. With a bit of patience and work you too can teach your dog fair amount of tricks. The most important, and probably also the hardest, part is to find a language to communicate with the dog. The method of communication may vary but the essential principle of communication is quite simple – rewarding desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior. With this underlying principle in mind, you should set about finding the most appropriate way of communication. Once you have found the way to communicate, teach the six basic dog obedience behaviors – namely, Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Close, and Heel. Remember, however, that these six are not essentially tricks but are the foundations on which tricks are based.

Anyway, described here are some tricks that you may try teaching to your dog. But, remember that you should be very patient with the dog and should not lose your temper at any time.

• Shake hands: This is one of the most common and easy-to-teach tricks. Start by asking your dog to sit down, then take the dog’s paw in your hands and shaking the paw say, “Shake hand.” Thereafter, give your dog a pat or reward in any other way the dog understands. Repeat the same way at least for 5 times in a row, but remember to always use the same hand and paw. The whole process should again be repeated several times a day, over several weeks, until the dog seems to recognize the movement on its own.
• Crawl: This is yet another easy-to-teach trick. To do this, make your dog lie down and then hang a prize just in front of the dog’s nose. Say, “Crawl!” aloud and ask the dog to come for the prize. If the dog starts to stand up and take the prize, say “No!” aloud and make it lie down again. Repeat the process until the dog realizes that it has to come crawling and then reward with the prize. You have to repeat this several times a day and continue over a few weeks.

Control Dog Aggression:

Dog aggression is any dog behavior that is shown with the intent of causing harm. While barking, growling, and biting are most common aggressive behavior in dogs, there can also be other aggressive behavior that are not commonly perceived to be so. Mounting or lunging at people and blocking the path are also aggressive behavior although, because they don’t look as threatening as barking or biting, they don’t gain as much attention.

There is a common misperception that certain breed of dogs show more aggression than others. This is untrue – all breeds of dogs can show aggressive behavior. Usually, 0.1 percent dogs of every breed may show increased aggression. But, due to the way dog breeds are commonly portrayed, people usually perceive that aggression is somehow linked with the breed of the dog.

Dog aggression happens due to a variety of reasons – dominance, fear, and territorial aggression are the most common types. Dogs can become aggressive when they feel threatened or when their territory is intruded upon. It is important that the real cause of dog aggression is found out before taking appropriate action on it. Consult your veterinarian or professional dog trainer to do a proper diagnosis.

There are no definite paths to stop dog aggression – the issue needs to be tackled according to the underlying cause and the severity of it. However, it is important to protect yourself and your family first, in case the aggression turns out to be unmanageable. Here are some dog aggression training steps that you may take to take care of your pet’s unwanted aggressive behavior.

Start a behavioral modification program on your pet. However, ensure that you involve a professional dog trainer or behaviorist before starting on the program. According to the type and extent of your dog’s aggression, a suitable behavioral modification program will need to be devised. But, it is important to understand that this behavioral modification program needs to be implemented gradually, patiently, and consistently over time.

Do not put too many expectations on your pet. Be patient and understand the behavior your dog shows. It is also important to make the dog socialize a bit, so that it lessens the chance of fear or territorial aggression.

Finally, and most importantly, never punish your dog for exhibiting aggressive behavior. This will further aggravate the problem and make the dog more aggressive. Understand why your dog may bark, snap, or growl – it may not always be out of unwanted aggression; often, the dog may have been provoked or the dog does so out of discomfort.