Must-Know Dog Training Tips And Basic Commands

Are you considering getting a dog for the first time? Did you have a dog when you were a kid? But it’s years now since you had a dog. Has your friend offered to give you a lovely pup, a Labrador Retriever?

You would love to have it, but need a few handy tips to care for and train the dog. So how do you care for and train your dog? Your friend has rattled off some great advice. But you haven’t the foggiest idea what he said. Well don’t panic, go for that pup. You will find some pretty good dog training tips here. If you do go for that pup you will have a willing loving companion for years to come, who thinks you are the best in the world. To be a good master, you should know how to train your dog. Dogs have a natural ability to be trained. Another natural trait ingrained in your dog is to follow the leader of the pack. So you have established yourself as a good leader. When do you start the training?

Remember that training starts the day you get your pup.

First give your pup a name. A short name is best. Fido, Rex, Pinky, Brownie are a few common names. Teach your dog to respond to his name by calling out to him by name. If he doesn’t respond, call him by his name again and give him a biscuit or treat when he answers.

Some important qualities must be focused on, while training your dog. They are eagerness for obedience in your dog, confidence, and discipline and, of course, you must have plenty of patience. How do you build up confidence? Keep calling the pup or dog by his name, regularly feed it, hug it or keep it in your lap for short duration during play time. Take it out for walks and for passing the poop. Groom or brush it. If needed, tie it up in the yard and untie it yourself.

Feeding time is the best time to get your dog to learn some obedience.

The moment you get the food dish the pup will try to jump for it and follow you around. This is the time you teach him to wait for his food. Get him to wait in one place. You will get him to wait when you keep the food dish a foot away in your hand and above him so he sits.

Set the dish down, but don’t allow him to start right away. Give him the command to eat it, and then allow him to start eating. He will soon learn that the quickest way he can get the food is by obeying.

You can teach your dog many common commands.

‘Good dog’, ‘clever dog’ in a loving tone, when he obeys you. ‘Naughty dog’ in a rebuking tone, when he disobeys you. A strong ‘No’ when he tries to lick, jump or do anything wrong. A commanding ‘heel’ to make it stay by your side or behind you. ‘Go on’ to allow it the freedom to play around after giving it the heel command. ‘Sit’ to sit on its hind feet and ‘drop’ to go right down in a sitting position on its belly.

Cleanliness is an important part of the training.

Puppies’ bladders fill up quickly, and bowels need to be cleared at frequent intervals. You need to be pretty observant for this. This is the best opportunity to train them in cleanliness, as they whimper and signal their need. You should observe this behavior and immediately take them outside or to the special area reserved for them to vacate waste materials.

Bathing is another part of cleanliness training.

But bathing should only be done occasionally. You should use only vegetable soap, and not chemical soap. Take care of ears and eyes, that no soap or water gets into them.

If you have bought a dog bed or a dog crate for your dog then you have to train it to sleep in its bed. The bed should be warm or cool, depending on the weather so your dog is comfortable. See our related article: Best Dog Crates for Indoor and Outdoor Use.

Grooming and brushing the puppy daily gets it into the habit when it grows up. This is also important for your dog’s health and for its beautiful coat.

Another thing, for which your dog can be trained, is exercise or walking.

He should be taken for walks regularly at a fixed time daily. During walking, you can restrain the pup using a lead and collar. Remember that your pup will dislike being restrained. But you should train him in a loving or commanding voice, signals on the lead and reward for obedience. Reward could be a hug or a treat. If you are leaving your dog free of a lead, you could train your dog to return with a whistle. Keep the lessons short and stop it if there is any distraction. After regular training, by the time it is four months old, your pup should be an obedient and trained dog.

There are some ways a dog may behave, which you might find cute or irritating. Only encourage those dog manners you like. Some dog manners are barking at mealtimes, getting excited when someone arrives or leaves, offering a paw or placing its head on your lap, whining, growling or giving a low bark near your bed. Remember that treating your dog with kindness and firmness will lead to an obedient and well-behaved dog.

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