Dog Training

If you bring a pup home it can be taught more easily to obey the basic commands like sit, stay, down etc. Dog training is also important to help curb aggressive behavior, too much friendliness when dogs tend to jump on visitors or simply to teach him a few tricks like fetching a ball or newspaper.

You need to set aside time for training every day. Initially your dog may dislike training time. To reinforce good behavior, when he obeys you should praise him or even treat him with dog biscuits. If he doesn't obey he should be punished. This way he will know what is the right and wrong behavior. Training sessions should be short and interesting so your pup or dog will love this time with you. Some dogs may not like these training sessions. But you should persist with lot of praise and attention when he does well. Alternating with dog treats will be helpful while training the reluctant dog, but they should not be used too much. He will then know obeying your commands makes you happy; and every dog's desire is always to please his master.

Training a dog is also necessary so it behaves well with children, and children can harmlessly play with the dog. Another reason to train the dog is potty training so it knows where to urinate or pass the poop, in the home or outside.

There are special collars as well, to help train dogs for walking outside. The common ones are shock collar, choke collar, prong collar. These collars are especially useful for training the dog while walking in the street. It will stop your dog from running or chasing something and save you from chasing after him. The shock collars give the dog a shock when you want to stop him doing something wrong. Choke collar does choke to stop the dog so it has to be carefully used to avoid hurting the dog too much. Prong collars are known to prevent the dog from pulling while walking.

There are dog-training books available in bookshops or pet shops. You could choose the kind of book that suits your dog breed. But it is important that you should choose a book that gives dog-training methods, which are fairly easy for you to practice.

Should you have a distaste for training your dog, or don't have the time and patience, then you can take the help of a dog trainer. Since it is their profession, and they do training on a regular basis, they know everything about how to train a particular dog breed; and can even teach them fancy tricks like jumping or standing on the hind feet, begging etc. So for the average dog lover it will be worth paying for a dog trainer's services, and you will enjoy your dog’s newfound obedience and tricks.

The importance of well trained dog cannot be overemphasized. A well trained dog means a well behaved dog and there will be peace and harmony when in the home, or in the street.