Obedience Dog Training 

The sooner a dog can be 
trained, the better. Begin
when he is about five
months old.
 

A dog understands 
that which is to his benefit 
if he experiences that 
benefit often enough.

.................

Praise a dog only when he 
has performed a specific
task and when he has done 
good. An occasional 
treat can be helpful. Treats 
should be given less and
less frequently as time 
goes by. The verbal 
praise should continue.
 

The commands"SIT" 
and "FETCH":
These are the very first positive commands which a dog should learn. "Sit" and "Fetch" are commands which can easily be taught together.

Play fetch games with your
dog. After a while, when the 
dog returns with the fetched 
item, order him to sit. Withhold 
the treat until the dog actually 
sits.

The command "Down":
Your dog has to be in the 
sitting position. With the leash
in your hand say "Down" in a firm voice. Guide your dog downward with your hand. 

In early attempts a food treat 
held at your dog's eye level 
and quickly moved down and away from him will entice him 
to follow your instruction. Praise the dog once he follows your command. Your dog should stay 
in this position until you instruct him to "sit".

The command "Come":
This command is extremely important, it can save your dog's life.

Take three steps backward, say your dog's name and add "come". Give the leash a quick sharp jerk toward you. Praise your dog when he comes. Maneuver him into a sitting position directly in front of you and praise him again.
---------------------------------------------

Keep Your Dog healthy

A good well balanced diet is necessary in order to maintain your dog's health. Do not feed him chocolate or candy.

Dogs become victims of parasitic infections very easily. Parasites can seriously harm your dog's and your health. The seriousness of parasitic infections has lately
found quite a bit of Press. Please read the article below which concentrates on this subject!
. . . . . . . . . . 

Basically, when you train your dog, you want him to respond to your command, to refrain from doing something, or to do something. 

Dogs who are trained to be obedient are more fit for human companionship than untrained dogs, and the pride of dog ownership grows with the growing obedience of the animal. 

Dog training requires a lot of patience, persistence and hard work. But it does not have to be an unpleasant chore. It can be fun both for you and your dog. 

Dog training is never really completed because you must make sure that your dog stays in practice and does not forget that which he has already learned.

Be a Leader
You must earn your dog's respect. It is therefore very important that you establish yourself as the leader in your relationship! Give regular commands and be firm.

A dog that respects its owner develops a desire to please him. When the dog obeys show him love and affection and praise and some treats once in a while.

Dogs learn through the repetition of actions and experience, through commands, corrections, and praise. You must convey to him the things you want in terms which he can understand. Your attitude as a trainer and breed characteristics will also determine how quickly your dog will learn.

Correction
Do not use violence on the dog. Rather provide the dog with a chain collar and a leash. With slack in the leash slap the leash downwards or sideways and release just as you hear a "clink" in the links of the chain collar.

If the dog continues to misbehave repeat the corrective action with slightly more force. Speak the words "bad dog" immediately after the correction. Your dog will get the message eventually.

Timing is of the utmost importance. If you cannot correct the dog when he misbehaves he will not be able to relate the punishment to his behaviour. Faults must be corrected as they occur.
 

Commands
Make sure that you use the same words over and over again when you are teaching something to your dog. While a dog does not understand your command he will remember the sounds of the individual words through conditioning.

You will need a supply of food treats for your dog. These treats require a slight cutback on the regular food when used. Reward your dog for good behaviour. A dog responds favorably to "snacks".

Training Equipment

There is simply no substitude for proper training equipment.

For dogs over 4 1/2 months of age the training collar must be made of metal and is normally a slip-chain.

The leash should be a leather-type leash (not nylon), 5 to 6 feet in length.

The collar should not be too large, but it should also not choke the dog.

A pronged collar is sometimes necessarry if the dog is large. This will protect the trainer from being dragged all over the place.
-----------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------

Housebreak Your Dog:

Keeping him off the Furniture:

A well trained dog will obey a firm and emphatic "no" when attempting to get on furniture. Until the dog is trained make your upholstered furniture uncomfortable for your dog by placing items on the furniture which the dog does not like to sit on, for example blown up balloons. Dogs do not like the sound of popping balloons and will quickly learn to leave the furniture alone.
 

. . . . . . . . . .

Older dogs can be trained. 
But it takes somewhat 
longer than what it takes to 
train a younger dog.

Any dog can learn. 
Some dogs just learn faster 
and better than others. 

. . . . . . . . .

List of the Most Commen Commands:

        Sit 
        Stay
        Down
        Come
        Heel
        Fetch
        Catch
        Bring
        Attack
        No
 

The command "STAY":
Have the dog on a leash in the sitting position at your left side. Clearly say "Stay". Tighten the leash downwards.

Face your dog during this training exercise. Step with your right foot around your dog but keep your left foot in place. If he decides to stand repeat the process. 

Place your right palm at the dog's eye level, and with the other hand press down his rear. This will reinforce your command and your dog will better understand what he is supposed to do.

The command "Heel":
This command's objective is to keep your dog at your side and not let him get ahead of you.

Walk your dog at your left hand side at a comfortable pace with a little slack in the leash. 

Whenever the dog begins to 
pull into the wrong direction and tries to take the lead, stop abruptly and say "Heel". This break may be used to change direction or speed. 

When you begin walking again look at your dog, say his name, then say "heel" and start walking with your left foot. Continue briskly in a straight line Walk with a little slack in the leash.

Whenever you prepare to come to a stop shorten the leash just a bit and guide him into the sitting position.
--------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------

Elimination:

If your dog will not hold his bowel movements throughout the night turn a wire show crate into his sleeping quarters. 

Dogs absolutely and instinctively do not want to soil their own sleeping quarters. A dog confined to a crate will be forced to learn how to control his own bowel movements.

. . . . .. . .