The Basics of Dog Obedience Training for Your New Pet

Dog obedience training starts even before you get your puppy in your home. Instead, it starts originally with the person that you purchased the dog from. Ask the breeder or salesperson what type of training, if anything at all, was provided before your dog came into your care.

Puppies until the age of 21 days are like infants; they are only able to find Mom, eat, sleep and go to the bathroom. Anything else is pretty much beyond their abilities at this time. That fourth week, however, is crucial to any dog obedience training because this is when your animal becomes more aware of his surroundings. Any positive or negative experiences that occur during this time will affect your puppy for life, so make sure that any stimuli is in the right direction.

At the four week mark, puppies can be introduced to crate training while still at the breeder's. A wire cage, well padded and large enough for the entire litter, is placed in the whelping box at this stage. Newspaper is placed all around the floor space, so that the dogs can get used to sleeping in the crate and eliminating on the paper.

Dog obedience training at this stage of the game is gentle and supportive, and there is no punishment. Breeders and owners should take this time to play with their puppies, and get them in a group to slowly learn the "Come" command, by quietly saying the word, and praising heavily when they do respond appropriately.

Remember that timing and consistency are key when beginning dog obedience training with your young pups. The trainer should be planning, on a daily basis, when and how to work on these essential skills, and then perform them at basically the same time every day. Also, positive reinforcement is necessary immediately during or after the pups have followed the given commands, or else there is a danger of the animals associating the praise with something else other than the intended action.

Give your dogs time to think about their actions before you react to them; especially at this young age, where there are a lot of distractions (like other puppies for instance, or a grumbly tummy), they may need a bit of time to respond to a command they are learning. Be patient. However, keep in mind that young dogs such as these are not able to take more than about 10 minutes of training at a time, before they lose attention. This is not only appropriate for their young age, it's essential to their continued learning. Dog obedience training shouldn't be boring for your animal ? it should be fun!

Once you've worked through the more basic commands, make sure when introducing more complex concepts (such as Stay or Sit) that you break down the skill into small, bite-sized chunks. Start with teaching the dog how to sit properly, before you ask him to respond to the command, for instance. Many web sites have detailed progression training techniques for all of the dog obedience training commands, so feel free to search around for some ideas along this vein.

(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com. This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com. Please visit the site for more free dog training articles. Online URL for this article: http://www.dog-training-info.com/ dog-obedience-training.htm

---

Responsible Dog Ownership

With all the companionship and love that our dogs give... Read More

Oscar

Oscar is kind of a funny name and it fit... Read More

Apistogramma , Dwarf Cichlids in the Aquarium

The real apistogramma's come from southern America, they all have... Read More

Parrot Keeping

Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing... Read More

Why Exotic Pets Should Not Be Banned

We all know how special interest groups can blow things... Read More

Westie Rescue Centres

The aim of a Westie rescue centre such as the... Read More

Natural Dog Shampoos are Good for Your Dogs Skin and Coat

A Healthy Skin and Coat for Your Dog ...Does your... Read More

How to Buy a Purebred Dog

If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's... Read More

Teaching Your Dog to Heel

Teaching your dog to heel is one of the most... Read More

Must-Have Know-How On Your Dogs Meal-Times

One of the best parts of the day for any... Read More

Protecting The Family Pet

Ever since the beginning of time there has always been... Read More

The Dreaded Vet Visit: 5 Ways to Comfort Your Dog

Uh-oh, it's that time again. The dreaded vet visit, and... Read More

Safety in the Fresh Air and the Outdoors for Your Cat - How To Build a Cattery

Animal welfare organizations and humane societies have been very successful... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Puppy And Play Biting

The main ways a puppy will play with another dog... Read More

Games You Can Play With Your Dog

Dogs need mental and physical stimulation. They're also very inquisitive... Read More

Problem Barking-What to Do When Your Dogs Barking is The Neighborhood Nuisance

Puppies and dogs, as mentioned, are social creatures. When they... Read More

Dog Doors: Giving Your Pet Freedom to Come and Go as They Please Helps Solve Behavior Problems

Dog DoorsWhen we think of dog doors, we think of... Read More

Probiotics - The Good Bacteria

PROBIOTICS - The Good Bacteria - Does your pet have... Read More

What You Should Know About Your Dog And Frustration

Because your dog lives with humans, he's going to have... Read More

How To Use Leading Your Horse To Get Control And Response

I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More

Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog?

==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========If you're interested in premium... Read More

Can Your Pet Stomach This?

Can Your Dog Stomach This?There's an old adage that says... Read More

Pets Looking for Humans, Humans Looking for Pets

Attention breeders, livestock owners and pet lovers! *Pets looking for... Read More

Dog House Training: Straightforward Advice

Making sure that accidents don't happen in the first place... Read More

Choosing Dog Tags for Your Canine

Remember when you first met your dog? He was fresh... Read More

Mind Over Matter

Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More

Tips on Hamster Breeding

Hamster breeding can sometimes be confusing for a hamster owner.... Read More

How I Get More Training Done On My Horses In 1/2 The Time

Here's a simple way... to help your horse learn twice... Read More

Clicker Training For Dogs: Positive Reinforcement Training

There is nothing more adorable than a new puppy. Large... Read More

Pet Peeve: Dogs Doing Business Where Not Wanted

We've recently moved into a new apartment complex that really... Read More

Dog Vomiting? Help Your Dog Now

In most cases you should not be too concerned about... Read More

Rules of Thumb for Saddle Fit

In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More

Universal Principles For Successful Dog Training

Dog training is not rocket science and is not as... Read More