Dog Training: Obedience Training For Dogs

Most people adore their animal companions. But not all moments are happy when your dog isn’t trained to behave a certain way or quit doing destructive behaviours.

Several techniques have been handed down from unexplained origins for training your dog to behave better. But what is the best method to implement these techniques?

Find the most common ways to train a dog and the ones you should never use.

How to train a dog effectively.

There are two standard methods for training dogs.

The first method is aversive-based. The second method is based on rewards. Aversive-based (discipline) training uses your dog’s positive punishment and negative reinforcement techniques. Using reward-based training methods, you only praise your dog for the actions you want him to take.

Aversive-based training uses techniques like loud, unpleasant noises, physical corrections, and harsh reprimands to get your dog to behave the way you desire. However, reward-based training gives your dog a treat when it obediently follows your instructions. Treats, belly rubs, and other dog-pleasing actions reward positive behaviour.

Different experts prefer one method to the other. Which one you choose to utilize is entirely up to you.

Some people believe using a rewards-based training method will give your dog an “event sequence” where they associate your behaviour with pleasant feelings. Aversive-based techniques, on the other hand, cause people to fear you. Your dog obeys commands out of dread and to avoid being uncomfortable.

Understand Your Dog’s Learning Cycle

Similar to kids, dogs pick things up rapidly. Their level of intelligence is comparable to that of a human toddler. They are just concerned with the immediate consequences. As they get older, they begin to understand our words. Some intelligent animal breeds can reply to up to 250 questions! However, every dog responds to our voice’s tone more so than the actual words.

Scientists have identified three different subcategories of dog intelligence:

• Instinctive
• Adaptive
• Action and obedience

Your dog will learn the bred behaviours instinctively. Adaptive learning describes how much your dog uses their surroundings to overcome problems. Work and obedience help them learn the tasks and commands you teach them.

Suppose you want your dog to be obedient. In that case, you should focus on training them using obedience techniques and the specific behaviours you want from them. There is proof that both reward-and aversive-based training is practical. If you want to train your dog to be a loving pet, you should consider reward-based obedience training. Using this method, your dog won’t develop fear-based reactions. In actuality, it deepens your friendly relationship with them.

Rewards for Training in Obedience

Dogs are smart enough to learn the desired behaviours. They are also intelligent enough to figure out what they can get away with.

One of the best ways to train a dog to exhibit a specific behaviour is to give it affection, praise, or treats. Most importantly, it would help if you gave them the reward they want the most. Treats might be more beneficial than praise if kids are driven by food. Your affection might be the best reward if they try to get your attention.

Constantly rewarding your dog for the desired behaviour should be your primary focus. Never reward bad behaviour. When your dog displays the desired behaviour, it should get its reward. They become confused if you ask a dog to lie down and then wait to give them a treat until they rise back up. They won’t be conscious of the behaviour for which the reward was provided.

Effectively control the consequences.

When you utilize reward-based training, your dog has to understand that there are consequences for performing in a way you don’t like. When consequences misbehave, the result is that their reward is denied.

For instance, a dog that likes to jump up to greet its humans as they enter the house can be dangerous to an older adult. To teach them not to jump up at you:

1. Do not greet or pay them attention if they do.
   2. Turn around and leave through the door again as soon as the dog starts to jump up.
   3. Hold a treat in your hand as you perform this.

Reward your dog when they don’t jump up when you enter by repeating the exercise until they don’t. Try it out on all the people who come to your house, which your dog jumps up to greet. This guarantees that people will praise your dog for acting appropriately.

Developing new abilities

When teaching your dog anything new, remember that they have a two-year-old’s attention span and intelligence. Your training sessions should be brief and to the point. Give each just 15 minutes. They focus on a single task or behaviour to keep them from becoming confused.

To get the desired behaviour, ensure you’re using the identical commands. If you use the same word repeatedly but in different sentences, your dog might not understand. For instance, using the commands “Lie down” during one training session and “Fido, lie down or no treat” at a later time won’t help you train your dog to lie down. They might not know what to do.

Basic Training for Dog Obedience

Every dog should understand the American Kennel Club’s five foundational commands. the following

• • Come
  • Heel
  • Sit
  • Stay
  • Down