You need to mold your dog into the family member
you want him to be - where obedience and instant response
will allow a relationship for you and your pet that
is free from stress and frustration.
This article will deal only with training dogs between
six months of age and older. There is a difference in
training techniques when teaching a dog below the age
of six months, and that age group will require methods
specifically intended for puppies.
Teaching a six-month-old dog with kindergarten methods
would be an insult to his intelligence, much like a
college student would be offended if his instructor
talked to him using child-like teaching techniques.
Similarly, a six-year-old child would achieve nothing
sitting in a classroom listening to a professor explaining
the theory of relativity.
Setting Positive Attitudes While Training
Your Dog
If your dog's training periods each day consist of
nothing but commands, I can assure you that a negative
attitude will develop from your pet. His daily routine
is now being changed to include training sessions. It
is up to you, his owner, to make these training periods
something that your dog will enthusiastically look forward
to.
You can achieve this simply by communicating verbally
with the dog during training periods. Here lies another
key that will spell the difference between mediocre
and excellent performance from your dog. By communicating
verbally doesnˆ‚t mean the usual "Heel" and "Sit"commands.
Literally talk to your dog.
Say something like "Good Boy.. You're doing a great
job! Come on boy, you can do it..."etc.
Although your dog has no idea what you are saying,
two things are actually taking place while you're talking
to him. First, your enthusiastic and warm tone of voice
reflects your positive attitude and motivates your dog
into doing a great job in order to please you.
Second, this motivation then triggers a positive attitude
in your dog. Commands, on the other hand, should be
given in a completely different tone of voice. They
should, in fact, sound like commands, and not requests.
They are then followed by enthusiastic and loving praise
as soon as the dog follows the command or when shown
what his correct response should have been.
Keep in mind that the most important key to the success
of your dog's training is communication. Talk to him,
reflect your positive attitude in the tone of your voice
and your dog will reflect his positive attitude in the
excited way he welcomes each day's training session.
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