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Guide On Obedience Training For Dogs

November 22, 2019 by Mary Telesz

If you’re a dog owner, then you know that your dog can be your best friend. But if you have an untrained or disobedient dog, then your best friend can also be your worst nightmare. Untrained dogs will often bark at all hours, jump up on guests, make messes in the house, and generally be a non-stop nuisance.

Obedience Training DogFortunately, dogs are intelligent animals that respond well to obedience training. Obedience training gives dogs the clear boundaries and predictable routines they crave. They want to know who’s in charge and what they need to do to please their owners. Well-trained dogs are happier dogs, which means their owners are happier and less stressed as well.

For your dog to be considered obedient, it must respond reliably each time you give it a command. If you’re ready to train your dog, but you don’t know where to start, then check out this quick guide on obedience training for dogs.

Is There Any Equipment I Needed to Train My Dog?

Two essential items that you’ll need before you start training your dog is a dog collar, or a harness that fits your dog comfortably, and a strong leash. Be sure to use a leash that is at a fixed length and not a retractable leash, as they are not ideal for training. Finally, get a supply of your dog’s favorite treats. Rewarding your dog for appropriate behavior is an essential element in the obedience training process.

What are the Most Common Obedience Training Methods?

There are two basic methods when it comes to training your dog:

1. Positive reinforcement:

With this method, you reward the behaviors you want to see in your dog and ignore the behaviors you don’t like. Treats and/or praises are effective rewards because they are immediate. Your dog will quickly learn that it’ll be rewarded for doing things correctly and will be more likely to repeat those good behaviors. Dogs aim to please!

2. Clicker training:

Training DogThis method is more effective than just treats alone. A “clicker” makes a gentle clicking sound when pressed and can be purchased at any pet store. When your dog performs the desired command, click first, then give it a treat. Once the dog learns the positive effects of the clicking sound, the treats will no longer be needed. Just the click alone is the positive reinforcement.

How Often Should I Train My Dog?

Training sessions should occur 2 or 3 times per day and last no more than 15 minutes. Puppies have short attention spans, and older dogs can get bored, so there’s no need to try and stretch out training sessions. In fact, longer sessions will be counterproductive.

What Commands Should I Teach My Dog?

Teach your dog only one command per session to avoid confusion. Sit, stay, and come are all basic commands that you’re probably already familiar with. This guide on obedience training for dogs recommends you also teach these additional commands:

  • Look: Get your dog to focus on you, no matter what distractions are present.
  • With me: Have your dog return to your side if it’s pulling its leash during a walk.
  • Leave it: Keep your dog from approaching an item you don’t want it to touch.
  • Wait: Make sure your dog stays put after you open the crate or car door.
  • Drop it: Have your dog drop anything in its mouth, whether it’s a favorite shoe or something that could endanger your dog.
  • Come: Have your unleashed dog immediately come to you.

How Do I Deal with Misbehavior?

Dog Obedience TrainingOf course, training your dog is a process and you should expect to have to deal with some common behavioral problems along with way. The best way to correct any misbehavior is to interrupt it as soon as you see it happening. Shift your dog’s attention to something positive and reward your dog when it successfully corrects its behavior.

A common mistake is to punish or yell at your dog during training. You should never strike your dog. This will only cause confusion and cause your dog to become nervous around you.

Eventually, successful training will be achieved with patience and consistency. This is perhaps the most important point you can take away from this entire guide on obedience training for dogs.

Want to Learn More About Obedience Training for Dogs?

If you need more guidance on obedience training for dogs or you need professional pet services, then contact Paw Pals. Paw Pals offers a range of highly customizable and flexible services to accommodate your schedule, including dog walking, pet sitting, medication administration, dog waste removal, pet transportation, pet supply delivery, and more. Our experienced staff members will treat your pets with exceptional care during each and every visit. Contact Paw Pals today to learn more about how we can help you and your pets.

Filed Under: Pet Advice

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Centreville – 20120, 20121
Chantilly – 22151
Clifton – 20124
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Reston – 20191, 20190

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
5.0
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
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