Dog Obedience Training
We all have rules that we must follow. These rules can come from our government or can be self-imposed rules to guide our behavior. Dog’s are much the same, in that they must have rules to follow. Dog obedience training helps to show the dog how they should act and in what manner they must react to outside stimuli. Just as our past influences our current behavior, a dog’s behavior develops in much the same way.
There are a variety of places a pet can come from. It may be as a puppy from a professional breeder or it could be from an animal rescue organization. He or she can also come to you later on in their doggy years as a result of the owners moving and being forced to get rid of the animal, or from the local pound. If you get your companion as a grown dog, it may have had training. You can get an initial idea of the dog behavior by observing the animal when you go to pick her, or him, up.
Dog aggression manifests itself by visual cues most often. The tail will not be wagging and the dog will have a rigid stance. It may or may not growl at you. Some dogs receive no dog obedience training and perhaps have never been given the chance to develop social skills. So some dogs have a natural hesitancy when it comes to strangers. You must take this into consideration before immediately getting too close to a strange canine. Let him sniff the back of your hand by slowly extending it towards the dog. Do not be offended if it sniffs and then backs off. The animal could have come from an abusive situation.
Once the pet is in your possession you must immediately start working on the obedience lessons. You have to establish yourself as the dog’s Alpha. In the wild or in groups of canines, the Alpha is the leader. He or she is the dominant one of the pack. You must be dominant over your dog in order to have the dog obedience lessons stick.
Dog obedience training applies to all aspects of the dog’s life, as well as your own. He must always know that you are the boss and that he must follow the rules. These rules could be about house training, walking on a leash, drinking from the toilet, begging for food from the dining room table or showing aggression towards other people or smaller animals. However, because a dog will naturally bond with their master, they will often be a protector. For example, if a dog perceives danger from a stranger, he or she will often show signs of aggression as a way to protect their owner or family.
Dogs, like many animals, can be great companions. A dog can be your best friend or an incredible pain in the neck. Most cases of a dog being a pain are the ones that were never given dog obedience training. Before you bring a pet home, make sure you do some research. Besides knowing about the breed you select, you should find out how you can train your dog or at least find someone who can help you with this aspect. Your pet will appreciate it and so will your neighbors.
Pets Editor
Dog Fancy Magazine – Dog Fancy Magazine is dedicated to the care and enjoyment of pet dogs. Each issue features articles about canine health, dog nutrition, dog behavior and dog breeding.
