5 Basic Dog Commands For A Happier Dog
Read on to discover the five basic dog training commands and why it is so important your dog learns them.
There are many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, and less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs.
Another reason is that many communities require that the dogs living in their neighbourhoods be well-trained. This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behaviour problems – such as pit bulls and rottweilers.
Training your dog well will also make him or her a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behaviour problems encountered by dog-owning households.
When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic dog commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained.
The 5 Basic Dog Commands
You’ll find the steps, including video tutorials, for the five basic dog commands (and many more) within the Dog Training Planner.
Basic Command 1: Heel
It is important that any dog learn to heel beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind.
Basic Command 2: Respond to the word “No”
The word No is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.
Basic Command 3: Sit
Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.
Basic Command 4: Stay
A well-trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so learning the stay command is a very important command in dog training.
Basic Command 5: Lie Down
Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick. It is a key component of any successful dog training program.
4 Reasons To Start Training Your Dog
Reason 1: Strengthens Bond
Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion.
Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.
Reason 2: Pack Leader
Establishing yourself as a pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behaviour problems.
A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands without anxiety or confusion. A dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviours.
Reason 3: Dog’s Needs Fulfilled
In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfil some of the dog’s own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.
Reason 4: Dogs Love Work
Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think.
Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behaviour.
Basic obedience training, and ongoing dog training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high-energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Dog training sessions are a great way for these high-energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply enjoy themselves.
Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all-important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.
Before you go, read on to discover the secret sauce to dog training success...
Loving Leadership
Have a philosophy of loving leadership when training your dog.
As a loving leader, you should be constantly working on the communication pathways with your dog. At the bare minimum, your dog should also have some basic commands such as the lie-down command, sit command, and stay command.
When your dog knows a few basic dog obedience commands he or she will feel loved because they know what you want and have no anxiety or fear about what they should be doing and when.
Once your dog has a few commands under his or her belt (I mean, collar), practice behaviour dog training, command dog training and tricks dog training regularly to ensure your dog is physically and mentally healthy. As you are probably acutely aware, untrained dogs have a way of taking over the control of a home if not taught otherwise (which can be a nightmare). A trained dog, however, will bring years of doggie love to your household.
Pssst. Don't tell anyone, but you can become a loving leader by getting your paws on my Dog Training Planner. You can get my Dog Training Planner for a limited time at a 70% discount.
