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For guide dog puppy raisers how to teach your dog good behavior is a given. In fact there are three main tenets we are expected to teach our pups:
- Basic Obedience
- Socialization
- Good House Manners
In today’s blog post, Charlie and Harley will focus on #1. Basic Obedience.
UPDATE: This post was published on MyDogLikes (originally on Animal Bliss) on April 3rd, 2020. We recently updated and republished here on PuppyInTraining.com.
Do you have an unruly dog?
Is he a master of selective hearing while you’re screaming your lungs out for him to “come, sit or stay?”
Is he happily chasing a squirrel across the street with cars coming from both ways? It’s time to teach your dog good behavior.
You cannot expect your dog to heed your commands if he is not trained to do so and to do so consistently.
You can’t expect him to understand those words unless you teach him what they mean. Dogs are smart, and they want to please their owners.
They need your approval. It’s a win-win situation. You’ll be happier, and he’ll be safe.
Obedience training is not rocket science. It just takes a little bit of know-how on your part, consistency, and lots of patience.
Ten or fifteen minutes a day training your pooch will make all the difference in the world. It’s also perfect for bonding with your dog, believe me.
If you decide to go it alone at home, there are some excellent books out there to educate you on the basic commands.
Or, you might consider taking your dog to obedience school, which can be a very good choice.
It’s your chance to learn from professionals and an excellent way to teach your dog socialization skills as well.
Obedience Training Tips
Consistency, Consistency, Consistency – Got that?
I can’t emphasize this enough.
Do NOT spend precious time each day trying to teach your dog good behavior with the “sit” command, for example, and then let him get away with getting up and running away another time.
“Sit” means just that. “Sit!” Expect your dog to make mistakes.
Realize that it will take a couple of weeks for him to learn thoroughly.
But don’t let him get away with disobeying you on a consistent basis.
Otherwise, why should he listen to you?
There’s a squirrel over there!
Not only do you need to stay consist, but your family members must learn this too.
Your dog needs to obey the command from all of you, not just some of you. Be consistent, also, with the words you use in training.
Use the same words for the same tasks each time.
Don’t create the confusion in him by using an entirely different command for the same task.
This is an important point for the entire household.
Praise and Rewards
When you teach your dog good behavior, always praise your pooch for obeying your command correctly.
Make it obvious that you are happy with him.
If you want to use treats as a reward, do so carefully.
You don’t want your dog to be overweight!
You might consider treating your dog now and then, instead of after each and every good job.
He’ll soon associate the treat with the good behavior and be more than willing to abide.
If Fido is just not in the mood, there are too many distractions, or whatever, stop your training and try again later.
Do NOT hit, scold, kick or yell at your dog when he is not complying.
Doing so will only put a negative slant on things and will backfire on you.
It is imperative to make this pleasant for both of you.
Timing
There are things to consider about when is the best time to carve out a time slot for obedience training.
Try to find a time when there are no distractions for your dog.
You want all his attention on you and what you’re saying.
Later, after he starts to understand and have some success, then you can start to teach your dog good behavior anywhere, with other people around, other animals, etc.
Don’t try to train your dog when he is tired, sick, or hungry.
He won’t want to listen to you, and you’ll just get frustrated.
Keep it positive. Dog obedience training requires so much patience, therefore it is best to have you both in the correct frame of mind.
Please, never try to train your dog when you are in a bad mood. It’s not fair to the dog and can only backfire.
Everyone benefits when you teach your dog good behavior.
You and your dog will bond nicely, your friends and neighbors will notice and comment on your dog’s perfect manners.
And, your dog will be safer and happier!
Have you taken your dog to obedience training, or are you doing it yourself?
Top Picks For Our Puppies
- BEST PUPPY TOY
We Like: Calmeroos Puppy Toy w/ Heartbeat and Heat Packs – Perfect for new puppies. Helps ease anxiety in their new home. - BEST DOG CHEW
We Like: Mighty Paw Naturals Bully Sticks – All of our puppies love to bite, nip, and chew. We love using Bully Sticks to help divert these unwanted behaviors. - BEST DOG TREATS
We Like: Crazy Dog Train-Me Treats – We use these as our high-value treats for our guide dog puppies. - BEST FRESH DOG FOOD
We Like: The Farmer’s Dog – A couple months ago we started feeding Raven fresh dog food and she loves it! Get 50% off your first order of The Farmer’s Dog.
Check out more of our favorites on our New Puppy Checklist.
