Have you ever wished you could train your dog the way they are trained in professional obedience schools that you see on television or in your neighborhood dog training obedience schools? Home dog training is very possible for even the average dog owner, and you don’t necessarily need dog obedience classes to have a well trained dog. Pet obedience is within the reach of all dog owners if they just learn proper techniques.

While free dog training is very possible if you want to do-it-yourself you must first dispel many of the myths that surround dog training. Once you understand the truth behind dog behavior (the stuff they teach you at expensive obedience schools) you will be able to have the dog of your dreams.

These are all things I often hear about obedience training a dog. Some of them MAY have some truth but none of them are absolutely true:

1- You need to wait until a puppy is at least 4/6/8 months to start obedience training- Truth be told, you can start obedience training your puppy from the moment he gets home. Don’t ask too much at eight weeks of age but get started right away.

2- You can’t obedience train an older dog- I almost prefer an older dog when doing obedience training. Older dogs have developed bodies, developed minds, and developed nervous systems. What that means in relation to training is that you can ask for high level of obedience from an older dog.

3- Obedience training should be done only with treats- Treats are great tools for reward. When they are used as a basis for a training program they are most often ineffective versus big distractions. Think about it, if your dog is chasing after a cat going towards a busy street is he going to continue chasing the cat or return to you to get a little treat? Chances are he will continue chasing the cat towards disastrous results.

4- Obedience training should be done only with discipline. If you use only disciplinary measures in training a dog you may end up with a dog that is obedient. You will also end up with a dog that obeys out of fear.

5- Certain dogs can’t be trained- I have never met a dog that could not be trained. The only dog that theoretically couldn’t be trained at minimum to an adequate level would be a dog with a chemical imbalance in their brain. This type of dog is rare.

At pet obedience classes and your neighborhood dog obedience school you can find out how to dispel more myths about how to train a dog. If you are looking for FREE dog training, though, it is recommended that you search your library, the internet, and dozens of other resources to learn the best way to get your dog to be obedient without going to obedience classes.



By: Ty Brown

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For more information about this subjest visit Top 10 Dogs for kids

Have you made a good decision to take your puppy to Puppy Training School and here are some tips on how to prepare for the first class.

Dress in casual comfortable clothes as you will be totally involved in the training of your puppy and it is not unusual to have to sit on the floor with your puppy. Also wear shoes with low heels and soft soles. As skirts tend to flap in a dog’s face it is a good idea to wear trousers if possible and you will also need a pocket or waist bag for tit-bits. These tips will help you prepare your puppy too.

To ensure that your puppy is comfortable wearing a collar start placing one on it long before the first day at school. You don’t want an over excited puppy arriving at school on its first day, so if you need to take the puppy by car to the venue ensure that the puppy is used to travelling in the car. It is advisable to take the puppy for short rides in the car a few days prior to starting school so that it gets used to it.

It is not a good idea to feed your puppy just before leaving for class. If their meal time is due rather feed it an hour or so before you leave and then let it spend time in the garden so that it can do its business. The last thing you want is to have to clean up accidents in the middle of class! By arriving at the Puppy School in good time will help your puppy as it will then have time to get acquainted with the area, have another run around outside and greet the other puppies attending the class.

You will I am sure find that there are a variety of dogs attending the same puppy class, but this will not be a problem if your puppy is already used to socializing with other dogs. Be prepared to give the puppy a lot of reassurance and love as it may be a little nervous if your puppy is not used to other dogs. I recommend choosing a spot next to another puppy of similar size to your own. It really is important if you have enrolled your puppy at Puppy School for a full course that you attend all the classes with your puppy.

Even if your puppy is not well, it will still be worth your while to attend the class without your puppy so that you can teach it what it missed at home prior to the next class. Be sure to give your puppy lots of praise during and at the end of each class and remember to do your homework before the next lesson and practice what you both have learnt in the training when you get home.

Consistency in training a puppy is very important share the commands and training techniques that you learnt at the puppy school with the other members of your family so that you all use the same commands and avoid confusing the puppy.

By: Cynthia Minnaar

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For more information about this subjest visit Puppy Training Course