Basic obedience training for dogs
Basic obedience training is at the very beginning of training a dog. The most important commands include: Sit, Down, Stay, Come, Here, Off, No.
Dog experts repeatedly point out how important basic obedience training is for dogs to develop cognitive and social skills. It is easy to teach a dog basic commands, besides this is very beneficial for his education.
Basic obedience training
Obedience is very important in dog training, but it must be remembered that it is only a small part of dog training.
There are different levels and types of dog training. The breed and task of the dog must be taken into account:
- Service dog: guide dog, police dog, rescue dog…
- Breeds for dog sports
- House and companion dog
The basic obedience training is at the very beginning of the training of a dog. The most important commands include: Sit, down, stay, come, here, off, no…
These commands are used to train pets and professional animals. Training a service dog also starts with basic exercises reinforced by play, but goes far beyond them.
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Basic obedience training: the importance of positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is very important to encourage the dog to learn and behave correctly. You can use it to train obedience, even with very independent dogs.
To teach your dog the most important obedience rules, you should praise and reward him when he performs them correctly. Here's how to improve the animal's ability to learn and socialize. It also strengthens his self-confidence.
The reward must always be immediate so that the dog associates it with the specific behavior. As soon as the four-legged friend performs a command correctly, you give him the positive reinforcement.
However, you must follow certain criteria to prevent the dog from unconsciously getting into the habit of wrong behavior. The dog must not get used to receiving a reward for every behavior!
Force is always counterproductive and out of place
Negative or dominant methods try to achieve the goal by instilling fear in the animal. Obedience is then an obligatory response to physical and emotional pressure. The consequences are reflected in the mental health and well-being of the animals.
It has also been proven that violence is counterproductive and does not improve behavior and obedience in dogs at all. Maltreated and abused dogs suffer from deep traumas, which blocks their cognitive ability.
It can also help them develop aggressive behavior to defend themselves.
For all these reasons, it is fundamental to train a dog by positive reinforcement and not by force.
6 Tips for basic dog obedience training
1. Consistency
Consistency is very important in the education of a pet. The dog must learn to comply with the commands, which requires patience and some effort.
If the owner doesn't have time to spare, he should consult a professional dog trainer.
2. Time
It is generally recommended to spend 10 minutes every day practicing obedience exercises with the dog. Too much is counterproductive, the dog will become inattentive over time.
3. How to carry out the training?
Basic obedience exercises must be trained one at a time so the dog can understand and integrate them. It is best to spend 3 to 10 days at a time practicing one command.
The time it takes a dog to learn a command is different for each animal and, of course, depends on the trainer. Some breeds learn very quickly. For example, the Border Collie can learn a new command every day if taught properly.
4. Positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is the best way to teach obedience to the dog. You shouldn't always use dog cookies or treats though, positive reinforcement can just as easily come from petting, a game or other activities.
5. The suitable place
To avoid distractions, the right place must be chosen. Especially with puppies this is very important. There should not be too many external incentives (z.B. noise, music, other dogs, smells of food…).
6. Repeat the learned commands
Basic is also to use one or two days a week to repeat already learned commands. Otherwise, the animal may forget the commands again or confuse them with others, making obedience difficult.
The contents of Your Animals are intended for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for professional diagnosis, advice or treatment. If you have concerns or questions, it is best to consult a trusted professional.