How to Train your Dog

Training a dog can be a very difficult and time-consuming task; however, the benefits you can get from it far outweigh the temporary inconvenience. Once you get a dog, the training should begin immediately no matter the dog's age if you want them to learn to obey you.

Getting your dog to learn it's name is very important in the rest of its training. Always call the dog by its name, and once they start responding to it, you can give them a treat every once in a while if they give you their attention. Do not wear out their name, or in other words do not say their name every five seconds because eventually they will start ignoring it. Once they know their name you should use it always to get their attention before scolding, before feeding, before saying a command, and to get them to return to you.

If you have adopted an adult dog that is already potty trained, then this section will not apply, but if you have a puppy then this is where you should start.

Potty training can be a very annoying part of a dog owner's experience, but it is essential if you want your dog to be able to stay indoors for any period of time. The only way to potty train a dog is to scold them (gently but with a serious voice) whenever they go potty indoors. I recommend after scolding to pick up the dog and point at their mess to show them what they did was wrong and then putting them outside. Continue to do this whenever they potty in the house and eventually they will remember it and hold it, or try to tell you whenever they need to go. Some breeds are quicker at potty training than others. For example, shiba inus can practically potty train themselves because they like to be clean. Once you are finished celebrating that your dog no longer leaves you "presents" in your house, you will be able to move on to the next part of training.

More Dog Potty Training Tips

This training usually goes without saying, but once you allow your puppy to wander the house freely, you must teach them where they are allowed to be and how to act when a stranger comes into the house. If you do not want them on the furniture then make sure to scold them whenever they get on it. If you did not want a watch dog, then scold them if they bark continuously at things through the windows.

When people they are not familiar with enter the house, do not allow your dogs to jump up onto them. This is quickly corrected in big dogs because, obviously, not many people want a huge dog jumping on them, but in small dogs this can actually be an issue. If a small dog gets up on their hind legs and puts their paws on guests coming in, then this can actually be them trying to display that the house is their territory. It is usually not considered bad behavior in small dogs because it is cute, but not correcting it can cause them to be much more stubborn if you are trying to teach them tricks later.

Another common issue is that of chewing up furniture. This is usually a sign of boredom. If this starts to occur, get your dog a chew toy or bone to entertain them while you are gone. Also, in order to avoid aggression towards other dogs, make sure to socialize them with other dogs while they are still puppies. Lastly, if your dog likes to dig, make sure to scold them when you see them, but unfortunately the best way to make sure they don't dig their way out of your yard is by burying part of the fence underground. I have never owned a dog that liked to dig, but I honestly do not know of a way to teach them not to unless you stared at them until they started digging and then scolded them.

Many dogs do not like being on leashes, but it is important that they get accustomed to it. I suggest having a choker collar of some sort, as it is the best way to teach the dog how to behave, and it makes it easier on you because the dog won't pull as hard. Usually while walking, you keep the dog to your left side at all times. It is okay to stop and wait for them to sniff things, but do not allow them to pull you into running. If they getting going to fast, give a little tug on the leash to tell them to slow down. If they try to go over to your right side, exaggerate your walk and nudge them back to the left with your knees. It is never a good idea to pick up your dog if they start barking at another. To a dog, height is everything and if you pick your dog up, it's like your telling your dog "Good job! you won!", and it could make the other dog more aggressive the next time they meet.

More Dog Walking Tips

You honestly do not have to begin teaching your dog these commands until they are about 6 or 7 months old.

Sit- Say the word "sit" while pushing down on the dog's butt or while pushing back on the dog's chest until they are in a sitting position. Reward them with a small treat after every sit. Make sure to give them lots of praise once they begin to sit on their own without you pushing, but still continue to give treats as long as you feel necessary.

Stay- Tell your dog to sit and once they are doing that say "stay" in a firm voice. Slowly back away from your dog. Once you are at least 5 feet away, return to your dog and give them a treat and lots of praise. If they come to you before you return, say "no" and start the process over.

Lie Down- Tell you dog to sit and once they are doing that say "lie down" or just "down" depending on what you want the word to be. While saying "down", bend down on your knees and point at the ground in front of you dog. If they do not lie down, repeat the word and gently push down on their shoulders. Once they are down, give them a treat and praise, and get them to stand up again in order to start over.

These are a little bit more impressive than the typical commands, and should be taught when your dog is about 1 year old or more.

Speak/Quiet- With a treat in hand, say the word "speak" until your dog barks. Once they do, immediately give them the treat and lots of praise. Then repeat the speak until they bark, but then say "Shhh" and reward them for getting quiet.

Shake-Simply pick up your dog's paw and say "shake" while you do it. Eventually they will start offering their paw when you say shake. Once this happens keep grabbing their paw as they offer it and give lots of treats and praise.

Play Dead- Tell your dog to lie down and then have them roll over onto their side. Push their head down onto the floor and say "play dead". If they pick up their head before you call their name, say "no" and push it back down again.

Spin- While your dog is standing, face your dog and move your hand in a giant circle around them. They should spin around trying to follow your hand.

Roll Over- While your dog is lying down, face your dog and move your hand in a semicircle over their shoulders. They should roll onto their back, and then continue to do it until they finish the roll. While they are rolling say the words "roll over" but do not repeat it more than once during the movement.

Once you have mastered everything on this page, Congratulations!  You won't need to do any more training with your dog, but you should continue to practice the tricks and take regular walks in order for them to remain comfortable with everything you have taught them.