Teach Your Dog To Always Come When Called

Teaching your dog to come when you call it is very important and in fact it could be a life-saving exercise. Teaching this command should start early when the dog is a young puppy and before it learns that it doesn't have to come.

Most people get in the habit of taking their puppy outside to do its business without a leash. That works fine when the puppy is very young but as it starts getting older it realizes that there's a big world out there that's worth exploring and guess what, you can't catch him.

So one of the very first things you should do with your puppy is getting it used to a collar and leash. When you take your puppy outside to do its business, always do it with the collar and leash. This way your puppy learns to come when you call it because you can actually pull it in with the leash and it learns it can't runaway. So that becomes its habit.

One thing to keep in mind is that your puppy needs a reason to come when you call it. There are actually three different things that your puppy would probably love when it comes. It can be lots of praise, a toy, and even a treat will work as a reward.

Even though I'm not a treat trainer I love using treats to teach a dog to come when it's called. Basically what you're going to do is use the dog's name and the command come, simply Fido come. When he comes to you he has to sit and then he is rewarded with a treat. Make that treat something special that really motivates him to come when you call him.

I've had clients use everything from small pieces of steak, string beans out of a can, small pieces of chicken and even tiny pieces of cheese. You simply need to find out what treat turns your dog on and which treat is most desirable to him.

You can make this a game for the entire family. Family members can position themselves in different rooms and take turns calling the dog. Once this exercise is working well in the house then you can move it to the fenced in backyard. Again family members position themselves in different corners of the yard and call the dog and give him his reward when he comes.

What you are doing is creating a real strong habit. So that when he hears his name and the command come, he knows that there's always something good in it for him. So the question is how many times do we do this? There isn't a true answer; you may need to do it hundreds or even thousands of times to create the really strong habit.

When your dog is doing this really well then you can start rewarding him sometimes with his treat and other times with physical praise. If you've laid the proper groundwork and done the exercise enough times it should now be a habit and your dog should come when it's called.

One golden rule; never punish a dog that finally comes to you, it will teach him not to come.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Teach-Your-Dog-To-Always-Come-When-Called&id=8341656

Leash Training Your Dog - 4 Tips

It is not going to be easy to get your dog to take the leash. After all, your pet does realize that somewhere it's a clamping down on his freedom. Your dog will resist, in ways you've never imagined, posing major risks to oneself.

Patience is the key here. It is a lot easier to train a puppy to use the leash than an adult dog. Nevertheless, these are a few tips you could use.

1. Choose the right collar and leash -

They might all look the same, but there's one for every type of dog. A flat, lightweight nylon collar and leash works the best for pups. You can always upgrade later. The collar should not be too loose and neither too tight. What's the right size? You should be able to insert too fingers beneath the collar, easily.

2. Introduce him to the collar and leash -

Now that you've picked the right collar, you've got to get him to wear it. Gently slip it around his neck while playing or when eating. The point is to have a few distractions around to divert the mind from the new item. Despite this, if he notices the collar and tries hard to remove it, distract him by bringing out a favorite toy or offering some treats.

After your furry companion has familiarized himself with the collar, attach the leash. However, don't tug at the end. The tension might cause him to have a temper tantrum or refuse. Let him play with the loose end. Make sure you always supervise your pet if he is running lose with the leash on to avoid entanglements.

When you start out, don't expect to wear your pet to wear the collar and leash for long. Always try to associate the collar and leash with something positive.

3. Praise and reward -

For every time, your dog obeys your command reward him with a treat. This kind of positive reinforcement will really ease the leash training process. You can offer treats when he walks at heel, when he does not lunge or when he does not pull at the collar. Keep the treats small as too much food could also be a major distraction. Hold the treat at a reachable level so that your puppy or dog is not jumping for it.

4. Call him to come -

While playing with your dog, lift the leash and gently tug at it, while commanding him to come to you. You can hold the end of the leash and gently stand still or kneel down and pet him. You can use verbal cues to help your pet understand what's coming.

Once you have got him to come at your command, you can practise loose leash walking your dog with the leash on. Get him to walk by your side slowly. Stop after a few steps, get him to sit and give him a reward. You can gradually cut back on the rewards, like giving him a reward after every second stop.

It's now time to take your dog out; first your backyard and garden and then the public park. If your dog tries to lunge or pull, stop to indicate that the behavior is unapproved of.

Different dogs react differently to the whole process, with some accepting it easily and others giving it a real tough battle. Just stick it out for a while and your pet will gradually obey you. If all doesn't work, you can enlist the help of a professional dog trainer.




Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Leash-Training-Your-Dog---4-Tips&id=9417012