#### 1. Establish Leadership
Before you dive into teaching specific commands, it’s vital to establish yourself as the leader in your relationship with your dog. Dogs are naturally pack animals and respond well to a clear hierarchy. By establishing leadership, you provide security and structure for your dog. Utilize consistent rules and boundaries, maintain calm-assertive energy, and ensure that you lead by example.
#### 2. Choose the Right Training Methods
Dog training involves various techniques, and what works for one dog may not work for another. The most popular methods include:
– **Positive Reinforcement:** This technique involves rewarding desired behavior with treats, praise, or playtime, promoting repetition of these behaviors.
– **Clicker Training:** A form of positive reinforcement where a clicker is used to mark the correct behavior immediately as it happens.
– **Modeling:** Showing or guiding the dog to perform the desired behavior.
– **Mirror Method:** Based on the concept that dogs learn from observing other well-trained dogs in action.
Experiment with different methods to see which one your dog responds best to.
#### 3. Basic Commands
Training should always start with basic commands as these form the foundation for more advanced skills.
– **Sit:** Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose and slowly move it up, allowing his head to follow the treat causing his bottom to lower. Once he’s in sitting position, say “Sit,” give him the treat, and share affection.
– **Come:** Put a leash and collar on your dog. Go down to his level and say “Come,” while gently pulling on the leash. When he gets to you, reward him with affection and a treat.
– **Down:** Find a particularly good smelling treat, hold it in your closed hand near your pooch’s snout. When he sniffs it, move your hand to the floor so he follows. Slide your hand along the ground in front of him encouraging his body down. Once down, say “Down,” give him the treat, then show affection.
– **Stay:** Ask your dog to “Sit.” Then open the palm of your hand in front of you, say “Stay” and take a few steps back. If he stays put, reward him with a treat and affection upon returning.
– **Leave It:** Place treats in both hands — show one enclosed fist with treats inside (to be left alone), saying “Leave it.” Let them lick at this closed fist without opening up for any reason until they stop trying; then reward them from another fist or pocket instead.
#### 4. Socialization
Socializing means exposing your pup positively from an early age (ideally within their first three months) towards different people, animals scenarios etc., which significantly reduces fearfulness & increases their adaptability & emotional stability across situations throughout their lifespan.
#### 5. Consistency is Key
Dogs learn through repetition; thus consistency through commands use rewards even schedules (feeding walking etc.). Regular short sessions spread across weeks usually yield better results than occasional long training marathons which can lead towards frustration both sides involved trainer & trainee alike due temperaments clashing during such intensive periods without breaks.