The basics of obedience
training
Obedience training can be extremely rewarding for both dog and owner.
It can strengthen the bond between the two of you and make your dog a
more enjoyable pet to be around. Besides, knowing even the simplest commands
could save your dog's life. For example, obeying the “stay”
command could prevent your dog from crossing a busy street or entering
any area that could be dangerous. Practice these commands with your dog
during short, daily training sessions for the most effective results.
Sit
This command is used so frequently that your dog might already have some
idea what it means. However, if your dog does not consistently sit when
he hears the command, here's one way you can instruct him.
Take a food treat in your hand, and hold that closed
hand in front of your dog's nose. Move your closed hand toward the back
of your dog's head as you say "sit." As his head goes up and
back to follow the treat, he should sit automatically. Praise your dog
and reward him with the treat. Repeat this exercise until your dog sits
immediately at the command. This command can be practiced throughout the
day. For example, before you put your dog's food bowl down ask him
to sit. Once he does, place his food bowl on the floor and praise him.
Stay
The "stay" command is easy to review with your dog if he understands
the sit command because it's really just a long sit. When your dog
is in the sit position, say "stay," while giving him the open
hand signal. Praise your dog if he maintains his position for a few minutes.
However, don't expect your dog to remain in this position for long
periods of time, or if you leave the room.
Down
If your dog responds to the down command, immediately praise him, and
then practice the command a few more times during different activities.
If your dog doesn't respond to this command, you may have to review
it with a food treat.
Start with your dog in a sitting position. Hold the
treat in your hand. As you give your dog the down command, place the hand
holding the food treat at your dog's nose, and then move your hand
down to the floor. Your dog should follow the treat and lie down. Praise
him and give him the treat. When your dog recognizes the command, you
will not need to use a food treat, but praise is always a good idea. Your
dog wants to please you, and praise helps him understand what you want
him to do.
Come
If your dog is responding well to the down command you can next review
the come command. Start from a stay or down position. Take a few steps
back and say your dog's name and the command "come." Praise
and reward him when he obeys.
This command confuses some dogs, particularly if after
they responded to the command, they were then disciplined. Never call
your dog to scold him or to do anything that he won't like. He will remember
it and could be confused about how to respond the next time he hears the
command.
Heel
This is a difficult command for many dogs, and you may need a professional
trainer to help your dog understand how he should respond. However, it
is a useful command, particularly when walking or jogging with your dog.
A dog that understands the heel command will match his pace to yours,
and he won't pull on his leash or make frequent stops and starts.
With your dog leashed and on your left-hand side, give
him the "sit" command. Give the leash a lot of slack and hold
it in your left hand. While your dog sits at your left side, put a treat
in each hand. Your left hand should be gently clenched, holding the leash
and a treat. Shake your left hand a little to get your dog's attention
to focus on the treat. This slight shake of the hand will be the signal
used to "heel." Take 3 or 4 steps forward and shake your left
hand again, keeping it on the left side. Your dog should follow you with
his nose towards your left hand until you stop. Next, give your dog the
"stay" command and reward him with the treat from your right
hand. Repeat this many times, taking larger amounts of steps, until your
dog understands that when he hears you say "heel" he must follow
on your left side, with his nose towards your left hand.
How
to train your dog using positive reinforcement
The foundations for a happy, well-adjusted dog are laid down during the
early stages of puppyhood with a well structured training program, which
should be fun for both you and your dog. There are many methods of training,
but the most satisfying for both you and your dog are methods based on
positive reinforcement. This means that the dog is rewarded for correct
actions.
To train a dog effectively, you should understand how
dogs learn. Learning, for a dog, consists of trying out new behaviors
and seeing what happens as a consequence of this behavior. 
If
the behavior or action is followed by a good consequence, this behavior
will be repeated. For example, begging at the table is rewarded by getting
food. However, if the behavior is followed by a negative consequence,
the behavior will eventually be stopped. Effective training should work
on the same principle. Training should be a combination of information
(what you want the dog to do), motivation (a reason for your dog to do
it) and timing (when to reward a good action).
Clicker Training is a popular means of training using
positive reinforcement. A clicker is a small plastic box containing a
strip of metal, which produces a 'click' when pressed. The first step
to Clicker Training is finding your dog's motivation. For most dogs, this
tends to be a food treat or play. Next, you must associate a positive
meaning to the 'click', telling the dog “You have done the right
thing and a reward will follow.” This reward needs to be delivered
within seconds to be correctly associated with the action your dog has
just performed.
Here's an example of how Clicker Training can
be used to teach a puppy to sit:
1. Hold a treat in your hand and wait for the
puppy's bottom to touch the floor. Be patient, do not be tempted to give
a command or place the puppy into a sit. Wait until he eventually sits
by himself.
2. As soon as your puppy's bottom touches the floor, click and give him
a snack.
3. Repeat this a number of times in short training sessions in a variety
of locations.
4. Then begin to say "sit" as your puppy's bottom touches the
floor. Continue to give a click and treat. Your dog is now learning that
sit does indeed mean putting his bottom on the floor, because he only
hears this word when he is in a sitting position.
5. After the above has been repeated a number of times (40–80 times
over several short sessions), you can begin to ask your puppy to sit,
i.e. give the command before his bottom is on the floor. Continue giving
a click and a snack as the puppy sits. But only ask your puppy to sit
if you are confident that he will do so.
6. Now that your puppy knows what "sit" means, the clicker is
no longer needed for this command, but carry on rewarding intermittently
with snacks when he sits on command.
There are many methods of training, and Clicker Training
is just one of these. The principle of positive reinforcement should be
applied to all training methods. You should aim to reward everything that
is positive, desirable behavior and ignore any negative, undesirable behavior.
In practice, it is not always easy to ignore all negative behavior. Jumping
up at visitors, for example, is an undesirable behavior, that can be difficult
to ignore. Try to distract your dog from an undesirable behavior by asking
him for a desirable one, for example to sit. If he is then rewarded for
sitting, he will be more motivated to sit rather than to jump up.
