Free Dog Training Instructions

New pets arrive home with little understand of what their owners want or need from them. While older dogs may come into the home with some knowledge of rules, even these pets need continued diligence to ensure that they are well-behaved members of the family. Puppies can be especially difficult to deal with because of their short attention spans. With patience and love, any dog can be trained to obey the house rules and become an obedient pet.

Begin training your dog as early as possible. Pam Young, a licensed veterinary technician, certified dog behavior consultant and certified pet dog trainer, recommends that training begin as soon as the new dog or puppy comes home. Very young puppies will only have the patience for short training sessions--- 5 to 10 minutes long. These sessions can be increased to 15 minutes when the puppy is 6 to 8 weeks old. By the time your puppy is 9 to 12 weeks of age, he can attend training classes.

Many people believe that using a rolled up newspaper or rubbing the dog's nose in accidental puddles will teach the dog the correct behaviors. In fact, these actions may teach your pet to fear your hand. Instead, use positive reinforcement to teach your dog right from wrong. Shower your dog with praise and reward him with treats when he shows good behavior.

When a dog is learning new commands and behaviors, your words sound like a foreign language to him. This is why it is important to always use the correct tone of voice. When giving a command, use a firm but calm voice. The tone should be neutral. Use words that are short and to the point and never state a command as though it is a question, with a rise in tone at the end. When praising your dog, use a higher pitched voice that is upbeat and happy. Use a deep, stern and gravelly voice for punishments and admonishments. Young advises that "A correct tone of voice can stop a dog in his tracks." This is more effective that physical punishment.

Whether you are working on house training, simple commands or more complex behaviors, the key to successful dog training is dedication and consistency. Work with your dog at least once a day. Stick to 15 to 20 minute sessions. If you can, set these training sessions for the same time and location each day. Always work in a quiet area with no distractions. Even when you aren't working in a training session, reward and punish your dog's behavior consistently and immediately. If your dog is chewing on something, take it away and tell him "no" immediately. Your scolding will lose its significance if you only punish him when you find the chewed item days later.

Teaching your dog to use the bathroom outside is one of the most important parts of obedience training. This needs to happen as soon as the new pet comes home. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends the following process for house training. First, feed your dog on a regular schedule and remove food when it isn't meal time. Anticipate accidents by watching for sniffing, pacing and whining and take the dog outside immediately at the first sign that he needs to go. Confine the dog to a small crate any time that he cannot be watched. When you take your dog outside, go to the same place every time and praise him as soon as he goes to the bathroom. Take your dog for regular walks after meals and about once an hour throughout the day. If you see your dog use the bathroom inside, reprimand him loudly and take him outside immediately. Clean up any accidents with a cleaner formulated for pet stains. This will prevent your dog from returning to this indoor spot in the future. When repeated consistently, these actions should successfully house train your dog.