When you bring a new dog home it is important to train the dog to obey the basic commands to ensure your dog understands you are the alpha and leader, as well as to create a good relationship between you and the dog which will allow you to control your dog and feel comfortable with the dog outside of your property.

The most important thing that training does is to create a language between you and your dog which in turn teaches your dog the proper behavior that you expect from him. This also allows the dog to feel more secure within the family structure with a clear leader in place, and to enjoy the bond of love and authority.

Training also serves to fulfill some of your dogs needs including exercise, a clear indication of what is expected from him, a feeling of accomplishment, and constructive social interaction. It is a great way to redirect some of the mental energy the dog has which can prevent some breeds of dogs from being destructive or displaying anti social behavior due to boredom and frustration.

Reward training is one of the most popular methods of training and is used to reinforce positive behavior and responses from the dog. Generally, reward training makes use of food rewards or a reward that is associated with food, such as a toy which are often used to get the dog into the desired position or to illicit a specific response. This encourages the dog to perform an action of his own volition which is then rewarded and reinforced. As dogs are associative learners, it is natural for them to respond positively with the desired behavior if that behavior is associated with a reward.

It is important, once you and your dog are comfortable with the training progress, to undertake some of your training in an area where there are distractions. This helps to make the dog more reliable in his positive responses to your commands, and teaches him/her to pay attention to your commands irrespective of the distractions in the environment around him.

Training your dog only within your property boundaries or when only you are present does not teach the dog to focus on your instructions and to discount people, other animals and the general environment around him.

One of the most important tips in training your dog is to use the pet’s name to get its attention. Build attention by using the dog’s name when calling it for food, walks or play. This creates a good orientation response from the animal. When used in conjunction with your commands you are attracting attention to the command as well as enforcing it.

The purpose of training your dog is to create a strong owner-dog relationship based on trust, co-operation and well defined roles. It also ensures you can have control of your dog in any situation making the experience of having a dog a pleasure and a joy.