Teach Your Dog
When To Start Teaching Your Dog
By: La HunterWhen you choose a pup and take him from the litter he will naturally seek attention from you, and this therefore, is when you will start teaching your dog. This is the best time to form a lasting bond with your dog, when he has just been taken from his mother and you are the focus of his attention. You will be feeding him, providing him with a new home and making him feel welcome. Young dogs are inquisitive and playful, so give him plenty of recreation time and gradually teach him some basic commands while you are frolicking with him. He will respond favorably, as it is part of a game and he will enjoy interacting with you.
It is important to begin training your dog when he is young, as he will be more receptive to your commands during the early stages of his life, and you will be able to prevent him from adopting bad habits more easily. This is when you will make him into the kind of dog he will ultimately be, when he matures.
The basic commands that you will need to teach your dog first, are those that are most often used including, come, sit, heel and fetch. These commands are fairly easy to introduce during your dog's exercise and play sessions, and you will find that he will be responding to your wishes within a short period. To have your dog obey you at all times you must continually practice with him so that he will form good habits. Obedience is habit forming, when your dog hears your command he should be in the habit of obeying, or performing a certain action. By constantly practicing together, your dog will become well behaved as well as obedient, and exercise sessions will be just a pleasant form of recreation for both of you, rather than a duty.
Whenever you exercise your dog you can rest assured that when you unleash him you will still have full control over him. Your dog will appreciate the freedom of being able to run freely and you will feel secure knowing that when you call your dog he will stop and return to your side.
When you start to teach your dog it should be fun for both of you, there is no need to spend hours relentlessly urging your dog to perform for you, as this will only frustrate you and allow your dog to become bored. Make your training sessions fun for your dog and reward him with a few extra treats whenever he does well.