When you acquire a new puppy, odds are you will have to spend some time training and working with him, if you want him to behave well. This doesn’t mean that you have to punish him, spank him, or abuse him in anyway to get him to act the way you want him too! There are many great positive training methods out there that are easy to use, and work well for all dogs, if you take the time to learn and understand how they work.

One of the most popular positive methods of dog training of the last few years is clicker training. This technique basically consists of a handheld device that makes a clicking noise when you push a button. When you first start using the clicker method, the dog may not like the noise the clicker makes, as it is rather loud, so it may take him some time to grow accustomed to the sound. When you work with your dog, and he does something well, you click the clicker and give him a treat. The dog will start to associate the clicker with a treat, and you will be reinforcing his good behavior. You can use this method to teach your dog to sit, to come to you, to stay, etc.

Just about every dog loves doggie treats, and they can be a great tool for you to use when training your dog. Again, the idea here is to reinforce the good behavior, so that the dog learns what is acceptable and unacceptable in a positive, healthy way. This method works much the same as the clicker method. You simply find a treat that your dog enjoys, and fill your pockets with the treat before you start training. When your dog reacts appropriately, you praise him and give him a treat. Over time, your dog will start to associate his good behavior with the treats, and will start behaving well just to get the “expected” treat. The treats that you choose should be healthy for your dog, and only should be used for training purposes. You will eventually want to encourage your dog’s good behavior with praise, rather than treats, but this can take some time.

Training your dog is a great way for you to bond, and builds your relationship with your new canine friend in a positive, loving way. Training does not happen overnight, no matter what training methods you employ, so you should be prepared to put forth the time and effort necessary for training your new dog, or either hire someone to do it for you. You will find that a well trained dog is much easier to handle and deal with, and you will both be much happier for it.

by Cristy & David Giacomini - Holistic Dog (www.holisticdog.com)
For your dog’s mind, body & soul.

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