If you have noticed your dog beginning to beg for food, or worse, if your dog has already established the begging behavior, then it is time to train your dog to stop begging. There is nothing cute about begging and, as you know, it is intensely annoying. Happily, it is not difficult to break your dog of this habit. It is really only necessary to be 100% consistent in your training, patient enough to apply the training without exception for about a month, and able to be assertive, firm, and gentle at the same time. If you can do this, you can correct your dog's behavior, and teach it to stop begging.
A foundational rule regarding dog begging is to ignore your pet when it begs. You must never reward this behavior. If your dog has only recently begun the begging behavior, this may be sufficient, and you can stop at this point. Otherwise, read on.
Reproduce situations in which your dog normally begs. When the dog begins begging, tell it no (or say some other command to be used only for this situation), and put it out of the room, or in a or in some other different space. Praise the dog when obey even for a moment, and give it a treat.
Repeat the above. When the dog begs, put it in another room or some other specific location. Continue to provide praise and a treat.
Each training session should last 10 or 15 minutes. You can do this 2 or 3 times a day if you have the time. Never make any exception and give the dog food when it begs. This is essential. If you break this rule even one time, then you are teaching your dog that begging works, and you will have undone all of your work.
As a final word, here is tip number 5 to stop your dog begging is to put it in its crate with a toy whenever it starts to beg. But only do this if your dog is already crate trained. If you have not crate trained your dog at this point, putting your dog in a crate to resolve the begging problem could only complicate matters.
At this point, I've given you some solid rules of thumb to apply to this situation. These pointers, if applied consistently should train your dog to stop begging.
However, for a more complete understanding, take action and discover step-by-step instructions to resolve this and other training and dog behavior problems.
Monday, 5 April 2010
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Dog Behavior Training - Why You Should Train Your Dog
On the surface, dog training may look like a waste of time. Why train your dog to learn tricks? What good are they? Your dog already knows the basics, so why should you do more than that? Oh, sure, Joe's dog can play dead and roll over. So, obviously Joe has far too much time on his hands. Why bother? Well, primarily training beyond the basics has three very good advantages; socialization, safety, and bonding.
Socializing your dog is simply the act of making him a pleasure to be around for people and other dogs alike. Who wants to be around a dog - especially a large one - who jumps on everyone with whom he comes in contact? If you have a dog that jumps, you may feel forced to resign him to the backyard when company visits, which may in turn make an annoying barker out of him as he feels left out of social gatherings. But if you treat the problem by training him not to jump, you will enable him to enjoy the company of others when they come for a visit. You will be able to do things with him like go to the park and walk in areas where there are other people and dogs.
One of a pet owner's biggest fears is losing control over their pet and possibly having them end up hit by a car or worse. Additional training can give you a nice little safety net when faced with those circumstances. Suppose your dog bolted out of the door ahead of you after a cat? When you do catch up to him, he is on the opposite side of a busy street. His first reaction may be to bound towards you. A simple gesture as small as a hand signal can tell him to stop and stay put until you can safely get to him and escort him back across the street.
Aside from those two very practical reasons to train your dog, however, there is a third benefit that busy people sometimes overlook. Time spent training your dog is time the two of you will spend together. If you've ever built a model with your kid or fixed a computer or baked a cake with a friend, you know that accomplishing a goal with a loved one can be a valuable bonding experience. Dogs are not immune to this. If you spend just a few minutes each day training your dog, it will give both of you a sense of accomplishment and bring you closer together.
Don't leave out the party tricks either! As soon as the basics are mastered, there is no reason to stop the learning process. Keep going - see how far you and your dog can go!
Joseph Wilson provides research and excellent tips on a number of dog breeds at http://www.onlinedogbreeds.com You can find a great source and collection of articles on dog behavior, health, and finding the right pet for you and your family.
Socializing your dog is simply the act of making him a pleasure to be around for people and other dogs alike. Who wants to be around a dog - especially a large one - who jumps on everyone with whom he comes in contact? If you have a dog that jumps, you may feel forced to resign him to the backyard when company visits, which may in turn make an annoying barker out of him as he feels left out of social gatherings. But if you treat the problem by training him not to jump, you will enable him to enjoy the company of others when they come for a visit. You will be able to do things with him like go to the park and walk in areas where there are other people and dogs.
One of a pet owner's biggest fears is losing control over their pet and possibly having them end up hit by a car or worse. Additional training can give you a nice little safety net when faced with those circumstances. Suppose your dog bolted out of the door ahead of you after a cat? When you do catch up to him, he is on the opposite side of a busy street. His first reaction may be to bound towards you. A simple gesture as small as a hand signal can tell him to stop and stay put until you can safely get to him and escort him back across the street.
Aside from those two very practical reasons to train your dog, however, there is a third benefit that busy people sometimes overlook. Time spent training your dog is time the two of you will spend together. If you've ever built a model with your kid or fixed a computer or baked a cake with a friend, you know that accomplishing a goal with a loved one can be a valuable bonding experience. Dogs are not immune to this. If you spend just a few minutes each day training your dog, it will give both of you a sense of accomplishment and bring you closer together.
Don't leave out the party tricks either! As soon as the basics are mastered, there is no reason to stop the learning process. Keep going - see how far you and your dog can go!
Joseph Wilson provides research and excellent tips on a number of dog breeds at http://www.onlinedogbreeds.com You can find a great source and collection of articles on dog behavior, health, and finding the right pet for you and your family.
3 Things to Keep in Mind When Training Your Dog
dSo you've started the training for your dog and everything has been going pretty well so far. There have probably been a few minor issues that you had to take care of, but for the most part, there hasn't been anything big to worry about. That's great. I wish I could say that for most other owners, we aren't all lucky. Still, even though things have been smooth up until now, there's always room for something to go wrong. Here are a couple things to think about during your dog's training.
1. Harsh punishment doesn't help anyone
Let me clarify between soft punishment and hard. Hard punishment is taking physical action such as hitting your dog or yelling very loudly at it. These forms of punishment are not helpful and will only cause you problems during training. No one wants to be yelled at or hit, and neither does your dog, so keep this in mind. Soft punishment means things such as ignoring the dog or staring back at it. These are messages that can be calmly interpreted by your dog and reacted to.
2. You have to be consistent in training
Constantly stopping and starting training over a period of time is not a good way to get your dog trained. You can't decide to give up and then pick it up again later multiple times. This is confusing for your dog and prevents those important habits from being formed in its mind. This is the whole point of training, and it is missed when you aren't consistent. This also applies to all facets of training, not just the times when you do it.
3. Dog training should be fun and exciting
This is one thing most owners seem to forget when they get frustrated with training. It's understandable, but you must remember the fact that this whole training thing isn't about being angry or annoyed with each other. You and your dog both need to enjoy what you are doing, otherwise there is not point to it. The great thing about fun is that training seems to work better when both the dog and the trainer are in a positive state of mind, ready to learn and experience new things.
If you need help training your dog,discover how to properly train your dog without all those problems that make training so much harder. Training your dog shouldn't have to be hard. Visit: http://www.DogHelpGuide.com
1. Harsh punishment doesn't help anyone
Let me clarify between soft punishment and hard. Hard punishment is taking physical action such as hitting your dog or yelling very loudly at it. These forms of punishment are not helpful and will only cause you problems during training. No one wants to be yelled at or hit, and neither does your dog, so keep this in mind. Soft punishment means things such as ignoring the dog or staring back at it. These are messages that can be calmly interpreted by your dog and reacted to.
2. You have to be consistent in training
Constantly stopping and starting training over a period of time is not a good way to get your dog trained. You can't decide to give up and then pick it up again later multiple times. This is confusing for your dog and prevents those important habits from being formed in its mind. This is the whole point of training, and it is missed when you aren't consistent. This also applies to all facets of training, not just the times when you do it.
3. Dog training should be fun and exciting
This is one thing most owners seem to forget when they get frustrated with training. It's understandable, but you must remember the fact that this whole training thing isn't about being angry or annoyed with each other. You and your dog both need to enjoy what you are doing, otherwise there is not point to it. The great thing about fun is that training seems to work better when both the dog and the trainer are in a positive state of mind, ready to learn and experience new things.
If you need help training your dog,discover how to properly train your dog without all those problems that make training so much harder. Training your dog shouldn't have to be hard. Visit: http://www.DogHelpGuide.com
Benefits of Training Your Dog
Obedience training is the greatest thing you can do for you and your canine companion. It doesn't solve all dog behavior issues. However, many problems can be addressed. Education is the key to positive communication between you and your dog. Effective communication is necessary to instruct your dog to obey your commands. You can teach him anything from 'stay' (don't bolt out the door) to 'sit' (don't jump up on the visitors) to 'off' (don't chew the furniture).
You will have a optimistic relationship with your dog. Your dog will be able to learn through training what you are trying to communicate. Different gestures will serve as the signal. For example, you may be putting the left hand up as a signal to your dog to stop what he is doing. Through clear communication you will be happy with your dog and your dog will be happy with you.
A trained dog is more likely to have high self-worth and confidence. One of the reasons is because he is not continually being yelled at and put down. Another reason is your canine companion feels good about the choices he makes and the positive feedback he receives from you. The hugs and loving words that you give your puppy will encourage your dog to continue to listen.
A well-behaved and trained dog is more pleasurable to own because you can take your canine companion practically anywhere without being a annoyance or danger to others. And don't you want a dog who displays obedient behavior around others, good manners when you have guests in your home, is safe around kids, and who doesn't threaten other animals or innocent humans?
I persuade you if you haven't previously to get your puppy trained. You and your dog will be happier living with each other. You've probably read about thousands of ways to obedience train your dog. You may be wondering which ways work best? We're here to help with a handy dog training blog. Many dog owners from all over the world have had fantastic results from the tips and methods contained in this blog. You can find free information on ways to make your dog or puppy obey your command.
Read More
Obedience train your dog from home. You can have a well trained dog. Guaranteed affordable results in only a few weeks. Genuine dog training help. Learn how you can train any dog. http://dogobediencetrainingathome.blogspot.com/
You will have a optimistic relationship with your dog. Your dog will be able to learn through training what you are trying to communicate. Different gestures will serve as the signal. For example, you may be putting the left hand up as a signal to your dog to stop what he is doing. Through clear communication you will be happy with your dog and your dog will be happy with you.
A trained dog is more likely to have high self-worth and confidence. One of the reasons is because he is not continually being yelled at and put down. Another reason is your canine companion feels good about the choices he makes and the positive feedback he receives from you. The hugs and loving words that you give your puppy will encourage your dog to continue to listen.
A well-behaved and trained dog is more pleasurable to own because you can take your canine companion practically anywhere without being a annoyance or danger to others. And don't you want a dog who displays obedient behavior around others, good manners when you have guests in your home, is safe around kids, and who doesn't threaten other animals or innocent humans?
I persuade you if you haven't previously to get your puppy trained. You and your dog will be happier living with each other. You've probably read about thousands of ways to obedience train your dog. You may be wondering which ways work best? We're here to help with a handy dog training blog. Many dog owners from all over the world have had fantastic results from the tips and methods contained in this blog. You can find free information on ways to make your dog or puppy obey your command.
Read More
Obedience train your dog from home. You can have a well trained dog. Guaranteed affordable results in only a few weeks. Genuine dog training help. Learn how you can train any dog. http://dogobediencetrainingathome.blogspot.com/
Training Your Dog to Avoid Some Common Behavior Problems
Whether you have a new puppy, or you have adopted an older dog from an animal shelter you may need to know a few things about dog training. Puppies especially require a lot of patience and time because everything is a fun toy or game for them. But with some thought and extra attention you should be able to train your dog on the basics.
Positive Reinforcement
Before you try to punish the dog for doing something "wrong" it is important to give positive reinforcement for the correct behavior -- the behavior you want them to exhibit in place of the bad behavior. For example you don't want your dog chewing on your shoes so you should provide him with something he can chew on. Give him some appropriate chew toys and provide him with praise and positive reinforcement when he chews on them before you start punishing him for chewing on other things. After all this is a normal behavior and he doesn't know the difference between your shoes and the chew toy you bought. When dog training you need to teach him which one is his.
When you have a new pet it is important to spend a lot of time with them in the beginning so you can get to know each other and start forming good habits and routines. If you are able to spend a lot of time with him in the beginning you can praise and provide positive reinforcement when he exhibits good behaviors like going to the bathroom outside and chewing on his toys instead of your things.
Negative Reinforcement
Sometimes you will need to use negative reinforcement or punishment to help the dog training. To make sure it is effective there are some things you need to remember. First the punishment shouldn't be too harsh. Some animals are very sensitive and harsh punishment can make them either meek or aggressive.
Because each dog is different what works for one may not work for the other. Have a few options in mind so you can choose the one that works best.
The punishment should be short, and immediate. You need to catch him in the act; punishing well after the undesired behavior doesn't work. You also need to be reasonable. Certain behaviors are normal but you can limit them. For example you don't want your dog to eat off of the table, you want him to eat in his designated spot.
Dangerous Behaviors
Chasing cars is one of the most dangerous behavior problems for obvious reasons. The easiest way to curb this is to make sure your dog is always on leash when he is outside, but there are times he may slip out without his leash. It important to teach him this behavior is not OK. You may want to try using a dog training collar along with training classes so he understands commands to stop and come back.
At times training your new dog can seem like a difficult challenge, but with patience, understanding and consistency you may be surprised at the results.
If you have an escape artist you may want to consider investing in a GPS Dog Collar so you can learn his favorite spots. Taking a training class? Check out some popular Dog Training Collars.
Positive Reinforcement
Before you try to punish the dog for doing something "wrong" it is important to give positive reinforcement for the correct behavior -- the behavior you want them to exhibit in place of the bad behavior. For example you don't want your dog chewing on your shoes so you should provide him with something he can chew on. Give him some appropriate chew toys and provide him with praise and positive reinforcement when he chews on them before you start punishing him for chewing on other things. After all this is a normal behavior and he doesn't know the difference between your shoes and the chew toy you bought. When dog training you need to teach him which one is his.
When you have a new pet it is important to spend a lot of time with them in the beginning so you can get to know each other and start forming good habits and routines. If you are able to spend a lot of time with him in the beginning you can praise and provide positive reinforcement when he exhibits good behaviors like going to the bathroom outside and chewing on his toys instead of your things.
Negative Reinforcement
Sometimes you will need to use negative reinforcement or punishment to help the dog training. To make sure it is effective there are some things you need to remember. First the punishment shouldn't be too harsh. Some animals are very sensitive and harsh punishment can make them either meek or aggressive.
Because each dog is different what works for one may not work for the other. Have a few options in mind so you can choose the one that works best.
The punishment should be short, and immediate. You need to catch him in the act; punishing well after the undesired behavior doesn't work. You also need to be reasonable. Certain behaviors are normal but you can limit them. For example you don't want your dog to eat off of the table, you want him to eat in his designated spot.
Dangerous Behaviors
Chasing cars is one of the most dangerous behavior problems for obvious reasons. The easiest way to curb this is to make sure your dog is always on leash when he is outside, but there are times he may slip out without his leash. It important to teach him this behavior is not OK. You may want to try using a dog training collar along with training classes so he understands commands to stop and come back.
At times training your new dog can seem like a difficult challenge, but with patience, understanding and consistency you may be surprised at the results.
If you have an escape artist you may want to consider investing in a GPS Dog Collar so you can learn his favorite spots. Taking a training class? Check out some popular Dog Training Collars.
How To Train Your Dog And Influence Behavior - Get Your Dog To Do What You Want, When You Want
When she walked into my office I tried to keep the surprised look off my face. Her eyes were black and blue and her nose was swollen beyond belief. As she sat down she started to cry and had a difficult time talking. I got her a glass of water and let her know to take her time. Once she gained control, she informed me that her dog was responsible for her broken nose and black eyes.
She went on to tell me that her dog had injured her arm and wrist and her leg. She said that she loved her dog. She also added that her dog was a large black lab and in no way aggressive. Her dog had injured her by jumping, pulling, and in general not listening to her commands. She said that the latest incident had happened a few days before. She told me that she was getting ready to walk her dog. She had put her dog on leash and was about to go out the door. Just as she was about to exit the house through the front door, her dog saw a cat across the street and took off at full speed.
She hung on to the leash and tripped trying to go out the door. She went face first into the door and broke her nose. At this point she teared up again and said that she loved her dog but didn't know if she could keep him. She had no control. I told her not to worry, and that we would get her dog under control.
I taught her my system for dealing with behavior problems, what I call my M.U.T.T. Method. The M stands for Manage, U for Underlying, T for Training, and the last T is for Time.
M=Management - A big part of dog ownership is effectively managing your dog's behavior. Crates, kennels, baby gates, and leashes are some tools to help you manage your dog's behavior. In this case, we put a gentle leader head collar on her dog to help manage her dog's pulling problem.
A gentle leader works by controlling the dog's head. In principle, it works a lot like a horse bridle. It makes it much more difficult for the dog to pull, and it gives you much better control over the dog on leash.
U=Underlying - Whenever you are dealing with a behavior problem you have to understand that there is an underlying problem. For instance, if a dog is digging there could be many different underlying reasons for the digging. It could be that the dog is bored, frustrated, hot, or it could be breed specific. Terriers love to dig.
In this situation, we figured that one of the big underlying reasons was lack of exercise. Her dog was loaded with energy. We came up with a plan to have her son bring the dog to the park three times a week on a long leash. He would spend about 45 minutes throwing a ball for her dog. In addition to the ball playing, she brought her dog to a dog daycare three times a week. By giving her dog some intensive, aerobic exercise her dog started to calm down.
T=Train - We put her dog on a training program that consisted of the basics (sit, down, stay, walk, and come). She or her son had to spend at least ten minutes each day doing a training session. We focused on teaching her dog to greet politely at the door and stop pulling. By using the gentle leader she was able to walk her dog past very distracting situations. She even expressed her amazement when she crossed other dogs and animals during their walks and was able to control him.
In addition to the obedience training she also learned how to teach her dog that she was the leader. She had her dog work for attention, food, and playing. By establishing some leadership she gained much better control.
T=Time - Any behavior program is going to require time. By following the steps that we outlined she started to see changes within a short period of time. By following the program for 21 days, those changes would become stronger and stronger.
Any time you're faced with a behavior problem, remember the acronym M.U.T.T. and apply each step. You'll be happy with the results.
About the Author: Eric Letendre started his dog training business in August of 1995. He has worked as an animal control officer, training director, and provided K-9 security consulting for such institutions as World Wide Plaza in Manhattan, and Hartford Hospital. He has also helped numerous animal shelters and has published two books. To learn more about his newest book, “The Amazing Dog Training Man,” you can visit his website http://www.AmazingDogTrainingMan.com.
She went on to tell me that her dog had injured her arm and wrist and her leg. She said that she loved her dog. She also added that her dog was a large black lab and in no way aggressive. Her dog had injured her by jumping, pulling, and in general not listening to her commands. She said that the latest incident had happened a few days before. She told me that she was getting ready to walk her dog. She had put her dog on leash and was about to go out the door. Just as she was about to exit the house through the front door, her dog saw a cat across the street and took off at full speed.
She hung on to the leash and tripped trying to go out the door. She went face first into the door and broke her nose. At this point she teared up again and said that she loved her dog but didn't know if she could keep him. She had no control. I told her not to worry, and that we would get her dog under control.
I taught her my system for dealing with behavior problems, what I call my M.U.T.T. Method. The M stands for Manage, U for Underlying, T for Training, and the last T is for Time.
M=Management - A big part of dog ownership is effectively managing your dog's behavior. Crates, kennels, baby gates, and leashes are some tools to help you manage your dog's behavior. In this case, we put a gentle leader head collar on her dog to help manage her dog's pulling problem.
A gentle leader works by controlling the dog's head. In principle, it works a lot like a horse bridle. It makes it much more difficult for the dog to pull, and it gives you much better control over the dog on leash.
U=Underlying - Whenever you are dealing with a behavior problem you have to understand that there is an underlying problem. For instance, if a dog is digging there could be many different underlying reasons for the digging. It could be that the dog is bored, frustrated, hot, or it could be breed specific. Terriers love to dig.
In this situation, we figured that one of the big underlying reasons was lack of exercise. Her dog was loaded with energy. We came up with a plan to have her son bring the dog to the park three times a week on a long leash. He would spend about 45 minutes throwing a ball for her dog. In addition to the ball playing, she brought her dog to a dog daycare three times a week. By giving her dog some intensive, aerobic exercise her dog started to calm down.
T=Train - We put her dog on a training program that consisted of the basics (sit, down, stay, walk, and come). She or her son had to spend at least ten minutes each day doing a training session. We focused on teaching her dog to greet politely at the door and stop pulling. By using the gentle leader she was able to walk her dog past very distracting situations. She even expressed her amazement when she crossed other dogs and animals during their walks and was able to control him.
In addition to the obedience training she also learned how to teach her dog that she was the leader. She had her dog work for attention, food, and playing. By establishing some leadership she gained much better control.
T=Time - Any behavior program is going to require time. By following the steps that we outlined she started to see changes within a short period of time. By following the program for 21 days, those changes would become stronger and stronger.
Any time you're faced with a behavior problem, remember the acronym M.U.T.T. and apply each step. You'll be happy with the results.
About the Author: Eric Letendre started his dog training business in August of 1995. He has worked as an animal control officer, training director, and provided K-9 security consulting for such institutions as World Wide Plaza in Manhattan, and Hartford Hospital. He has also helped numerous animal shelters and has published two books. To learn more about his newest book, “The Amazing Dog Training Man,” you can visit his website http://www.AmazingDogTrainingMan.com.
Train Your Dog the Easy Way
Did you know there's one very basic secret about your dog and his behavior that, once you discover what it is and put it to practical use, makes training your dog incredibly easy and stress-free?
It's true.
But before I share with you the number one secret for training dogs, I'd like to share a startling fact about dogs that you may not have known.
Dogs are born in a litter that immediately establishes pack rank and behaviors. Yes, immediately.
Puppies learn from the time they are born that there's a natural order that must be followed. So from the moment they're born, they're learning the rules for survival and leadership.
It's this social hierarchy that creates the fuel that powers the number one secret to successful dog training, which is that to solve dog problems, to live with a happy and obedient dog who does what you want the first time and every time, it's necessary that you dust off your natural "powers of attraction" and become the leader that your dog wants to follow.
Why is Leadership So Important When Training Your Dog?
You see, it's your ability to tap into this pre-established inner code of dog behavior -- the same code your dog learned from his littermates and mother -- that makes a difference to how your dog acts and gives you what you want.
Dog training becomes easy when you understand the bonding process that motivates your dog to listen to you and try, try, try! You can't buy that kind of relationship for any amount of money, but you can earn it.
This is the basic secret to becoming your dog's best friend AND to achieving personal dog training success and real happiness.
The important thing to know is that leadership is an attitude best described in the words, "Follow Me!" So, what's your attitude? Are you a leader? Or a follower?
Have you avoided problems or challenges with your dog because you just don't know what to do? This doesn't happen when you're acting in the leadership role with your dog.
You see, a leader can take a stand without turning it into a confrontation -- whether that's over who leads who on walks, who controls food, or who controls what's acceptable to chew.
A leader wins without fighting because when you understand the dynamics of pack behavior, you know what to do almost instinctively.
But the catch is, a dog can't treat you like a leader if you don't act like one. You need to stand out from the pack. And how do you do it is to go back to the two simple words I talked about above -- "Follow Me!"
Every dog follows the leader of the pack. As leader, your dog pays attention to you. Your dog looks to you for fun, help, guidance, safety, and information.
Before your dog runs out the door, she looks to you to see if she has your permission.
If your dog barks, when you say quiet, the dog stops barking.
And it doesn't matter whether you have one dog or six dogs, a four-month-old puppy or a four-year old dog, leadership is that simple.
Why a Leadership Approach is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Train Your Dog
Finding time to train your dog gets more difficult every day. But the neat thing about the "follow me" leadership approach is that you don't have to add more "stuff" to your life. You just change how you do something.
For example, always go through the door first ahead of your dog. Don't walk around your dog who's lying in the hallway, instead have the dog move out of your way. There are other simple techniques you can use, but those two can get you started right now, today!
When you put the ideas into practice you'll see direct results in your day-to-day dealings with your dog. In fact, the approach is so simple that you can learn it and forget it and yet it will become part of what you do naturally and effortlessly, because there are only a few steps to the whole system!
So let's talk about what those steps are right now...
The first thing you're going to want to do right away is to head over to this train your dog primer on my blog. You'll be able to watch some videos explaining how this stress-free system works, and get details on how to get a free dog training audiobook that explains even more.
I've also posted this train your dog video on YouTube that you may find helpful as well. Then simply start putting this simple system to work, and watch how your relationship with your dog changes.
I guarantee it will!
It's true.
But before I share with you the number one secret for training dogs, I'd like to share a startling fact about dogs that you may not have known.
Dogs are born in a litter that immediately establishes pack rank and behaviors. Yes, immediately.
Puppies learn from the time they are born that there's a natural order that must be followed. So from the moment they're born, they're learning the rules for survival and leadership.
It's this social hierarchy that creates the fuel that powers the number one secret to successful dog training, which is that to solve dog problems, to live with a happy and obedient dog who does what you want the first time and every time, it's necessary that you dust off your natural "powers of attraction" and become the leader that your dog wants to follow.
Why is Leadership So Important When Training Your Dog?
You see, it's your ability to tap into this pre-established inner code of dog behavior -- the same code your dog learned from his littermates and mother -- that makes a difference to how your dog acts and gives you what you want.
Dog training becomes easy when you understand the bonding process that motivates your dog to listen to you and try, try, try! You can't buy that kind of relationship for any amount of money, but you can earn it.
This is the basic secret to becoming your dog's best friend AND to achieving personal dog training success and real happiness.
The important thing to know is that leadership is an attitude best described in the words, "Follow Me!" So, what's your attitude? Are you a leader? Or a follower?
Have you avoided problems or challenges with your dog because you just don't know what to do? This doesn't happen when you're acting in the leadership role with your dog.
You see, a leader can take a stand without turning it into a confrontation -- whether that's over who leads who on walks, who controls food, or who controls what's acceptable to chew.
A leader wins without fighting because when you understand the dynamics of pack behavior, you know what to do almost instinctively.
But the catch is, a dog can't treat you like a leader if you don't act like one. You need to stand out from the pack. And how do you do it is to go back to the two simple words I talked about above -- "Follow Me!"
Every dog follows the leader of the pack. As leader, your dog pays attention to you. Your dog looks to you for fun, help, guidance, safety, and information.
Before your dog runs out the door, she looks to you to see if she has your permission.
If your dog barks, when you say quiet, the dog stops barking.
And it doesn't matter whether you have one dog or six dogs, a four-month-old puppy or a four-year old dog, leadership is that simple.
Why a Leadership Approach is the Fastest and Easiest Way to Train Your Dog
Finding time to train your dog gets more difficult every day. But the neat thing about the "follow me" leadership approach is that you don't have to add more "stuff" to your life. You just change how you do something.
For example, always go through the door first ahead of your dog. Don't walk around your dog who's lying in the hallway, instead have the dog move out of your way. There are other simple techniques you can use, but those two can get you started right now, today!
When you put the ideas into practice you'll see direct results in your day-to-day dealings with your dog. In fact, the approach is so simple that you can learn it and forget it and yet it will become part of what you do naturally and effortlessly, because there are only a few steps to the whole system!
So let's talk about what those steps are right now...
The first thing you're going to want to do right away is to head over to this train your dog primer on my blog. You'll be able to watch some videos explaining how this stress-free system works, and get details on how to get a free dog training audiobook that explains even more.
I've also posted this train your dog video on YouTube that you may find helpful as well. Then simply start putting this simple system to work, and watch how your relationship with your dog changes.
I guarantee it will!
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