Key to Dog Obedience Training

Before going further to other dog obedience training issues, you need to first understand some important facts about dogs that are critical to the effectiveness of your dog obedience training sessions.

Dogs are social, pack-oriented animals and dog obedience training is one of the methods to establish social hierarchy or authority in the pack. The behavior of a pack leader is a great influence to dogs and it is their nature to subject to the authority and control of the pack leader for instructions and guidance. When your dog obeys your command, it shows your dog respects and acknowledges you as the pack leader. If failed to do so, by nature your dog will spontaneously take on the leadership role instead.

When you have successfully established your leadership role, by all means, your dog will naturally follow your lead and develop a need to learn things from you. Thereby, this will be much easier for you to train your dog. Dog obedience training requires a great deal of determination, commitment, patience and compassion for your dog to be loved and welcomed by you and your family members.

Here are some techniques to establish you as the pack leader:

Consistent Enforcement of Rules, Boundaries and Limitations. A good pack leader needs to consistently enforce restrictions and boundaries in all aspects of its life, regardless of inside or outside the house.

Earning Your Dog’s Respect. Take note that being your dog’s pack leader does not mean being angry or aggressive to your dog. Abuse and aggressiveness does not establish you as the pack leader but creates fear in your dog instead. Being a calm, firm and fairleader will put you on the right track in becoming a respectful leader of your dog.

Effective Interaction with Your Dog. During dog training sessions, always maintain eye contact with your dog for further reinforcement of your leadership role.

Praise and Reward Your Dog. Do not praise or pat your dog in a timid way. Praise him in a firm and gentle manner.