Free Basic Dog Training Tips: Top 10 Most Important

These free basic dog training tips will help you get started. The first things any Trainer or instruction book will tell you are...

1. Use positive reinforcement.

Reward your dog when he does something right, rather than punish him when he does something wrong. If your dog performs an action and is immediately rewarded for it, he will perform that action again.

2. Set your dog up for success.

Minimize opportunities that your dog will have to make mistakes. For example, if your dog still hasn't mastered housetraining, keep him under close supervision and minimize his access to a certain area of the house. If you have a hard time keeping your dog off your bed, close the bedroom door.

3. Consistency works

Use the exact same words when teaching a command. For example, if you are teaching, "come," don't say "come, Buster" one time and "come here, boy" the next. Hand signals should also be done the same way each time.

Correct inappropriate behavior EVERY time you see it. For example, if you want to keep your dog off the bed, immediately remove him from the bed EVERY time you see it. Not just when you have the energy. Make the rules clear to everyone living in the household. If you won't let the dog on the bed, but your spouse does, this will cause confusion in your dog.

4. Keep training sessions short, but frequent.

Start with 10 minutes, three times a day. That's only 30 minutes a day. End the session before either of you get tired of it. The session should end with your dog in a positive mental state. If you are enthusiastic, your dog will be too.

5. Incorporate training into daily routine.

Time the training sessions to occur just before your dog's mealtime. When your dog is hungry, he will be more receptive to your commands. For example, have your dog sit before you put down the food bowl.

6. Eliminate distractions at first.

Begin training in a quiet room. Remove distractions like other dogs, people or TV. You want to be the focal point of your dog's attention. When you first start training, do it in the same place everyday.

After your dog gets more comfortable with the commands, change locations and slowly add distractions. Your dog will learn that the command means the same thing no matter where he is or who is around.

7. Introduce commands slowly.

Work on only one or two commands per training session. Begin with a task your dog can perform successfully. Then introduce a new command.

Don't set unrealistic expectations. Your attitude should be more like 'Let's see what we can accomplish today' rather than 'Today, Buster will learn the electric fence.'

When you start getting frustrated, your dog will get confused and not enjoy his training sessions.

8. Your tone of voice should reflect your commands.

Dogs are very perceptive at recognizing different tones of voice. When the dog is new to training, cajole him along. Praise is given in a warm friendly tone. Later, when he understands, use the command tone of voice. This tone is firm and demands obedience.

9. Correct the action immediately.

Your dog needs to have a clear association between the action and the correction. If you do not catch your dog in the act of misbehaving, do NOT punish him.

For example, your dog runs off and then finally comes back to you. At this point you are angry, but refrain from punishing him after he 'comes' to you. That will only confuse your dog. He will associate 'coming' to his owner with punishment, when 'coming' should be positively reinforced. Instead, take steps to prevent it from happening again. Do not let him off a leash until he is better trained.

10. Patience.

Training your dog will require time and patience. Older dogs often have a better attention span than puppies. Second hand dogs may have had previous training that causes him to misunderstand your commands. In that case, use different words for your commands.

When you start losing your patience that is the time to end the training session. It becomes counterproductive for both you and your dog.

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