Dogs live for the present. Dogs remember things by association not by recall. Dogs are not able to reason as we do. Dogs don’t think things out, action = consequence is as far as it goes for them. Dog behaviours that are rewarded are usually repeated while behaviours that are discouraged are typically avoided. This is the main principle behind any kind of dog training.

For instance, if you give your dog a treat or praise him every time he sits then eventually he will sit of his own accord so that he may receive another reward. On the other hand, you should completely ignore your dog if he jumps up for attention, this is negative reinforcement and your dog will be disinclined to repeat it in future.

To create meaningful associations you should praise behaviours that you want to encourage and ignore behaviours that you want to discourage. It all sounds very simple doesn’t it? So what is it that makes dog obedience training so problematic?

To make a successful association the time between action and reward cannot be more than about 2 seconds this can be a problem. This means that it is easily possible for the inexperienced owner to make an unintended association. For example, your dog sits but by the time you give him his treat and verbal praise he is standing up – you have inadvertently praised the stand up rather than the sit. Another example would be to come home frrom work and find that your dog has messed on the carpet. Having dragged him back to the crime scene and rubbed his nose in it probably saying ‘Bad Dog’, you throw him outside. All you have done is taught your dog that going to the toilet is bad.

Another problem is that in the home environment a dog can have too many masters and can end up totally confused by conflicting associations and inconsistent training methods. One master and one trainer is all a dog should have.

In this dog training guide I have explained the fundamentals behind dog obedience training. They are very simple but as the saying goes, easier said than done. However, understanding the fundamentals will always be of help when using specific dog training routines.

Go to www.TrainMyOwnDog.com to see more articles on dog obedience training.

1.  Positive reinforcement is essential. While there are several theories on the way to train your dog, most dog training experts recognize that positive reinforcement works best. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It does not involve screaming at your dog, hitting or punishing them.

Positive reinforcement works due to the fact it creates a relationship of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards especially food rewards.

2. Consistency is important. If you’re working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then attempt to train them at the same time each day. This helps your dog learn what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn faster when they understand what’s expected. If you are training using food rewards, attempt to train your dog before mealtime so they are a little hungry and motivated.

3. Have patience. Dogs usually learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up easily and then the following day it seems like you have to start over from the beginning. Be patient. Start every new trick with really small steps and be very clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks such as “sit” you will want to break it down into smaller steps.

4. Use hand cues along with verbal cues. Some dogs have an easier time comprehending and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.

5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Attempting to train them for twenty or thirty minutes is not likely to work. They are going to become frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to no more than five minutes.

To start with, you may want to train for only a minute or two until your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.

6. Always end on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. End every training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they have learned to perform and end with a food reward and loads of praise.

7. Keep your dog healthy. Last but not least, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog good quality dog food, giving them sufficient fresh water and making certain they get enough rest. A healthy dog is a more content dog and will understand desired behaviors far more quickly.

For more dog training tips, visit Obedience Training for Dogs.

The Importance of Dog Obedience Training and Dog Behavior Exercises

For anyone planning on adding a new canine addition to their family, having a well behaved pet is essential for a happy household. If you have you ever seen the flick Marley and Me, then you will know just how important dog obedience training and dog behavior training is. If you have seen the flick, then you have seen how annoying a dog with no obedience training can be. Marley’s the kind of K-9 that any dog trainer will not be too happy to meet. Marley pees all over the house, chews on the dining room set, and jumps on anyone and everyone. In truth, his owner, portrayed by Owen Wilson, even dragged him to a dog training class to turn him into a capable dog. Unfortunately, the dog trainer easily gave up on him because he was the most awful dog she had ever worked with. The dog turned the class into complete and utter chaos, so he was not allowed to conclude the course. That was kind of frustrating on the part of his owners. Now, if you currently have a dog like Marley, what do you think you will do? Why not try these dog obedience training workouts to create a capable dog?

Dog Obedience Training – Heeling Your Dog on a Leash

While strolling your dog, his right shoulder should wind up being about even with your left knee. Once the leash turns loose, simply call out your dog’s name and give the heel command. Walk forward as quick as you can and then give a hard jerk on the leash. Do not drag your dog when you do this. Once you jerked him into position, praise him with words like Good boy!

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to Sit

You should note that your dog should always sit at your left side with its shoulder at your left knee. To make your pet obey the sit command, you need to first fold the leash in your right hand. Then simply just, call your dog’s name and command sit. Push down on its hindquarters employing your left hand while jerking up on the dog’s lead with your other hand. When he does achieve the sitting position right, praise him and give him a treat.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to Stay

If you’d like to make your dog stay where he is, command him to be in a sitting position. Afterward, hold out your hand with the flat of your palm facing him, then tell him to stay. If he does, again provide him praise but if not, put him back in position and commence again.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to About Turn

When you turn away from your dog, do not forget to do it to your right to reverse your direction. And as you do it, make certain that you keep your eyes on your dog and then give him a number of short and quick jerks on the lead.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog The Down Command

Just as with the stay command, you can get your pooch to obey the down command by putting it in a sitting position first. With your canine sitting, then go ahead and give the down command, then slowly push on his shoulders and seek to wobble your canine off balance at the same time. But there is one other way to do this. You can also position the leash between your sole and shoe heel. Then, go ahead and give the down command while you are pulling up on the leash.

So these are simply some of the dog obedience training workouts that you can achieve to create a well behaved dog. Firstly, they might seem challenging. But once you have tried some or all of these dog training methods and begin to see highly effective results, you will begin to realize how rewarding these dog obedience training techniques could be not only for your dog but also for you and your family.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are active and very intelligent. It important to socialise them if they are to blend into family life. Irish Water Spaniel’s need plenty of routine exercise and time spent on dog training to really profit from them. They are defensive of their family and have a deep, fierce sounding bark if aggravated. They usually live for 8-12 years
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The Irish Water Spaniel coat is non-shedding which could be great for those who have someone in their family who suffers from allergic responses might not be affected by this breed. They do not require regular daily grooming unless showing. Every so often a trim to remove straggle ends with a comb and scissors to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so an occasional swim will curl up the coat again and keep them contented.

The Irish Water Spaniel developed in the 1830s in Ireland. Many experts believe the Irish Water Spaniel came from the Poodles, Portuguese Water Dog and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel hunted as a gundog in the marshes, rivers and bogs in Ireland.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, routine walks and exercise are crucial for a healthy, trouble free Irish Water Spaniel. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel is likely to lead to a mischievous, naughty dog. A great home for them is an active one, with plenty of activities going on and space, where their minds as well as bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Numerous Irish Water Spaniel owners work their dogs in the shooting field, in obedience tests, in agility competitions, or in the conformation show ring.

Their intelligence leads them to enjoying agility and obedience activities and combined with their great nose often leads to them being trained for drug and explosive detection.

The major health issue with Irish Water Spaniel’s is caused by their size and may suffer from hip dysplasia, prior to breeding, the potential parents should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you need to regulate their food intake.

The Irish Water Spaniel is a wonderful dog for an active family or couple who have the energy and either experience of other dogs, or are willing to train them, maybe with the help of a professional dog trainer.

Whether or not your dog is on the top ten list of the smartest, he or she can be trained. Let’s discuss some basic principles in training your dog. First, dogs may not understand English, but they do understand rewards. A wise dog trainer will use a reward system that will teach the dog what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior. This means rewarding good behavior and not rewarding bad behavior. A withheld reward teaches also.

In one sense, a dog is like a baby. Successful training for both involves consistency and clarity. Clarity means that we use the same phrase for the same command. If, for example, you say, “Come,” “Here, boy,” “Over here,” and use a waving gesture randomly to train your dog to come, he will be confused. Instead, use a gesture and a word, like pointing down and saying, “Come” every time you want to dog to come. When he comes, give him a treat or at least verbal praise and a pat.  Once he consistently follows this, you can wean him from the gesture.

Consistency, say the best books on dog training, carries the idea that reward and conduct must be predictable. If the dog does what you say, then he gets some type of reward. If he does not, then he loses the reward, every time. If you are serious about training one day, and the next day it is all play and no expectation, then the dog will be confused and the time needed to train him extended.

For proper training, be sure that the dog’s basic needs are met. For example, if the dog is overdue for a bladder emptying and he is not allowed outside, don’t punish him for wetting the carpet. If the dog is starved, it may not be time to train him to roll over. Basic needs for a dog would include food, water, exercise, acceptance, and safety.

Choose a time to train your dog that we can adhere to consistently, daily. Then follow your schedule like an important appointment. Keep the training times short so that you can get the most out of each one. Usually 15-20 minutes at a time is best. Keep the session focused on one new trick, rather than trying to teach several at a time.

Don’t be impatient. Remember that your dog is not nearly as smart as you are. Repetition is the key to training. Keep saying it over and over until he gets it. If he forgets the next day, start afresh.

Each of these points is vital for the success of your training program. By following them, you will be proud of your dog, and your dog will be happy that he has pleased you.