Dog Training Tips, Basic Manners, Important Things, and Tricks
Intro: Dog Training Tips, Basic Manners, Important Things, and Tricks
all dogs should be trained to some standard. All dogs should know basic manners. Most dogs should know important things. Some dogs know tricks. I take pride in the fact that my dog is trained to the best of my ability and is always learning. All this is important if your dog is to be around other dogs, and taken out in public. Here I've included training tips and how to teach your dog important things.
STEP 1: Heirarchy - a Puppies Place
Dogs should be at the bottom of the heirarchy, you should be at the top. You need to show your dog who's boss! To show your dog that you are "top dog" theres a few simple things that you can do:
Eat before your dog and dont ever feed the dog while you are eating.
When out walking do NOT let the dog walk in front of you. A dog walking in front is a leader. The leader should be you.
Do not let your dog get their food until you say so. Teach your dog "wait" (i will expplain how in this instructable)
If your dog watches you eat, growl at the dog. Yes growl. You might look stupid, but the dog will soon learn to stay away from you while you eat, like they would in the wild.
Credit to mrmath for this v
Best way to become alpha dog, and I've used this on huskies with serious alpha dog issues: make eye contact, and make them look away. Eye contact is big for dogs. Stare at them. Right in the eyes. Don't look away until they do, and only after they do.
Eat before your dog and dont ever feed the dog while you are eating.
When out walking do NOT let the dog walk in front of you. A dog walking in front is a leader. The leader should be you.
Do not let your dog get their food until you say so. Teach your dog "wait" (i will expplain how in this instructable)
If your dog watches you eat, growl at the dog. Yes growl. You might look stupid, but the dog will soon learn to stay away from you while you eat, like they would in the wild.
Credit to mrmath for this v
Best way to become alpha dog, and I've used this on huskies with serious alpha dog issues: make eye contact, and make them look away. Eye contact is big for dogs. Stare at them. Right in the eyes. Don't look away until they do, and only after they do.
STEP 2: Basic Manners
1. Furniture.
If you dont want your dog climbing on your sofas, never allow them on there. From a young age, NEVER let the dog on the furniture. If its too late for that, when a dog jumps on the furniture. As soon as they jump up say "NO!" and take the dogs collar and guide them to the floor. Then go back to whatever you were doing.
2. People.
If your dog jumps up at people, Then it is important to break this habbit. To do this, tell any visitors or members of your household then if the dog jupt up at them, to turn their back to the dog and fold their arms whilst telling the dog "no"
3. Other dogs.
If your dog plain doesnt like other dogs, dont put it in a situation where it will be near them. To avoid this, socialise puppies from a young age, on a lead, and in a calm manner. The only way to do this is exposure to other dogs as much as possible from a young age.
4. Walking on the lead.
A dog should walk on the lead in a calm controlled fashion, and shouldnt pull on the lead. When the dog is a puppy teach it this by pulling it back whenever it goes ahead and saying no. Remember LOTS of praise when the dog is walking well! For adult dogs, this behaviour CAN be corrected. Again with the growling, when the dog pulls growl and say no. Also when the dog pulls stop and turn and walk the other way. Continue to do this until the dog gets the idea.
*BE CONSISTANT*
Also, a note for the owners, Always clean up after your dog!
5. Chewing.
This behaviour is hard to correct, however I'll do my best to explain. Firstly, If you dont want something chewed, keep it out of the dogs way. If they do get anything, show it to the dog, and say "whats this?! bad dog!" and roll up a newspaper and hit THE FLOOR OR YOUR LEG * NEVER HIT THE DOG*
If you dont want your dog climbing on your sofas, never allow them on there. From a young age, NEVER let the dog on the furniture. If its too late for that, when a dog jumps on the furniture. As soon as they jump up say "NO!" and take the dogs collar and guide them to the floor. Then go back to whatever you were doing.
2. People.
If your dog jumps up at people, Then it is important to break this habbit. To do this, tell any visitors or members of your household then if the dog jupt up at them, to turn their back to the dog and fold their arms whilst telling the dog "no"
3. Other dogs.
If your dog plain doesnt like other dogs, dont put it in a situation where it will be near them. To avoid this, socialise puppies from a young age, on a lead, and in a calm manner. The only way to do this is exposure to other dogs as much as possible from a young age.
4. Walking on the lead.
A dog should walk on the lead in a calm controlled fashion, and shouldnt pull on the lead. When the dog is a puppy teach it this by pulling it back whenever it goes ahead and saying no. Remember LOTS of praise when the dog is walking well! For adult dogs, this behaviour CAN be corrected. Again with the growling, when the dog pulls growl and say no. Also when the dog pulls stop and turn and walk the other way. Continue to do this until the dog gets the idea.
*BE CONSISTANT*
Also, a note for the owners, Always clean up after your dog!
5. Chewing.
This behaviour is hard to correct, however I'll do my best to explain. Firstly, If you dont want something chewed, keep it out of the dogs way. If they do get anything, show it to the dog, and say "whats this?! bad dog!" and roll up a newspaper and hit THE FLOOR OR YOUR LEG * NEVER HIT THE DOG*
STEP 3: Name, Come, Sit and Stay
Teaching a dog its name:
Once you have chosed a suitable name for your dog, you can start to teach the dog its name. Teaching the dog its name is pretty simple, say it to the dog continually, not like "rex, rex, rex, rex" but i imagine that would probably work... But i prefur to use the more personal version, "rex, hello rex come here rex, whos a good rex? your a good rex!" yes, sounds stupid, but it works
Teaching a dog to come.
Start with a short distance, on a lead. Call the dog, then shorten the lead, when the dog gets to you, Treat / favourite toy + lots of praise. Gradually increase the space and loose the lead. It differs for every dog, some learn fast, others take more time. but all will learn eventually/
Sit.
This is pretty easy. Most dogs pick this up. Treats / favourite toy - Highly reccomended.
You can teach a dog sit, by gently tapping the dogs err rump (not too good wording i know)
and saying sit. Also when the dog sits, of their own accord, say "sit, good boy/girl"
I learned a great way to get my puppy to sit, without pushing his rump down. Hold a treat slightly over and behind the snout; the dog automatically sits. Once the dog sits, say SIT and then the treat. Repeat 100 times.. :-)
credit to get_going for this
Stay.
Stay usually goes hand in hand with sit. Hand signals are usually good for stay. hold your hand out flat and say stay firmly. If the dog moves, take them back to the position you told them to stay in and try again. Repeat until the dog stays there for 30 seconds call to you and praise, give treat or favourite toy. Gradually increase the time for 30 seconds to 45, and then a minute, 2 minutes and work up to 5 + minutes
Once you have chosed a suitable name for your dog, you can start to teach the dog its name. Teaching the dog its name is pretty simple, say it to the dog continually, not like "rex, rex, rex, rex" but i imagine that would probably work... But i prefur to use the more personal version, "rex, hello rex come here rex, whos a good rex? your a good rex!" yes, sounds stupid, but it works
Teaching a dog to come.
Start with a short distance, on a lead. Call the dog, then shorten the lead, when the dog gets to you, Treat / favourite toy + lots of praise. Gradually increase the space and loose the lead. It differs for every dog, some learn fast, others take more time. but all will learn eventually/
Sit.
This is pretty easy. Most dogs pick this up. Treats / favourite toy - Highly reccomended.
You can teach a dog sit, by gently tapping the dogs err rump (not too good wording i know)
and saying sit. Also when the dog sits, of their own accord, say "sit, good boy/girl"
I learned a great way to get my puppy to sit, without pushing his rump down. Hold a treat slightly over and behind the snout; the dog automatically sits. Once the dog sits, say SIT and then the treat. Repeat 100 times.. :-)
credit to get_going for this
Stay.
Stay usually goes hand in hand with sit. Hand signals are usually good for stay. hold your hand out flat and say stay firmly. If the dog moves, take them back to the position you told them to stay in and try again. Repeat until the dog stays there for 30 seconds call to you and praise, give treat or favourite toy. Gradually increase the time for 30 seconds to 45, and then a minute, 2 minutes and work up to 5 + minutes
STEP 4: Lie Down, Wait, Drop It
Lie down -
Sit is needed for this. So get the dog to adopt the sit position, and hold your hand palm down, and lower your hand slowly and say "lie down", Then lift the dogs front paws and then put them down but, in the lay down position. Once the dog is in the lay down position, LOTS of praise, and treat/favourite toy. Repeat until the dog will lie down of their own accord. Then MORE praise and treat/favourite toy.
Wait -
This includes a treat. The treat needs to go on the floor, when the dog goes to get it, stop the dog and say wait. after 1 minute let the dog get the treat after you say "go on then" . Gradually increase the time.
Drop It -
Drop is VERY important. Imagine if your dog had a cat, or another animal or something important? It is important to teach a dog drop. You will need a teddy or ball or toy of some kind.
give it to the dog. Let the dog play with it for a minute, then call the dog back, take the toy out of the dogs mouth and say "drop it" then throw the toy again and repeat. Throwing the toy again is important so the dog learns that giving it to you is ok, because the dog gets it back again. Although this is not always the case... I recently used this in an "emergency" cassie caught a bird... luckily she didnt hurt it, it was just a bit stunned. But drop is very important for games such as fetch.
Sit is needed for this. So get the dog to adopt the sit position, and hold your hand palm down, and lower your hand slowly and say "lie down", Then lift the dogs front paws and then put them down but, in the lay down position. Once the dog is in the lay down position, LOTS of praise, and treat/favourite toy. Repeat until the dog will lie down of their own accord. Then MORE praise and treat/favourite toy.
Wait -
This includes a treat. The treat needs to go on the floor, when the dog goes to get it, stop the dog and say wait. after 1 minute let the dog get the treat after you say "go on then" . Gradually increase the time.
Drop It -
Drop is VERY important. Imagine if your dog had a cat, or another animal or something important? It is important to teach a dog drop. You will need a teddy or ball or toy of some kind.
give it to the dog. Let the dog play with it for a minute, then call the dog back, take the toy out of the dogs mouth and say "drop it" then throw the toy again and repeat. Throwing the toy again is important so the dog learns that giving it to you is ok, because the dog gets it back again. Although this is not always the case... I recently used this in an "emergency" cassie caught a bird... luckily she didnt hurt it, it was just a bit stunned. But drop is very important for games such as fetch.
26 Comments
misard 7 years ago
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MoxiiLette 10 years ago
obviously none of the other people who posted owned a wolf hybrid; they do in fact challenge you for 'alpha'..our female did, everyday. She was a tough one to train because of it. But very good tips:) The stay command took a bit, but got it!
jmarshall35 7 years ago
peeter.suns 9 years ago
Doghouse Instructions: Please explore the rest of this site to learn that how to improve the lives of chained or “backyard dogs.” http://dailycome.com/doghouse-instructions-and-important-tips/
fidgety2 11 years ago
thank you,
fidgety2
msminnamouse 11 years ago
And forcing dogs to live together in our homes does not constitute a pack.
http://www.jeandonaldson.com/jeans-blog-mainmenu-51/64-are-dogs-pack-animals
I'd encourage people to look at what ethologists are saying about social behavior of dogs and how they best learn. Bullying and intimidating your dog is NOT how they learn best and is a good way to get bitten.
Furthermore, dominant and submissive are not personality traits. Please find out about what dominance actually is before you go around misapplying the term. The article "Social Dominance Is Not a Myth: Wolves, Dogs, and Other Animals" by Dr. Mark Bekoff clears up what dominance and submission are and what they are not.
knackers11 12 years ago
Dogs aren't trying to dominate us. They know we aren't dogs and their hierarchies don't include us. Their social structures aren't so rigid that the alpha is out front all the time. My own alpha dog rarely leads the pack. The only time he leads is when he wants to be chased.
You really don't need to think like a dog to get a dog's respect. I have seven large dogs and they're all well behaved, compete in tracking, and are do volunteer search and rescue work. You don't need to growl at them or force them to drop eye contact. I encourage eye contact with my dogs so they can learn distraction attention - they have to maintain eye contact even if there are other people present, loud noises, food temptations. It's a great way to build a relationship with your dog and they learn to look to your body for direction. As someone else states below, eye contact just indicates attention and interaction, nothing more.
WhyHello 13 years ago
Avril Munson 13 years ago
If seen as a challenge the dog can feel forced feeling trapped, not good!
With a dog that has a good relationship with the person direct eye contact simply represents attention and interaction between owner and dog. My dog sees me as leader and we can hold eye contact as enjoyable for both of us!
cddog 14 years ago
harley_rly 14 years ago
ryman753 15 years ago
snickdog 14 years ago
The trick to training huskies (for that matter, any working breed)is to respect your dog for who she is, and be someone worthy of herrespect. Huskies don't do well at all with any force-based methodsof training. Think about it -- this is a breed that was bred to be 20 ormore feet in front of a musher, making snap decisions that could meanthe life of the team and musher... and you're going to force themdo do stuff just because you tell them to? Not a plan...
Make training FUN, with a purpose that makes sense to the husky. For example, we all know that huskies aren't retrievers, but mine willpick up and hand me things that I drop on cue. They do it becausethey think they're helping me, not because I made them.
Be clear, don't confuse your husky. Make sure your husky knows whosigns the paycheck by asking her to 'say please' with a sit, or a down,or high-ten, or whatever you've trained her to do when ever she wantssomething from you. This way she'll learn that she doesn't getanything by being a jerk, but if she's nice you will give her any thingshe wants (within reason, that is!).
Clicker training is PERFECT for working with huskies (or any dog,cat, bird, horse, etc, for that matter!). Here's a great websitewritten by a fantastic clicker trainer that teaches you how to train anydog to do just about anything you want, using a 'levels' format andclicker training:
http://dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%20Dog1/levels.html
By the way, NEVER SHAVE a Nordic breed! This shedding istotally normal and natural. Their coats are extremely special --they lose (blow) their undercoat twice a year. First in the springthey lose their winter insulating coat, and grow a different insulationfor the summer to protect them from sunburn and heat. Then in the fallthey lose the summer coat and grow the winter coat back. If youshave it, you interrupt the proper growth. Then, it can take up toTHREE YEARS for the coat to come back correctly. Not to mention,if you shave them in the summer, their skin is not used to the sun andwill get sunburned.
To get a handle on the copious amounts of shedding, brush your dog everyday during coat blow. Use a Furminator, or a shedding rake, or ashedding tool -- you want the old undercoat to come out so that the dogdoesn't develop hot spots. Alternately, if you have access to agroomer's force dryer, you can take your dog outside and aim the dryerat her while brushing to really get the hair out.
lynnieaa 14 years ago
mrmath 15 years ago
snickdog 14 years ago
http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/dominance%20statement.pdf
http://www.askdryin.com/dominance.php
Behavior problems are the #1 cause of canine death in this country. By learning about the SCIENCE of animal and canine behavior and acting appropriately with out canine friends, we can help reduce that death rate...
jean jurkiewicz 14 years ago
Stephii 14 years ago
ryman753 15 years ago
Stephii 15 years ago