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| Photo by : NomadSoul1 |
Having a dog as a pet brings a lot of joy to everyday life, provided you can communicate with him! The dog is a very endearing and intelligent animal, and it is possible to teach it a multitude of tricks. But before making him a champion (if that’s what you want), there are a few basic commandments that he must assimilate in order to make your cohabitation more harmonious. Indeed, nobody wants to be dominated by a dog out of control. Your pet needs to know who the leader is and obey the orders he receives.
Here is an overview of the first commands to teach him. In fact, if you have no particular ambitions for your pet’s “career,” you should spend extraordinary moments with him throughout his life by teaching him only these few basic commands.
What method should you use?
Training a puppy to obey orders takes time, availability, patience, and lots of love! There are many websites and videos made by professional trainers who can help you in this process. If you’re not sure how to go about it, a “kindergarten” class for young dogs is recommended. These multi-session sessions are excellent for both the puppy and the owner because they cover all the basic commands and lead you through specific exercises to do at home so that the dog assimilates what you want to teach him.
Many trainers use the clicker method, which is known to be very effective. The clicker is a small object that makes a sound that never changes. It’s really practical because the dog quickly recognizes that the noise occurs when he does something right (often followed by a treat), and he understands that he should repeat the action he was doing at the exact moment the noise occurred.
In any case, no matter what training method you choose for your dog, never use violence, hit or dryly push the animal, punish it or lock it up when it does something stupid. The use of violence is indeed the best way to create behavioral problems in your pet.
Its name
Of course, your dog’s name is the very first thing he needs to know so he knows when you’re talking to him. Usually, this can be done without any difficulty within a few days, even if the puppy you acquire is very young. Just repeat it often, every time you do something or play games with him. Even if he doesn’t yet understand the orders you give him, he will quickly recognize that his name comes up every time you talk to him, and will know that it’s him you’re talking about. At about 6-7 months, he may not respond to your call. This is not because he has forgotten his name, but because he is in the midst of a “teenage crisis” and wants to do what he wants. But don’t be discouraged, and above all, continue to call him frequently. This period usually lasts only a few (intense) weeks.
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No (or stop) Like any baby, your puppy wants to touch everything, jump around and experiment. That’s okay up to a point, but he still needs to know how to stop when these actions aren’t allowed. If he gnaws on chair legs, jumps on everyone and takes over the family couch, you need to make him understand that you don’t agree. A sharp and emphatic NO, by raising your voice a little (but not shouting) every time he does an unwanted action, is usually enough. If he doesn’t obey immediately, help him (e.g., say “no” when you get him off the couch.) Also, when you forbid an action, it’s best not to say his name so that he doesn’t make a negative association. Say “NO! “instead of “MEDOR, NO! ».
Heel There’s nothing more unpleasant than a dog constantly pulling on his leash, forcing you to hold him back and run after him so he doesn’t fall over. At a very young age, the dog must learn to walk on a leash beside you. To do this, you must get him used to walking on a tight leash from day one (leashes that stretch for several meters are useless in this case). Start by getting him used to wearing his collar and taking short walks with you in the house or outside. It’s much easier to start this training indoors because the thousands of smells that rise to his brain when he’s outside can quickly distract him. Sitting Again, this is a very handy command to get their attention and prevent them from jumping on you or your visitors. Sitting is natural for the dog, and it’s easy for him to assimilate it when you press his hindquarters when you say the command (and offer him a treat when he obeys you). Lying This commandment is normally learned when the “sit” is well understood. Trainers recommend starting from a seated position and teaching the child to lie down, gently pulling the pasta forward when the word is spoken. This position should allow the dog to calm down when overexcited after a game, unexpected visit or walk, for example. Carpet The dog must also learn to relax on his own on his cushion or in his basket. This is very appreciated when you have visitors who don’t particularly appreciate Pitous, when you want to cook in peace, or simply when you need a little privacy. Rather than teaching him order simply with his cushion, it is better for him to understand that any delimited surface can be a carpet (his bed, the entrance mat, a towel, etc.). In this way, it becomes possible to give him this order even if we are not at home. Remains Once your dog is sitting, lying down, or on his cushion, he may believe that, having obeyed you, he now has the right to come back to you. That’s why it’s so important to teach him the command “Stay! “It is important to do this in a really gradual way so that your dog understands this order. Start with a few seconds, then gradually increase the time, distractions and distance between you and the dog. Come Teaching your dog to remember is very important. It is essential that he knows that he has no choice when you tell him to come. Once again, you have to go gradually to make him understand this command. You start at home, then go for short distances in a closed area (yard, dog park), or by holding him with an extended leash. The young dog is very easily distracted when walking outside, and may not listen much, at least at first. But just be vigilant and patient, and the order will eventually “get in his head” after a few weeks of training. What about the other commandments? There are literally dozens of things you can teach your pet to do: paw, play dead, act cute, crawl, bring things, jump over things, bark on command, ring a bell when it wants to go out to relieve itself, put away toys… And the list is almost endless! If you have the desire and patience, hours of play and fun await you, but it is essential to start with the basic commands. Once you can communicate in this way, it will be easier to teach him other tricks. |
