A guide to dog obedience training

© KeeT little girl with puppy
© KeeT
Know the dog
Every pet owner should learn as much about the breed of the pet dog as possible. Knowing the characteristics of the breed can help point to the right direction of training.

For example, most dog breeds will bark, but some breeds are known for doing so all the time. If the pet owner knows this they can in turn try no bark training methods.
Set the Rules
From the moment the dog or puppy enters the home training should begin.

It is important for owners to set the limits for the new pet, and to not allow exceptions. If the dog gets away with doing something once and are later punished for the same thing it will only be confused. So from the beginning let the pet know if there are areas of the home it should not go.
Punishments
There are many obedience training methods to choose from. Nonviolent methods are advised. Violent methods can cause a lack of trust and behaviour problems later on.

A common method of punishment is called crate training. For this punishment a crate or kennel is used as a type of time out. If the dog does something wrong, like chew up mom’s slippers, then it would be put in the crate. Crates are also often used when the owners are away. This keeps the pet from destroying anything while the owners are out.
Rewards
In obedience training rewards should be given for good behaviour. Rewards can range from the commonly used tasty treat to a little extra play time. If the pet is being crate trained a reward may be to shorten the amount of time spent in the crate. Some owners find that by giving their dog more free playtime the pet will be more behaved during down time.