Dog Training Advice

Anyone who owns a dog will appreciate how important dog training is. Dogs can be trained whatever their age, not just puppies, and the results will save a lot of unnecessary upset at home.

I have a border terrier dog named Ruby. I bought her at 9 weeks old and she is now almost two. I was lucky that a friend already owned border terriers and she gave me a lot of information about this breed such as exercise requirements and their personalities, which helped me decide to buy a border terrier.

If you are looking for a dog it is a good idea to do some research into the breed and find out about exercise, feeding and adult sizes. It is pointless buying a puppy that will grow very big if you do not have the space to house it correctly, or if you are unable to give it enough exercise.

At first I felt I was getting nowhere. All I seemed to do was follow her around and try to teach her the basics. I knew that praise when necessary was essential to her training progress. Regardless of what you are training your dog to do, you will find that lots of praise and encouragement works wonders. The more they get it right, the more they want to please you.

At the same time, you need to let your dog know when they have got it wrong or done something bad. A stern voice is all that is required for them to take notice and stop. Never resort to hitting your dog as punishment because this leads to confusion and sometimes aggression.

If you have a dog that you find does not respond to well to walking on a lead then I would highly recommend buying a harness instead. There are many available in pet shops and once you have mastered the art of fitting and adjusting it they can be put on very quickly. My dog can be very excitable at the prospect of walkies but I have found that she responds much better when walking with a harness.

This is only a little guide to help you get started with training your dog. It is a great idea to buy a dog training book from the very beginning and read about it as much as possible. If you are prepared to put in the effort, your dog will be well trained and content. Always ensure that training is fun for both of you and is done in a safe place.

These first dog training tips are not going to result in a show dog; they are merely initial steps to begin basic training. My dog is not an expert, but she is well trained and obedient and a great pet to have around. If you are interested in training your dog too I can recommend an e-book that will help you get great results.