Dog Training: Pro Versus Self-Trained, Which is Best

Now that you have your new pooch, you need to train him. Yes you do, dont argue with me. Hes not a human. He doesnt get to do whatever he wants to do. He cant poop where he feels like pooping. He cant chew up whatever he wants. He needs to be trained, for your happiness and his. But should you do it yourself or should you have him professionally trained? The answer really depends on how much time you are willing to invest.

No matter the training (protection, behavior, search and rescue, tricks), you will invest a LOT of time training your pupeven if you have a professional do the training. If you have a professional train your dog, you will still have to follow up after he finishes basic training. You have to be consistent. You have to have patience. And you have to know what youre doing, which is the mistake a lot of first-time dog owners make. They equate loving a new puppy with knowing how to take of and train a new pup. Thats where they make their first mistake.

If youre going to train the dog yourself, there are a few basic commands every dog should know regardless of what type of training you give your new best friend. If Fido knows these commands and no other, and you work with him every day, he will be a well-behaved dog.

  • Come this is the most important command your dog should understand (next to, Dont poop there!). If Fido wont come to you when called, hes not an obedient dog.

  • Sit Another important command is Sit. A dog that will sit when commanded is under the direct control of the owner.

  • Stay Stay is often used in conjunction with Sit.

  • Down All dogs need to know what it means when their master says Down. Down is often used for the over excitable pup whos constantly jumping on people.

  • Go to bed especially as pups, dogs tend to sleep when they want to. But if you dont get your dog used to sleeping when you want him to sleep, youll deal with the terrible twos his entire life. If he knows what Go to bed means, hell sleep when you want him to. And if youre smart, that will be when you go to sleep.

  • Drop it Drop it is one of the most useful commands for your dog to know. Dogs tend to pick up everything in their mouthsremote controls, hats, sunglasses, little children. If you dog understands Drop it, you can make him drop your little brother whenever hes using him as a chew toy.

  • Leave it and Take it Leave it and Take it are used to teach dogs to pick up after themselves. Both are hard to teach, but very useful when you need a beer out of the fridge.

  • Heel Heel, also Close or By me, is used to keep a dog right at the handlers leg whether standing still or walking.

  • Okay and Okay is your dogs favorite command. Okay releases the dog from sit, stay, heel and so forth. Okay is also used to release the dog from training and lets him begin his favorite part of the dayplaytime.

    But most people want even more training for their dogs, whether it is for protection, sport or fun. For most advanced training, especially if you are a first-time dog owner, its best to let a professional handle it. They have the equipment, they have the know-how and they have the time. Most advanced training, especially personal protection training, requires spending hours upon hours with your dog on a daily basis. And lets face it, most of us dont have that kind of time. But just remember, no matter what kind of training you decide on, simple behavior training, protection, search and rescue or tricks, you will have to reinforce the training on a daily basis. If youre not willing to do this, you wont be a very happy ownerand it will be your fault. As corny as it sounds, a well trained dog equals a happy dog.

    Allen Shaw is a successful author who provides information on dogs, dog training and puppies.



    Written By: Allen Shaw


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