You And Your Dog: Getting It All Together
So you're a new pet owner -- specifically a dog owner? Congratulations! I know that you and your dog will, over time, become perfect companions -- and enjoy many long, happy years together.
But before you bring Fido home, there are some things that you need to do, and some things that you need to learn, in order to make this a rewarding experience for the both of you. The first thing that you will need is access to good dog training. Your dog, and your dog's behavior, is a reflection on you, the owner. One option, of course, is to purchase dog training courses or take obedience classes with your dog. In addition to this, you can search the Internet for many free dog training tips. If you will look for websites associated with veterinary practices, dog trainers, or pet enthusiast clubs, you can usually locate some free dog training tips with very little difficulty.
Once your new dog comes home, the work will really begin. Perhaps your greatest, as well as your first biggest challenge will be to house train your dog. House training a dog can be a real challenge -- indeed, for those first few weeks it can seem like a full-time job! But with a little patience, you can get your pet properly house trained. To help you in this, crate training a dog is also beneficial. Crate training also provides the additional benefit in helping your dog to learn to be comfortable in a cage or travel carrier. It is essential that a dog learn to travel, especially while confined, so don't neglect their crate training.
If you will be using your dog as a hunting companion, then when they are a little older they will need to begin this training as well. Training a hunting dog -- including such things as bird dog training -- will turn your beloved pet into a valued member of your hunting party. It is important, when training your dog, to make sure that they do not develop antisocial behaviors. Dog bite training is also another essential -- you do not want your dog to injure someone else by inflicting a dog bite; this could even result in legal action against you the owner. Dog bite training is an essential for any dog, but especially those dogs which are confined in urban areas. What's the best way to control and shape your dog's behavior? Opinions on this subject vary, of course. Some favor the use of electronic dog training collars -- some prefer the use of positive rewards and reinforcements instead, such as dog training treats as well as a lot of praise when your dog performs well. I personally do not like to see an electronic dog training collar used on any dog, as I think they are unnecessary, only serve to confuse your dog, and if misused can physically injure your dog as well. In general, in order to be successful in raising and training your new dog, learn as much about them as you can -- not only their breed but their individual personality as well. Be patient with them, reward them when they do well, adjust your tactics as necessary to control their bad behavior -- and don't forget to HAVE FUN with your dog. Here's to your success in training your dog!
|
