Dog Training - The Basic Commands
By Tony Robinson, Fri Dec 9th

There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm,obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and traineddogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles withpeople or with other dogs. Another reason is that manycommunities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoodsbe well trained. This is especially true for many breeds thoughtto have aggression and behavior problems - dog breeds like pitbulls and rottweilers for instance.

And of course, training your dog well will also make he or she amuch better family companion, especially in households wherethere are young children. Many studies have shown that properdog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting downthe number of dog bits and other behavior problems encounteredby dog owning households.

When considering training your own dog, or having someone elsehelp you train it, there are certain basic commands that must bemastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained.These basic commands include:

1Heel - it is important that any dog learn to walk beside itsowner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind

2Respond to the word No - the word no is one word that all dogsmust learn. Training your dog to respond to this important wordcan save you a ton of trouble.

3Sit - Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part ofany program.

4Stay - A well trained dog should remain where his or her ownercommands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.

5Down - Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick;it is a key component of any successful program.

does much more than just create an obedient,willing companion. Training your dog properly actuallystrengthens the bond that already exists between dog andhandler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their packleader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dogtraining is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important conceptfor any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only oneleader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish himor herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to allmanner of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the

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owner'scommands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure orconfusion. A good program will focus on allowingthe dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will usepositive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community,obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog'sown needs, including the need for exercise, the security thatcomes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling ofaccomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler.Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and animportant goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogswere originally bred by humans to do important work, such asherding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Manydogs today have no important job to do, and this can often leadto boredom and neurotic behavior.

Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, providethe dog with an important job to do. This is especiallyimportant for high energy breeds like German shepherds andborder collies. Training sessions are a great way for these highenergy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoythemselves.

Incorporating playtime into your sessions is agreat way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becomingbored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the allimportant bond between you - the pack leader - and your dog.

About the author:Tony Robinson is an international author and dog lover. Hiswebsite http://www.dogtraining4u.com contains valuable insightsinto the life of our canine friends.