Dog Behavior,Training Basics - TIPS

The command voice

A reliable tone of voice is vital to exacting obedience from a dog. This tone may seem harsh or domineering to new dog owners, but the dog responds best to this kind of "bossiness". For more pleasure-oriented communications, such as praising the dog, feeding, or play, a higher-pitched tone of voice is useful, but for simple obedience, the human equivalent of a bark seems to work best. 

In all training and discipline, the dog's name is an important command component. In early training, most commands are prefaced with the name: Fido come is more powerful to a young dog of that name than a simple Come. After the dog is trained, the name need not be used every time, but when used; the name always adds emphasis to the command.

Basic Commands

Here are a few commands that almost every dog should respond to:

• Come: This command, also referred to as the recall, is important. If the dog won't come when called, it is not an obedient dog. One method for training begins by allowing the dog to walk out on a long leash or line, then calling it by name and the command Come. This method might need a quick, light tug on the leash to get the dog moving when first teaching this command. Like all commands, it is successful only if the dog is rewarded when it completes the command and only if the practice is repeated-under different situation and distances and gradually removing the controls-until the dog performs flawlessly.
• Sit: This command is also crucial. Sitting dogs are under the handler's direct control. It is common to precede other commands, such as the Stay command, with a sit command. One method for training uses a treat held in front of the dog's nose and passed back over its head, forcing the dog to sit. Sit and Stay are used in combination with many other commands.
• Stay: This command gives peace of mind. An owner can park her dog while doing something else. One method of training involves placing the dog in a sit or a down position, then telling it to stay while stepping away from the dog. If the dog stays, the handler rewards it while it is still in the position.
• Lie down or down: this command allows even superior control than sitting. One training method uses a treat drawn forward and down across the dog's face, forcing it to lie down to get at it. Since even people without dogs are familiar with this command and use it when dogs are bothering them, the better the dog is at it, the better it can get along strangers and visitors.
• Go to .. or get in: Directs the dog to go to its bed or into its crate and to remain there until released. The dog has freedom of movement in that location to stand up, turn around, or lie down, unlike when placed in a Stay. This command is useful to keep a dog out from underfoot and safe in a busy or complicated situation.
• Drop or drop it: Dogs pick up all sorts of things, some of which they shouldn't have. A dog that drops anything on command, no matter how attractive, is a dog under control that the owner can prevent from eating dangerous items or from destroying valued personal property.
• Leave it: An adjunct to Drop, directing the dog to not touch an item. Also useful before the dog has picked anything up. One method of training involves leaving a treat on the ground and walking the dog past it without allowing the dog to pick it up. Leave it is also used in conjunction with Take it.
• Take it: The dog leaves a desired object, such as a toy or treat, untouched until given this command. This can protect an owner's, or child's fingers.
• Heel: The dog walks with its head directly next to the master's leg and does not deviate until released. One method of training accompanies the command with a slap to the thigh indicating where the handler wants the dog's head.
• Okay, Free, or Release: Releases the dog from Stay, Heel, Sit, and so forth. Also a general release to play.

The specific command word is not important, although the preceding list covers some of the more common words. Short, clear words that are easily understood by other humans are generally recommended; that way, people will understand what a master is telling his dog to do and other masters have a good chance of controlling someone else's dog if necessary. In fact, dogs can learn commands in any language or other communications medium, including whistles, mouth sounds, hand gestures, and so forth.

While dogs can be trained far beyond these rudiments, a dog that obeys these commands will be a pleasure to keep and take out. Off-leash obedience is the trademark of a well-trained dog.

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