Tagged as man's best friend and extremely popularized by Goofy, Snoopy and Scooby Doo, dogs are undoubtedly the most popular household pet in the world. Add to this a handful of TV shows displaying dog tricks ranging from basic “sit-stay-come commands” to dogs doing relay races, not to mention dogs competing in Frisbee games, one cannot help but wish that his own puppy at home can someday be Lassie. The question is how exactly do you turn your own pet into an extremely talented-being admired by all-obedient and intellectual dog?
First Things First
Let him meet his Alpha. Dogs are known for traveling in packs with a leader called Alpha. In the wild, the Alpha is the one who decides on the action of the group. More importantly, he feeds on the preys first before letting the others get their share. This means that at home, you are the boss. Serve him dinner only after you have finished your meal. Do not let unacceptable behaviors pass. Show disappointment and frustration when he begs for food or run away from you.
Know your Own
It is important that you know your dog well. Learn to interpret his behavior and relate it to the situations that resulted to such action. Most dogs exemplify a common behavioral pattern. You can also use their physical appearances to identify their emotions. One example is a happy, excited dog which most probably would have perked up ears and a wagging tail. Knowing your pet's various emotions will serve as a tool in dog training.
Patience is the Key!
Training a dog or any other animal for that matter entails an enormous amount of patience. Your dog does not understand human language, thus the command should be explained to him in dog-language. This consists of explicitly and repeatedly showing him how to follow a command and rewarding him once he obeys. Being impatient and frustrated would only give him the idea that training causes you unhappiness.
Repetition and Consistency
Do short trainings several times a day. Three to four five-minute or ten-minute sessions will do. Keep in mind also that consistency is another key factor. Thus, it is better if you set a fixed training schedule for your dog, say two morning sessions and another two in the afternoon. Do this everyday and he will more or less be up and about come training time and be able to do tricks on his own without your guidance. Be consistent as well in your policies inside the house. If you don't usually let him lie down on the carpeted floor, never allow him even if you feel like being a sweet boss! This will confuse him and may do more pain than gain on your part.
Prize, Prize, Prize!
Giving a reward after your dog has performed a specific act will make him associate prize with obedience. You have the option to vary your prizes, say, for tricks that are harder to do such as “roll-over”, give him two treats instead of just one. After several sessions, he will begin to realize that obedience equals a treat and doing better means more treats!
A Sense of Pride
Patience, repetition, consistency, determination, proper care, love - all these plus tons of Pedigree will eventually give you a dog you will be proud of. And once you see your pet doing his “sit, stay, come, roll-over and fetch” tricks in front of a crowd and hear his audience's applause, you'll realize all your efforts are worth it.
