Dog Training Camps and the 4 Fundamentals of Training

Dog Training

Is there a canine problem in your household? Does your pooch get on everyone's nerves?

No doubt about it, being the owner of a poorly behaving canine can be really stressful. The continuous barking and jumping up, perhaps even nipping and other aggressive and disrespectful conduct can put you in the dog house with your close friends and neighbors. What's a canine owner to do?

Well, how about packing up your little darling and sending him off to boot camp? Many owners seek to do just that. They shell out big bucks in the wish that obedience training at a boot camp for canines will supply a solution to their dog behavior difficulties.

Are these dog training camps effective?

The answer is a definite maybe!

As one glove doesn't fit all, and all dogs aren't created equal, these instruction courses might show results in only a few dogs.

Here are the important points of dog training camps:

Dog training camps have intensive instruction programs generally known as 'doggie boot camps'. These programs are for dogs which are difficult to educate, and many also promise to correct behavioral problems. Similar to any other boot camp, your canine will need to live at the school for the duration of the course. Nevertheless, should you live nearby, you may be allowed to take little Fifi home for the night. The time frame of a boot camp could be between a week and a month, depending on the system. As you may anticipate, the fees, content and length will differ considerably from school to school.

Most boot camps for dogs will start with the basics: sit down, stand, stay, walk on a loose leash, and come when called. Their program is likely to include teaching of good manners such as not jumping on individuals, taking food/treats gently, etc. If your dog needs special attention, many schools offer the facility of creating a program to fit your canine, at an additional cost, obviously.

While there are many (apparently) happy customers of these dog training camps, there are also a big number of dissidents. One stated drawback of boot camps is that several facilities use punishment-based techniques. When dogs are regarded as important members of the family, their masters will not put up with any thing that smacks of canine mistreatment.

However, by most accounts the popularity of boot camps is on the upswing. This is most likely due to the time required if owners wish to educate their own pets. A boot camp is really a timesaver, and as a result provides a quick and easy fix. Obviously a huge part of their dog's negative behavior probably stems from their own lack of leadership and ineffective communication. Whilst expert obedience instruction can make a huge difference in your dog's behavior, bear in mind that the most effective instruction still comes from the canine owner.

Here are the fundamentals of do it yourself dog training:

Employ the reward method.

When the canine obeys a command, you can reward him with positive affirmation (good boy), or a treat or playtime with a preferred toy. This type of training strengthens the bond between canine and master. The initial and most essential point your dog needs to understand is that you are the leader of the pack. This understanding is a must, or all your efforts will be futile. This understanding will shape the foundation of all future instruction, and will render a dog training camp decision moot.

Establish your position.

One way to do it is to provide him an order to eat after putting the food into his bowl. Should you leave food out in his dish and put it down and disappear, your canine might fail to understand the source of the food. However, if you make him first sit and then put the dish down, he'll understand that you manage the food. The truth is that in dog culture, the pack leader rules the food. It is only with his permission and consent that the next in the pecking order eats, and so on down the ranks. Once he has to seek your authorization, he will understand that you are the boss. In the same way, one should first make him sit down prior to letting him go outside. Once you open the front door, have him sit until you issue him an order to go outside.

Always lead when walking your dog.

This will establish you as the pack leader. Ensure that you are the very first one out the door and also the first one back in. Your dog should keep pace beside or behind you while walking. Manage your pet's movement by using a short leash. Use the tether to communicate, guide, and correct your dog.

Concentrate on one command at a time.

Make certain you do this until it is correctly understood, or misunderstandings might set in. While training your canine to obey an order, indicate to him what you expect him to do and continually repeat the word you want him to respond to. For example, while training him to sit down, lightly push down his rear while repeating the word 'sit', and reward him with a treat when he does conform.

Conclusion:

Now that you've read the fundamentals of canine training, do you still wish to dispatch your pet to a boot camp? If so, then at least you ought to do a little background check on the proposed camp. Find out in depth the techniques being employed by the dog trainers for behavior changes. In addition, find out if the coaches are qualified to conduct the training. Better still, if you've the time, be present to view the process. For good measure, also ask for a list of verifiable veterinarian references. From them you are able to confirm if the techniques used by the school produce results.