Dog Training 101

There's an old saying that claims "you can't teach an old dog new tricks", but this is not necessarily true. While it may take longer to train older dogs than it will for puppies, adult canines may still be taught "new tricks." By following a few simple guidelines, you can teach any dog to behave properly no matter what his age or breed.

Before you begin to train your dog, make sure the dog recognizes you as his alpha leader. In order to do this, make sure you establish clear boundaries with your canine as to what his boundaries are. For example, do not allow the dog to sleep on your bed or beg at the table.

Start by giving your dog basic commands such as "come" or "sit". As you give these commands, make a gesture to coincide with the command you have given. One way to do this might be to wave your hand toward you when you tell the dog to come, but push down with the palm of your hand whenever you tell him to sit.

Make sure your dog obeys the command you have given. This is true even if you must force the dog to obey. If he is told to come, pull him gently toward you until he is standing directly in front of you. Likewise, if you tell your canine to sit, you should push his rump down with your hands until it is firmly planted on the ground.

As soon as your animal has completed the task, be sure to praise him and offer a treat. Do this even if you have forced your dog to obey you. Repeat the basic commands several times, rewarding your pet each time he performs as you have asked him to.

Do not scold your animal for bad behavior unless you catch him in the act of doing so. Dogs have a very short attention span, so if you scold him after the fact, he may have already forgotten what he has done. This can confuse your pet because he may feel as though he is being scolded for good behavior in some cases and rewarded for the same behavior in other instances.