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Dog Obedience Schools - How To Pick The Right One For Your Dog

by: LeeDobbins
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Anyone with a new dog knows that sometimes they need a little bit of guidance before he can be the perfect pet. But where do you look to find dog obedience schools that are a perfect fit for your pets personality? One place to start is local newspapers and shopping guides where you will probably find a variety of choices.

Today, several methods of training dogs are used, they include calm, positive reinforcement techniques, "alpha" dominance, and cruel punishment.

There still remain many schools of thought when it comes to dog training, and a great many veteran trainers will use a specific system that suits them as well as their customers. The current trend is a move towards more of a rewards based method.

Another factor is your dog, and it's background. Is it a puppy, or a rescue dog with their inherent concerns? What is your desired outcome from training--basic obedience, as a pet for the family, show, tracking, or any other dog activities?

Once you have established your training goals and you have your dog's personality in mind, make a list of all the local dog obedience schools information that you can find. Then check out their web pages. You can check with other dog owners to see if they have a good dog trainer. Also contact your local veterinarian or kennel for suggestions.

Trainers who use positive methods are your best bet. Always check references of the trainers. Some trainers do work with you and your dog in your home, however your dog will be missing out on important socialization. You may want to observe one of the beginner classes. Do not go if they use any harsh techniques, such as, choke collars.

When you new puppy is still young, you should enroll him in either a puppy kindergarten class or a play group. This is because early socialization is key for your puppy's development. On the other hand, if your new dog is a rescue dog who has developed issues with aggression, you may need to hire a certified animal behaviorist to help you rather than just a dog trainer. Aggression in dogs is an issue never to be taken lightly. It is best to address it immediately.

In some cases training collars may be appropriate for some dogs. Training instruments like pinch collars may work with a few dogs, but a "Gentle Leader" head collar is far more likely to be productive with most.

It is not unusual for you to attend your first session without your dog accompanying you. This is a good indication that the trainer is a pro. Clicker training, a form of non punishment type training, necessitates a 'train the trainer' session so that you can learn the tools you will need to work with your dog successfully, without the distraction of your pet's attendance.

Here are some signs of a good training class:

1. The school, as a whole, will have a positive tone.

2. Training is founded on a reward system: a requested behavior is awarded with a goody, accolade, or anything else the dog appreciates.

3. Unwanted behavior is dealt with by distracting the dog. It usually only takes a bit of effort to distract the dog and let him know his behavior is unacceptable.

4. The method of dealing with undesirable behavior is to give the dog a command that he can not achieve while engaged in said behavior. For example, command him to "sit" to stop him from jumping up on guests when they first enter your home.

5. Patience to let the dog give the desired response is a key part of training.

In addition to dog obedience schools, you will find many good books and websites demonstrating how to properly train your dog. One of the most effective animal training methods used is the "clicker training". The non-human Hollywood stars learn their tricks this way and so can your pet!

About the Author

Training your dog to be the perfect pet all boils down to using the right dog training techniques - find out what those are at http://www.positivedogtrainingtechniques.com/.

Dog Obedience Schools - How To Pick The Right One For Your Dog

About the Author

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