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How to Train a Dog?

How to train a dog is not something most of us know about naturally. That’s because a dog learns in different ways than we do and we need to use different teaching methods. However, by learning a couple of basic principles, you can start to successfully train a dog to be obedient and exhibit good behaviour.

Dogs are pack animals and they instinctively understand the hierarchy of a pack. In the wild, their pack elders – mothers and the alpha dog (leader of the pack) - instinctively know how to teach them.

Dogs look on their human families as their “packs” and view each member of the family as filling a role in the hierarchy of the pack. If there is no alpha dog in a pack, it is in a dog’s nature to try to assume the role of leader.

For families with pet dogs, this means that, if none of the human members of the “pack” take on the leadership role, the dog will try to do so. Needless to say, if you are training a dog, this could be disastrous.

If you want to know how to train a dog successfully from the start, the first thing you need to do is make sure you become the alpha dog – the leader of the pack – in your pet’s eyes.

This might sound simple, but the basis of many dogs’ training and behavioural problems are rooted in their lack of understanding who is the boss. There are a couple simple ways to make sure there is no mistake. First, dogs understand vocal tones more than actual words, so use a strong, stern voice when training and commanding your dog and a different voice when praising or rewarding. Second, go for the neck.

If you want to know how a mother dog trains her pups, watch them for a while. Sooner or later the mother will gently grab one of the pups by the neck using her mouth, or she may pull at the neck with her paw. Similarly, if you watch two dogs play fighting, most of their “attacks” will be aimed at the other dog’s neck. Dogs have a protective pad of flesh around their necks, so they don’t feel pain as much as they might elsewhere on their bodies.

Once you have established that you are the leader of the pack, use a collar on your dog to help with training. For instance, if you want to know how to train a dog to sit, use a collar. You don’t need to yank on it too strongly, or cause any pain what so ever, but firmly guiding the dog with the collar will get the results you want.

All dogs have an infinite capacity to learn. If you learn how to train a dog properly - to learn how they learn, then the rest is easy.

Alpha Paws can teach you how to teach your dog and have your dog become the leader of the pack.