Dogs Training Series Dogs Are Not Human

The first rule in dog obedience training is to remember that dogs are not human. It's easy for us to fall into the habit of expecting our dogs to know what we're saying and what we expect from them. We tend to treat our pets as if they think like us.



They don't. Just like we don't think like dogs, or even pretend to know how they think and why they act the way they do. We can't always know that triggers a dog's responses and how they might react to certain stimuli.



While we build memories every second and think ahead to what we expect from our actions, dogs don't. They live in the moment. There is no past and no future. They live in the "now". We might see this as a drawback but that approach enables dogs to put all their energy into taking care of immediate needs, like staying alive. It's how they survive in the wild.



Understanding this will make dog obedience training go a little more smoothly.



As members of a pack, dogs soon establish pack leaders. Any dog not obeying the rules of the pack will soon learn this vital lesson. It doesn't take long for a dog to realize which one is the leader and that it's not acceptable to take food before the leader and senior pack leaders have eaten.



There is a learning curve. It doesn't happen immediately. After several admonishments, the dog comes to understand and obey. It's the same when we train our dogs. It takes several repeated lessons before they learn what they can and cannot do as pack members.



Only after your dog recognizes and respects you as the pack leader can your dog be trained. Therefore, dog obedience training begins by training you how to establish yourself as the leader. You have to gain your dog's trust, which means being clear and consistent in your demands.



Once you achieve this level, you will be better able to teach your dog how to behave in your pack. To do this, the dog must learn your language and get to know what your actions mean. Communicating between species can be difficult, but the more closely you can emulate how his species communicates, the more readily he will learn. And the sooner you will get the results you want from your training sessions.



Your job is to let your dog know you are the boss. Send a clear message to let your dog know when he has misbehaved, and make it the same each and every time.



Consistency in command used and how persistently you use it will bring you success as you proceed in your dog training efforts. Be patient and remember that your dog has a lot to learn about living in your human world. Allow time for the commands and lessons to sink in.



Most of all, make sure your dog obedience training teaches your dog his rightful place in the pack. Make sure he knows that he does not dominate. You do.
For more great tips and resources to help you train your dog, or puppy, visit Dogs Training Tips at http://DogsTrainingMadeEasy.com .