Raising a dog is similar to bringing up a child in many respects; the dog needs to be disciplined and understand what he can and cannot do, and if you are planning to introduce a dog to your family, there is much to consider.
- Choosing a Breed – If you ask yourself what it is that you are looking for in a pet dog, this will help you to select a suitable breed. If, for example, you live in the country and have a lot of time on your hands, then a large breed like a German Shepherd or Golden Retriever would be an excellent choice. As a general rule, the bigger the dog, the more exercise they require, and with affordable dog training in Sydney, your new pet will soon understand the rules.
- Setting the Rules – Don’t wait until the dog arrives to set the rules of the house, as this should be agreed upon by the whole family, and with consistent responses, the dog will soon understand the rules.
- Obedience Training – As soon as your puppy has had his vaccinations, you should embark on dog training, teaching the dog to obey basic commands, and we recommend using the reward system when doing this. Give the dog a treat snack when he gets is right and ignore him when he misbehaves and this will soon help him to understand what is required. Training sessions should last no longer than 20 minutes when the puppy is very young, as they have a short attention span, and repetition will help the animal to understand what you would like from him.
- Socialising with People & Other Dogs – This is an essential aspect of training your dog, and once you have him trained sufficiently to take him out on a leash, you can begin to school him on how to behave when around people and other dogs. It is paramount that your dog will come to you when called before you let him off the leash, and make sure he is chipped, in case he runs off and gets lost, which does happen.
- Use the Reward System – This is widely recognised as being the best method for dog training, so stock up on treats and reward him when he gets it right.
One thing you can do is research the breed you are interested in, which will give you a lot of valuable insight into the breed and behaviours, then with a basic course in dog obedience training, you will acquire the skills to teach your dog how to behave correctly.