A. Obedience is establishing a line of communication between the dog and the owner so that it learns to channel itself through us.
Basically, we are teaching the dog a language.
Q. How does a dog learn?
A. Dogs learn commands through repetition: that is doing the same thing, in the same manner, over & over.
Q. How do you get a dog to respond to commands?
A. In order for a dog to respond to a command, you have to establish a reward system. At the Texas Dog Academy, we like to use praise. The praise should be executed at the time of behavior.
Dogs are very social creatures. They view their role in your family much as a dog pack. In a pack, there is a pack leader and then the "pecking order" with the other family members. The dog needs to learn what its place is. Dogs instinctively want to please the master, so the pet’s owner needs to play that role.
Q. What is the beginning step?
A. Stop all behaviors which go against the relationship you are trying to obtain with your dog.
An example of this is when you encourage play behavior such as tug of war. That teaches a dog that it is alright to use its mouth in play behavior.
If you allow your dog on your furniture or bed, where your scent is the most established, the dog will feel that is in the same place on the"pecking order" as the master.
The home should be used as an obedience training area rather than a‘pleasure palace’.
Q. What are the steps to training my pet?
A. Texas Dog Academy employees a three step process:
Step 1: The dog learns the commands
Step 2: The owner learns the commands
Step 3: The owner & pet learn to use these
commands in everyday interaction
We have only touched the basics with some of these Frequently Asked Questions. if you like more information on training your pet, please let us know.
We will be happy to help!