Dog training has become a very popular exercise used in many households to build relationships between owners and dogs and to modify the animal’s behavior so that he can properly behave in different situations. There are many methods of training, different places to conduct training sessions and also numerous items of equipment available to assist people in effectively training these animals.
Dog training collars
Electric Collars are usually used to prevent unwanted behavior in dogs. They are meant to be used temporarily, not on a long term basis. The collars are usually remote controlled and when the animal behaves badly it emits a small static shock, this immediately connects the negative response to the specific behaviour and helps them to distinguish between good and bad. Dog training collars employing electric shocks are considered inhumane by a lot of people and these methods are therefore outdated.
Many claim that the shock is similar to static shock and if this is the case it is not harmful: however this issue is highly debatable as many have stated that the collar can be dangerous if the dog is left unsupervised. The collars can be used for various purposes such as hunting, pet containment, agility training, anti-barking and others. If you choose this option begin with a light correction and only increase if the dog is very resistant to correction of his bad behavior. It is useful in teaching dogs to sit, stay and heel and can be very helpful in training animals to avoid running in traffic. Still, more positive reward-based training is preferable in the majority of cases.
Leashes
Using the leash method in dog training is very popular and somewhat easy. The leash is a thick strap usually made of leather that attaches to the dogs collar and can help owners to control the dog while out for a walk. This can prevent the animal from chasing people or running into traffic.
Some dogs do not like the leash and begin pulling as soon as they see it; however, you need to train such a dog to remain calm whilst the leash is being attached. You can start to practise leash training by walking the dog around the home before you decide to take it to the streets. Attach the leash and stand still while the dogs bounces around; he will soon realize that you are not going anywhere and begin to calm down. Reward this calm behaviour with a treat then take your first step towards the door: do not venture outside until the dog learns how to stop pulling and straining on the leash.
The Clicker
This is a little box that makes a clicking noise and lets the dog know that you are proud of his behavior. You first need to train the dog in understanding what the sound means, start with easy tricks like the ‘sit’ command. When the dog obeys reward him with an edible treat and press the clicker.
Try to use other commands and each time he obeys continue to reward the behavior with treats as well as pressing the clicker. He will then begin to associate the clicking sound with good behavior. After this is accomplished you do not need to use treats as a reward - you will only need to employ the clicker, with occasional treats on a "lottery" basis to keep the dog's interest.
