Giving your dog some basic training is a necessity for any pet owner. In order for them to be trusted around other people and animals they need to follow some basic commands from you. For instance, if you take them into public where there will be alot of strangers you don't want your dog to bite or nip at anyone. And if there is alot of cars and your dog is off the leash, they should be able to sit and stay until you tell them it is safe.

Training your dog also helps develop a stronger bond between you two. Your canine friend will start to see you as the alpha or leader of the pack and follow your lead. You want to be consistent with them but not forceful during your training sessions. Dogs are smart creatures and will learn through repetitive training. And once they pick up on something it will stick with them for their entire lives with you.

Consider A Dog Obedience Class As A Start

There are a couple reasons why finding a local obedience school is a good idea, especially when your dog is just a puppy. They will become accustomed to being around other dogs and learn how to safely interact with them. This will reduce the chances of your dog getting into a fight with others when he is out around town. Proper socialization between your dog and other dogs is an important part of the training program. Additionally, your pup will get used to seeing you around other people. This helps with the human portion of the socialization process.

In addition to the proper social skills they will acquire, they will also learn the basic commands like sit and stay. You as the owner will learn how to teach your dog effectively, further strengthening your bond. And it is much more enjoyable to have a canine that behaves when they are told to.

Most trainers will have you use praising instead of punishment as it has been proven to be much more effective. Scolding a dog makes them associate learning with negative feelings and will over time make them behave worse or even skittish around you. If you praise and reward them when they do what is the correct behavior, they will quickly associate the 'right' things with positive feelings. Plus you will be much closer to them since you are not constantly punishing them. Obviously training your dog does have many rewards, and the rewards are even greater if you use the correct methods.