Training Your Dog: Keeping it Fun

For many people, a dog can become a huge part of the family. And like any other family member, there will be times that your pet will misbehave. One of the best ways to help diminish and prevent this bad behavior of your dog is to make sure that they get continuous training and reinforcement of the ideas and commands that you teach them.

Many people mistakenly believe that once you train your dog, there is no more work to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only do dogs need interaction on a regular basis, they also need to have various desired activities reinforced on a regular basis. You might have taught your dog to lie down at your feet, but without practice, that activity will be forgotten.

But like any other family member, both the dog and you will become quickly bored if you simply go through the run of the mill training drills. So what should you do? If you want to keep your dog trained, and still have fun with them here are a few ways to make your training sessions more enjoyable.

Playing the Call Game

One of the most important things that you can teach your dog to do is to come when you want them. Knowing that your dog will come at the sound of your voice is a very reassuring.

It's best to start inside, or in a fenced in yard during this game. Basically, start with your dog approximately ten feet away from you. In an excited voice, say the word "Come!" and make sure that your dog realizes that you're happy to see them. For example, bend at the waist, and clap your hands. Be sure to keep both your voice and posture open and welcoming. When your dog comes running up to you, with the tail wagging, be sure to pet him or her and make sure your dog knows how pleased you are with her. Now step back a few feet and begin the process again. Allow your dog to follow you around the room or yard, and make sure that each encounter you praise and pet them with love and encouragement.

A Game of Lost and Found

If you're part of a family, you want your dog to be able to recognize the different members of the family. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to have a game of lost and found. The first step is to have a few members of your family hide around the house or in the yard. Next, place a lead on your dog and ask them to find one of the hidden people. Keep asking, and once they find them, be sure to praise and pet them as much as you can. This is a great way to teach your pet to recognize friendly faces and have fun doing it. It is also a great game to play with your children and dogs. The kids get to play hide and seek, and the dog gets the chance to play with the members of the family.

These are just two of the various games that you can play with your dog when you want to practice some of the training techniques. Remember to keep the times that you are practicing with your dog upbeat and positive. That way, no matter what you do, both you and your dog will learn and have some fun while doing it.