Training your dogs can be an exciting adventure.  Not only it will provide you with great bonding moments with your new canine friend, but the training process will also teach you some important values that you might have overlooked in your life now like patience and determination. Thus, it is often joked around “who really needs the training … you or your dog?”


There are numerous way of training your dogs. But deciding on what’s the best method to use is perhaps the most arduous task to begin with. Why?  Once you are decided to train your dog, it will entail your complete dedication and time.  Because choosing the right one that you can handle and dedicate yourself to doing is the real key in successfully training your dog.


One popular method of training is thru clicker training.  Preferred by professionals and many dog owners, clicker training uses the scientific methods of classical and operant conditioning. The training is done thru positive reinforcement.  You say a command, guide him to do it and if he successfully do it, you click the clicker (a small metal mechanical noise making device) and you give a reward (small bits of food or doggie treats).  With clicker training, the dog associates the clicking sound to a reward.  Thus training becomes easier because there is no physical hitting, coercion or dog spanking that you still need do (which is actually not humane or good for any animal).  With clicker training, you don’t have to lavish your dog with word or phrases of praise either.


Another method of training your dog is by teaching him who the alpha dog or the dominant figure in your house is.  Dogs as you know, are pack animals and they are identified as alpha (the pack leader) or as an omega (the follower, the subordinate dogs, usually they are the timid, scared dogs of the litter and one who doesn’t fight to get attention).  If your dog is the alpha type, you will have a hard time training because he will assert himself over you.  The first thing to do is to break this mentality of his by establishing who the real head of the pack is – you or him.


This is part of a dogs training, making him realize that you are the alpha dog in the household.  How to train your dog to respect and obey you?


1. When you are walking, always walk first. Don’t let the dog walk ahead of you. Always be ahead of him 2 or 3 steps ahead and you set the pace and speed while walking. If he is ahead of you, you will give him the notion that he is leading you and he will do this in all other aspects.

2. Monitor your dog at all times. Observe all his good and bad behaviour and correct immediately his bad behaviour. This way you can isolate the behaviour you want to change and you can focus your training in that aspect.

3. Do not call your dog by his name all the time. Do not yell or scream at your dog also. Only call him, with a firm and serious tone, if he made a mistake. This way, you will get his attention right away and he will realize that when you call his name, you mean business.

4. Monitor and supervise your dog at all times, most especially if he is new. This way you could observe and isolate the bad behaviours immediately and you can design the training to correct the unwanted traits.

5. Reinforce a good behaviour by rewarding him with a ready treat of small bits of food and doggie treats. Dogs         learn best when they are rewarded for their efforts.