Puppy and adult dog training: features and basic commands

Dog training is a prerequisite for raising an animal adapted for life next to humans. It is an integral part of the socialization process that every pet needs. In addition to the generally accepted training courses aimed at developing obedience, mastering the basic principles of behavior at home and on the street, there are also special ones. They are needed for hunting, herding, guard dogs, search dogs.

It is always difficult for an inexperienced owner to start working with a pet. How to teach puppies to commands at home? Where to start and how to proceed to achieve success? A list of commands and training rules for beginners will help you master the basics. But before you start practice, you should familiarize yourself with the theory in as much detail as possible.

Moreover, not all breeds are equally well amenable to training, and the speed of achieving results often depends on the correct choice of time to start training.

Individual character traits are not limited to humans. Animals also have different inclinations and abilities to learn different skills. When choosing a breed, you should pay attention to such important points as communication skills, intelligence level, controllability. A conflict-free dog will be a good pet for a person without experience.

Among the decorative breeds, well-trained animals include poodle, maltese, welsh corgi, pomeranian, papillon, sheltie. Hunting breeds learn quite easily the knowledge: spaniels - English Cocker, Russian, Springer, Shorthaired Pointer, Espanyol Breton, Weimaraner, as well as Labradors and Retrievers.

Service dog breeds are distinguished by a high level of intelligence, but their training is recommended to be trusted only by experienced dog handlers or owners.ready to show leadership qualities. German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Belgian Shepherds (Tervuren, Laekenois, Malinois) need a firm hand. But their intelligence allows for quick memorization of commands and maximizes the animal's potential in performing a variety of tasks.

Some dog breeds are initially difficult to train and even take much more time to master the basic course of commands. On average, it takes them 80 to 100 repetitions to develop one skill. Future owners of Afghan hounds, Bassendzhi, Russian Hound, Bloodhound, Chow Chow should prepare for difficulties. Moreover, the problems usually turn out to be associated not with the general intellectual capabilities of the animal.

The right timing to start training your dog is incredibly important to the overall success of the entire business. The puppy gets its first experience of training from the moment it enters its home. This usually occurs between the ages of 1 and 3 months. From 12 weeks, the animal can start mastering the first commands, memorizing gestures. Up to this point, it is enough for the baby to study the nickname, habituation to a tray or walk, a leash, a collar.

Some breeds are characterized by slow maturation. Their puberty comes later, and the animals themselves, in general, retain their characteristic "puppy" carelessness longer. Here, serious upbringing begins at 6 months, and until that moment it is replaced by active socialization. The dog is introduced to other animals and people, taught to remain calm when traveling in transport, changing the landscape or situation.

The initial stage of training is always difficult for both the owner and the dog. Professional dog handlers recommend establishing a strict order from the very beginning. You need to conduct training on a site isolated from outside interference, frightening sounds, and distractions. Even if classes are held in a group with an instructor, this order does not change. It will be useful for the owner to have additional equipment that allows you to teach the dog to obey in various ways.

Among the useful training devices are the following.

• Clicker. An object for consolidating a conditioned reflex, is used in training by methods that are not associated with strict control and submission. In this case, the dog hears the click of the clicker in case of correct action and receives a reward. The device has a simple mechanical design, is not subject to wear and tear, has managed to prove its effectiveness in raising a wide variety of animals.

• Whistle. The simplest subject actively used in the training of hunting dogs and representatives of other breeds. The simplest command that can be mastered with its help is “to me”. Due to the fact that the whistle in a special sound range is carried much further than the voice, this method is convenient for calling the dog. Even at a significant distance, the pet will be able to recognize the command and execute it.

• Belt bag for treats. In order to quickly train the animal to execute commands, most owners and trainers use delicious feeding. But carrying it in your pocket is not very convenient. The compact waist bag allows you to teach basic training without messing your pockets with food.

• Leash and collar. They should be the size of the dog, take into account its age, body structure. Some breeds need to replace the collar with a harness so as not to harm the growing body.

• Stack. It is used in the courses of the protective guard service, it is necessary to teach the animal to continue working even with physical impact. The owner should not use it on his own.

• Training toys. Rubber dumbbells, frisbees and other aorting items make it possible to make the process of mastering commands more diverse, makes it possible to convey important information to the animal in a playful way.

When starting a puppy training, it is very important to act gradually, to avoid pressure and aggression. Among the simple rules that will help make interaction with your pet more productive are:

• clear and precise formulation of tasks;
• search for an individual approach, taking into account the nature of the animal;
• the use of specific gestures and signals;
• compulsory reward for a correctly performed action;
• presentation of information in a fun way;
• careful timing for classes - they should not be too tiring.

The basic training of a dog includes a course of obedience, which allows you to master the minimum set of commands. Endurance takes a significant part of the acquired skills. The ability to stay in one place on the command "sit" or "lie down" will allow for the further development of much more complex educational programs. In addition, this skill will be useful when controlling animals on the street.

As part of the basic training course, the dog must to master the necessary minimum of knowledge step by step. The duration of one lesson should not exceed 60 minutes. In the course of preparation, it is important to decide on the equipment and encouragement of the animal.

Careful selection of the training location is also very important. If there is no equipped site in free access, you can use any desert area where there are no distractions or sources of danger (cars, large aggressive animals). When choosing a place previously unfamiliar to an animal, you should first give the dog the opportunity to properly explore the new territory.

There are several teaching methods that are most in demand in the professional environment.

1. Mechanical method... It consists in the passivization of the animal's participation in the training process. To achieve the desired result, the owner simply reinforces the desired skill, creating conditions for the mandatory execution of commands. This approach is considered effective, but it is only suitable for pets with a high yielding to someone else's will - more wayward dogs will simply resist physical, psychological pressure.
2. Operant method. In this case, the dog becomes not a passive performer, but an active participant in the process.The handler acts by reinforcing positive actions of the animal and ignores or tries to avoid unwanted actions. So the dog gets the opportunity not only to learn, but to think and act independently if necessary.
3. Taste-encouraging. When the dog is not forced into action, but prompted to it. When the desired result is achieved, the animal receives a treat. It is believed that the founder of the method was the famous trainer Durov. Today it is mainly used when working with puppies and dogs of decorative breeds.
4. Contrasting. During training, both food stimuli and mechanical action are used. If the animal does not voluntarily complete the assigned tasks, it is forced to do it.
5. Imitative... It is built on the principle "do as I do", is used in service dog breeding and hunting, when training young animals on the example of the actions of older comrades. The mimic method is built on natural instincts - this is how puppies repeat their meals or play games. But it is only suitable for consolidating resolving skills.

All kinds of simple commands that can be taught at home to a dog are learned by a puppy in the first months of life in the house. If you reward your pet correctly, you can easily teach your toddler the basics of home behavior. It is necessary to give a treat as an element of consolidating the necessary skill.

The team teaches the puppy to stay in the corner allocated to it on the litter under any circumstances, including in an extreme situation. At the age of six months, she can be replaced by other prohibitive measures. If the animal does not show good enough behavior, it is simply sent to the place, depriving the owner of the desired entertainment or company.

A ban command that suppresses unwanted actions. No matter how adorable and cute the pet is, this command should definitely be among the first to be learned at the age from 1 to 3 months.

Useful when you start walking your pet on the street. This command allows you to instantly stop the unwanted actions of the dog. For example, if a dog runs off the site or tries to cross the road on its own.

The main teams are trained based on courses OKD or UGS. The first of them is more difficult, it allows you to prepare the animal for more difficult stages of training. For example, a check for cowardice - a reaction to a shot, allows you to check the readiness of the dog to master the protective guard service. Show of teeth will be needed at the show - in the ring, the dog must resignedly show its jaws to everyone without showing aggression.

A team exercised solely by coercion. It is associated with the mandatory suppression of undesirable actions, is developed from an early age. You can seriously demand its fulfillment when the dog reaches the age of 6 months. Until this time, one should act using the operant method, preventing the occurrence of situations in which the dog may come into contact with objects or objects undesirable for him.

The dog should walk at the owner's left foot with or without a sagging leash. When executing the command the animal must not move away or run forward. Eliminates the tension of the leash, if any.

Mandatory command that establishes the status of a leader in the "flock" for the owner. Even a coveted bone, a bowl of food picked up on the street the animal must give garbage on demand.

One of the first mastered animal teams. But if it is permissible for a puppy to run to the owner's call of his own free will, an adult dog must strictly follow the requirement. In service dog breeding, a special gesture is most often used. Hunters and shepherds use whistles to call the pet.

These basic requirements are not at all useless. Having worked the skills to automatism, it is possible to ensure that the animal stops in case of unwanted actions or when excessive emotions are displayed. You need to teach them with a dog in stages, from 5-6 months, adding gesture control to voice commands.

A team from service dog breeding, migrated to general training. Using it as an interesting game, you can easily provide the supply of almost any item, and when hunting, you can also tow the game on the water or in the field. Service dogs on command "Aport" carry out a search.

Unusual commands are trick or special commands to induce the dog to perform unusual actions. Sometimes only the name is non-standard. For example, "Tubo" served by a cop has been preserved from the French language. And many of the tricks are named in a specific circus slang.

This command is also known as "Serve". It is especially successful for small dogs, which easily maintain balance in a sitting position, raising their front legs. Training will be easy if the owner is armed with the animal's favorite treat. A hand with food is wound behind the head of the animal, encouraging its desire to reach for the reward, without lifting the croup from the ground.

The command consists in passing the animal under the owner's leg extended forward and bent at the knee. A useful skill looks like a spectacular trick. But in agility, the ability to properly overcome slalom is the key to a successful course.

One of the easiest tricks. It is carried out from a standing position, with the shoulder blades deflecting downward. The first experience is obtained with a combination of mechanical action and delicacies. The skill is fixed quickly enough and the dog fulfills the command with pleasure in the future.

The trick of being accepted by the dog lying position with front paws covering the muzzle. It is very popular in the circus and is easily mastered by animals after a certain number of repetitions. Using a small piece of duct tape at the eyebrow can be used to induce the animal to make the desired movements.

A special prohibiting command given to a pointing dog during a hunt. It is similar to the requirements "No", "Fu". Allows to ensure the stopping of the actions of the animal that can harm the actions of the hunter.

A classic trick performed from a prone position. With the help of a treat, the animal is transferred to a position on its side, then on its back and makes a complete overturn. With due diligence, the skill can be practiced with multiple repetitions, achieving a spectacular performance of the trick by the dog.

The ability to walk on their hind legs is mainly possessed by small and medium-sized dogs. Having learned the skills of standing still on the hind legs, the pet can move on to waltzing or dancing. In the first case, the trick will be performed in pairs. The "dance" is performed solo, the back of the dog remains in a strictly upright position. At first, the animal should receive a treat after 3-5 seconds.

There are a number of commands that are used in service dog breeding or fall into the category of additional commands that are not included in the list of the standard course. Some of them are necessary in everyday life as well.

These commands in service dog breeding are used to search for objects by smell, to follow the trail. In ordinary life, a highly developed sense of smell is a must for hunting dogs and shepherd dogs.

A useful command to suppress the manifestation of friendliness to a stranger. The more distrustful the pet is of strangers, the easier it will be to protect it from theft or to teach the basics of protective guard service.

The basics of endurance training allow the dog to stay in the owner's position for long periods of time. In this case, the animal receives an additional command "Lie down", "Sit" or "Stand". The releasing team is "Walk" or a call to the owner, if he is at a distance.

A useful command in service dog breeding and agility that allows the dog to move from a prone position without lifting on its paws. Thus, obstacles are overcome that cannot be jumped over or run around.

A release command used mainly in service dog breeding. With its help, the animal performing the assigned task is sent to rest. The rest of the time, it is either in place, or located next to the owner.

A thoroughbred animal, which is planned to be used in breeding, needs mandatory participation in exhibitions. Here his stats are assessed, a conclusion is given on the correspondence of the phenotype of the animal to the established norms. But before you send your pet for inspection, you must make sure that he receives the necessary education, has learned the basic rules of behavior at such an event.

Among the mandatory requirements for any breed will be the following points.

1. Calm, restrained behavior... The dog should not react to other dogs in the ring, withstand the touch of strangers without aggression.
2. Readiness to examine teeth, check ears, genitals (in males for cryptorchidism).
3. Ability to stay in an exhibition stand for a long time. During this period, the animal must maintain the most advantageous posture.
4. Walking in a circle and back and forth, moving along a triangle with given points. All of these skills are worth rehearsing beforehand.
5. Ability to wear a ringwithout overtightening or loosening it too much.

For training in protective guard service, the animal must first undergo a general training course. After that, you can proceed to mastering the "FAS" command - the main call for the attack. It is recommended to study it on a special site and under the guidance of an experienced instructor. When working with a dog, a special suit or sleeve is used, on which the animal's aggression is directed. By teasing the animal, using the stack and other sources of discomfort, the instructor gets the desired response.

After the initial mastering of this skill, it is possible to practice the arrest or immobilization of the offender in action, simulating a real attack in conditions close to the natural environment. For the upbringing of an animal capable of carrying out protective guard duty, it is necessary to limit the circle of his communication.

The desire to train your pet on your own is quite natural.But it is worth remembering that the training of dogs of different breeds should take place according to their own rules. Important recommendations include sparing attitude to the training of dwarf and decorative animals. Dogs of these types are usually taught tricks and undergo reduced general training.

For especially naughty kids - papillons, pugs, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire terriers, the "place" will become the basic command. This is how any unwanted actions are suppressed. In addition, by sending it to the place, you can stop the flow of irrepressible energy of your pet.

Hunting dogs need to suppress certain instincts in their daily life. Their training begins at 6 months. From this time on, the animal learns the basic principles of training. From 10 months, the full development of hunting skills begins.

For service and working dogs in training, the leadership qualities of the owner are very important. His authority must remain unquestioned.

In training, it is impossible to do without mistakes. Each dog is individual, has a different level of mental stability and needs the right approach to it. Among the most common mistakes of owners and inexperienced trainers are the following.

1. Changing the sound of commands. During training, this is completely unacceptable, since the animal simply does not understand what is expected of it. The team must be clear, understandable and the only correct one. Otherwise, there will be no need to talk about developing obedience skills.
2. Careless handling, neglect of animals. The dog should not experience fear or other negative emotions during training. Otherwise, any person who has applied force to her will be able to subjugate someone else's pet if necessary.
3. Self-doubt. When starting training, it is imperative to pay attention to what tone and how commands are given. To achieve good results, you need to clearly understand how the dog will act. Teams should not contradict each other or be given 2-3 at a time.
4. Failure to execute commands. If training is not associated with the mandatory achievement of results, it will be almost impossible to achieve obedience from the dog. The given command must be executed in full.
5. Punishment after executing the command. You can't call a dog to you to scold him. This will disrupt the causal relationship, and will lead to the fact that the consolidation of skills will be difficult.
6. Aggression, screaming directed at the puppy. Dogs perceive human actions by virtue of their physiology. If the animal's actions cause a negative reaction, it will figure out how to avoid punishment next time. If the puppy conspicuously eats its excrement, most likely, it is simply "destroying the traces of the crime." And the reason for this is the actions of the owner.
7. Lack of clear rules of conduct. A dog begging for pieces from the table should not receive them. If, by announcing the prohibition, the owner himself violates it, it can be quite difficult to talk about discipline in the house.
8. Humanizing your pet. No matter how smart a dog is, it is dependent on a person and has a different mindset. Any training is not the result of persuasion and conversation with an animal. It is built on the development of reflexes and is connected with them.
9. Improper reward. By approving of a dog's misbehavior, it is difficult to obtain obedience from the dog. The rules of encouragement and disregard must be established once and for all.
10. Lack of patience. It is imperative to follow through with your dog's training. With some dog breeds, training becomes a stubborn competition. And it is very important to establish your right to lead in this battle.

Both an adult dog and a puppy need to be educated in the same way.Of course, a boring general training course with multiple repetitions is unlikely to seem exciting to anyone. But before you master tricks, interesting teams and sports disciplines, you need to go through exactly the basic stage. And here you can not do without useful advice from experts.

One of the main recommendations is the duration of the lessons. The optimal length is considered 10 minutes repeated 2-3 times a day for a puppy, and 30-60 minutes in the morning and evening for an adult dog. Timing is also very important.

When working out the commands, you need to alternate the exercises, starting the lesson with a repetition of the material covered. The promotion of a treat should be combined with games and other forms of pleasure. Then the presence of food in the hand of the trainer in the future will not be the only decisive factor in obedience.

The older the dog, the more difficult it is to instill in it training skills. This is especially true of the basic principles of behavior and prohibitions. But even if the dog is wrong, you should gently correct his behavior, and not scold.

You will learn how to properly train the dog to "sit" command from the video below.