General Dog Training

Training your Dog is an essential part of developing a great relationship between you and your loved one. A dog that has been trained knows its boundaries and can be a confident and useful member of your family.

There are several different methods to take for dog training:

1. Rewards based

Reward based dog training methods are essentially a form of positive reinforcement where the dog is given verbal praise and a reward for good behavior. An example would be to give your dog a treat when he responds to your command to sit. Other types of rewards include toys and petting. If you find a dog toy that your dog particulary likes, this method can be particularly effective.

2. Corrections based

Correction based dog training is performed when a dog is physically corrected or verbally corrected. This method can be highly controversial. An example of proper physical correction is gently pressing a dog into a sitting position if he does not sit. This method should not be used as a form of abuse and the dog should know clearly why they are being physically corrected. Corrections based methods also include the use of electric collars or other similar devices. 

3. Clicker based training

Clicker training is performed with the use of a clicker that is used to promote good behavior by rewarding the dog with the sound of a click. There are several dog trainers that do not promote correction based training and practice this form of training. Clicker training has been proven as an effective way to train dogs. 

There are also a variety of other dog training methods:

Agility training

Agility training is performed when a dog and its owner or a handler negotiate through an obstacle course that includes tunnels, jumps, and other obstacles. This type of training trains the dog to work cooperatively with its owner. Agility training is also a form of sport where the dog with the fastest time wins.

Flyball training

In this form of training, two teams of dogs compete against each other in a race down four jumps to collect a tennis ball from a specially designed box. Then, they return up the four jumps. The fastest team with the least mistakes (which have time penalties) wins.

At the end of the day, how you choose to train your dog is up to you. You don't need to necessarily follow any particular method to the letter. In fact, applying several methods can be the most effective method of training your dog.

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