You have just arrived home from the breeder with your wonderful new puppy. It is the goal of every new or experienced dog owner to have the best dog on the block. The question is how you get there; the answer is patient and consistent training. Basic dog training can be divided into two areas, teaching commands and behavioral correction.

Dog treats can be a tasty addition when teaching your dog basic commands, however behavioral correction requires the owner to understand the concept of alpha male and being the pack leader in your dog’s life. Dog treats have little to no place in corrective behavior, as your dog needs to understand his/ her position in the pack.

Teaching basic commands like come, stay, sit etc. is a more appropriate environment to use dog treats. The trick is to use them at the right moment during training. The most important aspect of any successful training lesson is to ensure the command is learned and executed to receive your affection as the reward.

As you practice with your dog, continuing to reinforce learned commands the order of reward should always be your affection followed by a dog treat. The reason for this order is so your dog will associate the learned command with the reward being your affection and not the dog treat.

Dogs will favor different treats over time after all variety is the spice of life. If your dog tires of the treat or decides he/she no longer likes the dog treat then there is no incentive for your dog to successfully execute the command. As your dog wants nothing more than to please you, giving your affection first will provide the right incentive for the reward.

Behavioral corrections are a completely different ballgame. Depending on the behavior or its severity, most issues should be left to professional trainers and dog behaviorists. If your first dog is a rescue dog or shelter dog, try to find out as more information as to previous training and socialization as you can. The answers will give you a pretty good idea on how the dog will behave once they arrive home.

Here are a few tips for pack leader issues you should be aware of and how to establish you as the pack leader:

• Never let your dog sleep in your bed with his/her head even with yours-this reflects dominate behavior,
• Ignore your dog when you first come home from work if they are jumping up on you-wait for them to calm down and then give your affection,
• Be on the lookout for any signs of aggression,
• Mouthing and Mounting-both are signs of dominance and both should not be allowed.

Learning when to give your affection and when to use dog treats during training will properly incent your dog to execute a learned lesson. Patients and consistency are the two most important concepts of training. Be firm no shouting and repeat, repeat, and then repeat again everyday and you will have the best dog on the block.

By Remarkable Dogs