Teaching Your Dog Their Name is the Most Important First Step in Training Your Dog

The very first thing we all train our puppies, even before we understand we are doing any kind of training, is that when we make a particular sound, we would like their attention. This particular sound is their own name - and it ought to be used for getting their attention.

Many pet owners have a tendency to think of their dog’s name as more than that. They make use of it as a “catch-all” command with several meanings which vary based on exactly what they would like their dog to do at the moment: “Scout!” (Meaning “Come here!”); “Scout!” (Meaning “Stop that!”); “Scout!” (Meaning “Get down!”); “Scout!” (Meaning “Stop barking!”); You get the idea.

Your dog may be the most intelligent dog on earth, but he is not a mind reader. The bottom line is, use your dog’s name to get his attention. Period. Then use other sounds (commands) to tell or show him just what it is you would like him to do.

So let’s get on with the lesson - Teaching Your Puppy His Name

Read the whole thing through first and then practice it with your dog.

1. Stock up your pocket (or a bag or pouch) with approximately twenty or so treats.

2. Take your dog to an place where there won’t be a lot of distractions.

3. Wait for your dog to look at something other than you, and then speak his name (once!).

4. At the moment he looks at you, immediately offer him a treat and say “Good!” (Or whatever word you’ve chosen as the 'reinforcer'. I just like to use the words "Good Boy" or "Good Girl".

5. Move a few steps to a different area and once again wait for your dog to be looking away from you.

6. Speak your dog’s name again and instantly reward him again with the treat and reward when he looks at you.

7. Repeat these steps five times. If your puppy was especially distracted prior to reacting to his name, give him additional praise and treats.

If you say your dog's name and he does not look at you, he may be a little too distracted. Move him a few steps to a different place and attempt this again.

Speak his name. Use an excited tone of voice. Provide instant rewards when he looks at you.

If he even now does not react to his name, clap your hands, whistle or perhaps create some other attention-getting sound. When he looks, say his name once again and right away provide the rewards. Do this as a last resort. You would like your pet to learn to react to his name, not the other sounds.

If your dog disregards the sound of his name after a number of attempts, try relocating to a less distracting place. (Distractions consist of smells, not merely sights and sounds.)

Continue trying, have patience, and remember not to repeat his name. Provide immediate rewards when he responds. This will work with any dog, even the difficult free to good home puppies are trainable.

Most importantly, have fun actively playing with your dog! Don’t concentrate all your time together on training. Devote plenty of quality time just taking pleasure in each other’s company

Article Source: http://www.yournetadvisor.com

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