You and your new dog will both benefit from some dog training. Not only will it ensure that your dog knows the rules of his new house, but it will help you let him know that you are leader of the pack and will help you bond with your adopted dog.
Your dog wants to be well behaved. You, of course, want a well-behaved dog. A well-behaved dog is a well-trained dog. Dogs don’t train themselves. You’ve got to put some time into it, but you’ll get many rewards back. Besides, training is fun!
Keep two important foundations in mind when training your adopted dog – your training needs to be consistent and positive. Consistency and positive feedback are important when training any dog but are especially vital when training a dog whose background is unknown and may include abuse or neglect.
A dog who has had a rough start doesn’t need any inconsistency in his new home. If you are inconsistent in your training methods or commands, you could confuse him and slow down your training.
You will find that you get great results using positive training techniques with your adopted dog. Positive training means giving your dog a reward when he performs the task that you’ve asked of him. The reward is usually a dog treat but it can be a toy or praise—get to know your new dog and see what motivates him best.
Don’t lose your cool if it takes a while for your dog to catch on—he’ll get there. Work on one command at a time—like "sit" over and over. Give it 15 repetitions at a time a few times a day until your dog has it down flat. Basic commands like "come" and "stay" could save your dog’s life if he slips his collar near a busy street, so it’s well worth the investment of time!
Once you’ve got your positive training basics down, it’ll be time to have fun with training. You can teach your dog how to play fetch or other games. This is one of the fun parts of dog parenthood!
