Recommended Training Methods
The following are recommended principles to achieve successful dog training.
* All dog training must be founded upon educating the dog to develop instincts and extinguish accidental and acquired habits.
* Situations and contacts must be viewed from the dog's reactions and abilities, and not the human's.
* The dog should not be fooled or teased.
* Commands should be given using consistent words and with the same tone of voice and speed of speaking.
* Anticipate the dog's actions. Think ahead of time and give your command before the dog acts or moves.
* Reward or punishment should follow quickly after every act. To punish a dog at any other time than instantly after the wrong act is cruelty rather than a part of training, for the dog does not connect the punishment to the act.
* Teach one specific thing at a time. This does not mean that a training period cannot include a half-dozen different tasks.
* Give the dog a moment to carry out your command. Demanding instant obedience confuses the dog.
* Have patience.
* Develop a bond. All future training depends upon this.
* Remember that a dog cannot ask questions, neither can it understand all you say. It knows only the words, the commands and the names you teach it.
* The success of a handler depends on being able to make a dog understand what it has to do.
* Always use kindness.
* Be decisive, firm, and most of all, be sure that you know exactly what you want and how it should be done.
* Never try to teach a dog anything until you yourself have a thorough knowledge of how to teach it, and a clear mental picture of each stage.
* As far as possible, always have your dog with you. You cannot train it all the time, but it will become accustomed to your actions, words, and surroundings which will help to make the training easier.
* Always finish a training session on a positive note. Never leave off if the dog has done something wrong.
* Never put your dog away for the night with a cross word.
* Do not punish the dog while you are angry or lack control of yourself.
* Do not lose your temper while training the dog. If you do, the dog will become fearful of you.
* Do not chase the dog to catch it; it must come to you or follow after you.
* Do not coax the dog to you and then turn upon it with punishment.
* Do not nag the dog; do not give orders to it constantly; do not pester it.
* Do not punish the dog for failure to obey unless you are certain that it understood fully what you commanded.
* Do not praise the dog for doing a certain act, then at a later time, scold it for doing the same act.
* Do not permit anyone to give commands to the dog while you are training it.
