Training The Family Dog Is Crucial

Okay, the kids have finally worn you down and you go to the local animal shelter to adopt a family dog, or a dog "follows" your son home and you are beset by pleas of "Can I keep him? Huh? Huh? Can I keep him?" And you eventually give in. However it happens, there is suddenly a new four-legged member of the family. Now what?

No matter how you come to have a family dog, whether on purpose or by accident, the first thing that you must do is to take the dog to the vet and be assured that the dog is healthy. You must also get his vaccinations and most likely have him de-wormed.

The next thing you must do is to teach this new family member how he must behave. The first order of business is usually housebreaking a puppy. Housebreaking isn't all that difficult if you remember to feed the puppy only three times a day and to take the puppy to his designated potty place immediately after he eats, sleeps or plays. But buy a good mop, anyway.

The next order of business is to either obedience train the puppy yourself or take him to obedience training classes. Believe me, no matter how large or small a dog is, if he isn't obedience trained, he will not be socially acceptable. Your friends, your neighbors and society in general will not tolerate a disobedient dog.

The dog must learn basic obedience commands. He must learn to "come," "sit," "stay," "lie down," and "heel." If he never learns to roll over and play dead, it's no big deal, but he does need to know and abide by the basic obedience commands. You'll be happier, and the dog will be happier, too.

Tags: dog trainings, dog agility training, puppy care, dog accessories, canine training, potty training dogs