subject: Beagle Training Commands - The Top 5 [print this page] There are of course many reasons for owners to want a cool-headed, obedient and faithful Beagle dog. For one thing, well-behaved and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many communities require that the dogs existing in their neighborhoods be well trained.
And of course, training your Beagle dog well will also make he or she a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper Beagle dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other attitude problems encountered by dog owning households.
When in consideration of training your own Beagle, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain fundamental commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:
* Heel - it is fundamental that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind
* Respond to the word No - the word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this vital word can save you a ton of trouble.
* Sit - Training your dog to sit on command is a fundamental part of any dog training program.
* Stay - A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.
* Down - Lying down on instruction is more than just a cute trick; it is a key piece of any successful dog training program.
Beagle dog training does much more than just create an well-behaved, willing accomplice. Proper Beagle training actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.
Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must determine him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.
A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner's commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good Beagle dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.
In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog's own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.
Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do significant work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.
Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, specify the dog with an important job to do. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.
Incorporating playtime into your Beagle dog training sessions is a marvelous way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you - the pack leader - and your dog.
