No one likes to hear barking and yelping, and certainly no one likes to meet an aggressive dog on the street. Most dogs cannot be faulted for their behavior, but there are ways to change these things. Most dog owners have the best of intentions, but have no idea how to turn their pesky pup into a sweet and well-tempered dog. This is when obedience dog training is a great idea. This will help any owner learn how manage their animal when they need to be well behaved.

You can find obedience dog training as close as your community. There are normally programs in every town or city that specialize in obedience dog training. You will find that these courses vary in price, and are run by different types of folks. Some are conducted by those trained to help dogs, and others are run by those who have just had great success in the past with obedience dog training, and want to help you learn what they know.

In other cases, you may find obedience dog training available through your local pet store. Many chains have these classes, and they may offer them throughout the year. These will also vary in price, and you will want to call ahead to schedule the best classes to fit your life. Obedience dog training classes are many times held during the day, but you can also find ones that are run in the evening hours and on the weekends.

When you find the right obedience dog training course for you and your pet, you may be wondering what to expect. The trouble is, you never know what you are getting unless you ask. Many courses cover the basics of teaching your dog to heed your command, no matter what that command may be. They may teach the basics that most of us are familiar with, including sitting, heeling, and to stop barking. You may also find out secrets on how to stop aggressive behavior against other dogs and human beings.

If you and your dog have gone through obedience dog training, but things are still looking dim, you may need to find someone to work one on one with you and your pet. This type of obedience dog training may cost you a little more money, but you may end up with more bang for your buck this way. The trainer can then zoom in on your dog’s specific problems, and also help you where you are lacking. Dogs look to their human friends for guidance, almost like you are their pack leader, and you need to know how to assume this role effectively.

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard. Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dog’s reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back. 

Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.

After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog. When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars. Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities. Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times.

Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dog’s, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times. It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbor’s kids.