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Because of the loyal nature of dogs, humans have found it very useful to use these friendly animals and train them to work and entertain us with tricks. With a bit of patience and effort we can teach our dogs a great number of useful activities to make our lives better. Unless you really do not have the time to invest in training your dog, it is usually better for both of you to work with your pet yourself. There are professional dog trainers you can hire to teach your dog certain routines but they will not be able to help you bond with your four-legged friend.

Dog training can be divided into several basic forms. The first and most important part of a dog's training is in the area of basic obedience. A dog that will stay when told or await your command to come to you will be mush less likely to cause problems around other people. These basic skills work both ways. It is necessary for you to be able to teach your dog specific actions to let you know what they need as well. This is especially good for knowing when your pet needs food or to go for a walk.

There are a number of working occupations a dog can be trained for. Whether it is a hunting dog that will help you gather food or a trained seeing-eye dog to help a blind person move about, dogs have a great capacity to learn how to be useful in our society. Many occupations have enhanced their efficiency with the addition of a well-trained canine partner. Dogs can be trained to bravery and make excellent rescue helpers.

There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from just teaching your dog how to do entertaining tricks. Whether it is merely a funny stunt or small task like fetching, the coordinated interaction between your pet and its ability to perform a task on command will help forge the bonds of affection between you. Dogs are quite intelligent and able to learn a vast repertoire of tricks and activities. With some time and effort you can train your dog to do an entire circus' worth of different actions.

Due to the pack mentality of a dog's nature, it will already have the instinctual predisposition to want to please you with its activities. Consistent work and reward for proper behavior is the best method of communicating your pleasure over accomplishments to your dog. Dog training is a two-way street. As you teach your animal how to perform, you will in turn be learning how to understand its moods and body language as well.

One of the most important things to remember when you are training your dog is that you have to be consistent. The reward should only be given for correct behavior. You should include a way for your dog to signal you if it is unsure as to what is expected of it. It is recommended that if you do have to discipline your dog for wrong behavior that you do not perform this punishment with your hands as this may tend to make the dog fearful of any contact through the hands. Training your dog should be geared for eliminating bad habits as much as it is for teaching them preferred actions.

A well-trained dog is usually much more confident and healthy as the contact and companionship it has received gives it a secure feeling that it is a valuable and appreciated part of the pack.