How to Train Working Dogs

By carriesue11

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

Dog treats

Basic Obedience for Working Dogs

Step 1:
No matter what task your working dog is going to be doing, it will need a good foundation of basic obedience training. Training commands for obedience training include "sit," "down," "stay" and "come." Because working dogs are very smart and usually obedient, they will pick up on your training quickly. Use food and rewards instead of punishment.
Step 2:
Start training when your working dog is young. Many working dogs that have been bred for guarding can be aggressive. Training them at a young age and socializing them will keep them gentle and friendly.
Step 3:
Train your working dog for "down." Hold a dog treat in front of your dog's nose. Lower it to the ground, so the dog lies down to follow the treat. Praise your dog and give it the treat while it's lying down. Repeat, using the command "down" and pointing to the ground. Always reward your dog for following instructions.
Step 4:
Train your dog to "sit," "come" and "stay" using this same process. Working dogs will respond well to training with positive reinforcement, and should learn quickly.
Step 5:
Repeat training every day until you're certain that your working dog has the basics. Seek out a professional or program for specialized training, such as pulling a cart or guarding.

Tips & Warnings

Use short training sessions of 5 to 10 minutes, and always end the session on a positive note.
Working dogs can weigh up to 150 lbs. Don't wait until they're heavy adults to train them.

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