Depending on what command you are working on, dog treats will be used in different ways. However, before you begin obedience training, there are a few general tips and suggestions that all dog owners should be aware of. Incorrectly timing rewards can begin to reverse your training effort. Avoid this set back and keep things moving in the right direction. When you know how and when to reward your dog you can prevent frustration and continue building a bond with your pet through training.

Training Tip #1: Timing is Vital to Proper Rewarding

Some dog owners new to training may feel that it is up to their pet to determine the success of each session. The truth is that more weight is placed on the human doing the training. This is why timing the reward is so important. You are communicating with your pet through treats. The reward must be given promptly when your dog does something right, even if it is not the entire gesture you are looking for. If you wait a few seconds, your pet will become confused about what he or she did right.

Training Tip #2: Treat Storage during Training

You do not want to allow your dog to remain focused on the treats, so it is often best to store them out of sight while training. Always put the package away after you have removed the treats you plan to use. That being said you also must be able to quickly retrieve rewards and give them to your pet when they do something right. A pocket or pouch kept on your body is a great choice for storing treats while training. Never allow your pet to go for the treats. If he or she does, calmly put them back into the correct position with a firm no.

Training Tip #3: The Clicker and Dog Treats

Dog treats are very effective training tools however did you know a clicker can help even more? When used together, your pet will have an easier time understanding what you are trying to tell him or her. The clicker emits the same click each time, reducing the likeliness for confusion and misunderstanding. Clickers are inexpensive, usually available for under $ 2 or $ 3 at your local pet supply store.

Training Tip #4: Combining Dog Treats and Praise

Although you will see progress encouraged by dog treats during obedience training, avoid the urge to reward with treats only. This will create an expectation for food rewards in your pet, and possibly begin to impact his or her weight and desire to eat actual meals. Instead, combine dog treats with praise and petting. Edible rewards should only be given for large achievements while the rest can be rewarded with praise. You might be surprised to learn just how far a positive word and affection can go with a canine.

Training Tip #5: Training Treat Size

You will probably notice that dog treats marketed for obedience training are small in size. Use this as a rule of thumb when choosing your training rewards. Never use a full size biscuit intended for snack time. You will be giving your pet multiple treats during a single training session, so consider cutting up a larger biscuit or buying dog treats that come in small portions. Remember, the point is not to feed your dog but to teach him or her.

With the number of dogs being registered every year, it is evident that many people are amazed with what a furry four-legged creature can do. Dogs have “cuteness” factor that is guaranteed to steal almost every pet lover’s heart. One of those breeds that possess such cuteness is the Shetland sheepdog. This breed is not only champion in appearance. They also have high level of intelligence which is important in becoming successful in sheltie training.

Sheltie training is not impossible neither a very easy task. But to achieve your goals of having a behaved pet, it is important that you are well aware of what works best, including training tools, for your pet. Training tools such as collar must top the list of must-haves for your pet. But take note that, you just can’t choose whatever collar you like. You have to consider it’s:

Functionality.

Collars vary depending on their purpose. Choke collars, also called chain collars are commonly used to train service dogs or agility training. This type of collar, though often recommended to first time dog owners, must be used with caution to prevent accident. Head collars, though they look like muzzles, have different purpose. Use this if you want to have more control over your dog particularly when training him to walk on a leash and heel. Pronged collars are ideal for giant breeds while electronic collars can be used to dogs that are seemingly untrainable. However, be cautious when using the latter for it is not advisable for young dogs or those with health problems.

Size and comfort.

A collar must fit comfortably around a dog’s neck. It must not be too tight to choke your dog’s neck or too loose to be able your dog to slip off it. You should be able to fit two fingers between your pet’s neck and collar to ensure that the collar is correctly placed.

Affordability.

Although quality is often associated with price, expensive ones may not be necessary all the time. You may only need simple and cheap collars when training your dog to stop barking or chewing.

Collars are effective sheltie training tools but bear in mind that what they are doing is part of the job only. Remember that using positive reinforcement such as praise and treats are important as well.

There are many type of dog training and many objectives, from basic obedience training to specialized areas including police dog, search and rescue, assistance to people with disabilities and entertainment.

Basic Obedience
This is the fundamental type of training in dogs and all dogs must have some form of obedience training. Basic obedience training makes life simple to your dog and eliminates confusion. Your dog will know his place in the world and understand right from wrong. Dogs seem to really appreciate and thrive on this black and white view of the world.

Entertainment
This form of training capitalizes on tricks to please an audience. They are excellent in resisting distractions coming from various people and even the environment. Some of the tricks being taught are standing, heeling, and moving objects. Training dog for show is hard work, but a lot of fun.

Police Dog
Police dogs were first used in 1899 by the Belgian police force. They serve and protect our communities’ daily, performing skills like protection, narcotics locating, and tracking criminal or missing persons. It takes special dogs and very special trainers to create productive policing teams. This is achieved through intensive and careful training.

Assistance to People with Disabilities
Many people who are blind, handicapped, or those with medical conditions take on the task of training their own assistance dogs. For some, this is the best option, because the dog can be trained to mitigate a disability specific to that particular person. Assistance dog training is quite expensive especially if one prefers a professionally trained and certified pet. One may also opt to take on the task of training them though.

Search and Rescue
A search and rescue dog is trained to locate that scent and help their handlers find people who are lost or missing. With great senses of smell, these types of dog find missing people through air scenting. This simply means tracking down people through their smell by sniffing through the air. Ground smelling may also be used.