Dog training requires patience and repeated exercises, but is well worth the effort when the result is a well-trained pet that obeys commands and does not destroy property. Obedient dogs do make wonderful companions and become an important member of the family. To teach your dog, you need to use the correct training methods in short sessions to help your dog not only learn, but enjoy the training sessions. There are some helpful steps to teach your dog obedience. These steps will make the obedience training go more smoothly and give you a better chance for success.

The first step is to always start with the easiest command. Sit and stay are good commands to being with then once these are understood gradually move on to more difficult commands. The next step, consider the breed of dog you have as some breeds are more suitable to learn to do certain things. For example, a German shepherd may easily learn personal protection, but a Basset Hound may not. The next tip involves duration of time. At first the dog may sit or stay for only a few seconds, but you need to reward this and work on extending the duration over a few training sessions. These are just three important steps to teach your dog obedience.

Distraction is an important factor in obedience training. At first, there should be no distractions, but as the dog responds to commands, you need to add distractions to help them learn obedience in any situation. Distance is another important factor, start giving commands close to your dog and gradually increase the distance as he learns. One of the other steps to teach your dog obedience is to gradually change locations. Start training in familiar area and once the dog is responding to commands move him to a new location. Your dog should obey no matter where you are.

Other steps to teach your dog obedience deal with order of commands and surfaces. You want to teach your dog a differing order of commands. Using the same commands in the same order will not work in all situations, so change the order when training. In addition to changing location, you will also want to change surfaces. A dog needs to experience training on grass, sand, gravel or smooth concrete. This will ensure he will obey no matter what the circumstances.

There are a few other steps to teach your dog obedience such as giving commands while facing different direction and not directly facing the dog, using different volumes and tones in your voice and training at different times of day and night. Once your dog is able to obey commands in various places, in different situations and while responding to different tones and volumes, you can be confident he is on his way to being a well-trained obedient dog. These steps will take time and there will be trial and error, but always remember to reward your dog each time he responds appropriately to your commands.