Advanced obedience is to a canine what putting down the toilet seat is to a man – it takes patient training but it can be done. Dog obedience training is one of the most satisfying experiences between a dog and his pet owner. You are not only doing yourself a favor; you are giving your pet a more complete and happy life. Well trained dogs are well-adjusted, confident and mentally quicker. You can be secure in his behavior even if you leave him alone with other people.

The most important thing to remember in attempting to train your dog is to set your position as the superior in your relationship. When he understands that you are his master, it is easier to [train|teach} him the commands he is expected to obey. Confusing the dog in this regard can be dangerous; he will be assertive and strive to dominate you. Don’t overcompensate and be excessively harsh to show you’re the boss; be firm, stand your ground and fix this critical trait as soon as you see it rearing its ugly head.

Make your leadership known by employing a strong and sure voice. As you say “Sit!” gently push him down in the said position firmly. Each command will take several tries, especially in the initial stages. Development from basic to more advanced obedience training is relatively simpler once your dog recognizes the patterns you’ve established in your training sessions.

Operant Conditioning is rewarding your animal with treats or praise for correctly doing the command. It is the single most effective way to train your dog; it’s what he understands. Applaud your pet every time he does something right. At times, this is easy to overlook but make the extra effort not to. Dogs get confused easily and recognizing good behavior every time will ensure that he remembers what is right.

Conversely, reprimand your dog whenever he commits a mistake. Do it during the mistake and not after so the dog will understand the error of his ways. Scolding him will also highlight the difference between what is good from what is [wrong|bad}. For example, if he starts finding the suspicious looking dirt on the street interesting enough to ingest, reprimand him as soon as he does it. Then put dog food before him to eat. When he starts eating his own food, be profuse in your praise.

To be able to see growth in dog obedience training, keep sessions short and as often as possible. Be repetitive in what you teach. Don’t restrict training your dog during “school time” or certain hours of the day. Otherwise, he won’t feel like studying during summer vacation, so to speak.

Movie dogs awe you with the complexity of the stunts asked of them. But they all started with sit. Begin with the basics and climb your way up. With persistence and consistency your dog will advance to more difficult commands like growl, leave it, fetch and attack. Employ the same principles in how you trained him earlier and you will find success in the more advanced levels.

Now that you’ve got working knowledge of a professional trainer’s guide to advanced obedience training for dogs, it’s time to roll up your sleeves, get the happy dog and start the training!