Obedience training is an important tool that will allow you and your dog to become responsible members of the community.  It involves learning simple commands that will enable you and your dog to function as a team on command.  Unlike comformation trials, obedience work is all about developing personal bests for the two of you. Obedience training is also alot of fun and will help you bond with your dog. Blue Ridge Doberman Rescue endorse positive reinforcement as the best means of accomplishing this.  Training can take place either in a class or by individual tutoring .  See our list of recommended trainers (insert URL here)

 

There are many different levels of obedience  that range from learning basic commands to paticipating in American Kennel Club trials.  The 5 basic commands that all dogs should know are: come, sit, down, stay, and heel or walk. These will make a good start for your pet. If you wish to go a little further, you might want to pursue the AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate (http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm)  This tests  you and your dog's ability to handle common events around your community. The AKC, of course, sponsors many obedience titles as well.  If you wish to pursue these titles, there are obedience and breed clubs in the are that will help you. (http://www.akc.org/clubs/search/?action=obed&display=on)

 

Positive reinforcement is the key to all effective training.  Accomplishment of a task should be accompanied always by an immediate word of praise, food, and/or a click of a clicker.  For information on clicker training, see Karen Pryor's website (http://clickertraining.com)  If the dog does not obey the command, a gntle but firm correction is all that is needed.  For example, a failed sit command could be followed by another sit command and a gentle push on the dog's hindquarters.  Always reward immediately for a job well done.