There are a number of facts about the origins, ancestry and character of dogs that can be very useful to those who are training dogs. As with all other species, dogs have developed their behavior and character through centuries of adaptation to an ever changing world. However, there are some innate characteristics that will forever be a part of the dog regardless of what adaptations it has taken up.
The first fact to always remember is dogs are animals and at one point they were wild animals. As such they cannot be expected to think or know good and bad. Their lives are governed by instincts and urges. Caring for dogs and also training them are what helps these wonderful creatures ignore some of their instincts and urges. As long as a dog is well fed and cared for, it will behave itself and stay out of trouble. A hungry dog will very easily attack another animal or even a human being because its need for food has not been met. To effectively train a dog requires that it is first well taken care off so as to achieve success.
Another important fact is that dogs are pack animals. Their social structure is based on having a group where each member has a defined position. Each pack has an alpha male as its pack leader and every dog aspires to be the alpha male of the pack. The pack leader provides leadership, protection and a lot more. Your dog sees you as its pack leader and expects you to play that role fully. This is why anytime your dog feels threatened it will always run behind you as it expects you to fend of the attacker.
Dogs are creatures of habit and will learn best through routine and repetition. This is why dog training and dog care need to follow certain processes so as to help the dog learn faster and long term. Feeding times, play times, training times and the times for all other activities must be adhered. Constantly changing activity times will confuse the dog and result in slower and more difficult training for both you and your dog.
Hopefully these facts will help you have a better understanding of your dogs and thus make it easier for you to take them through their training. Successful dog training requires not only understanding the techniques to be applied but also the subject to be trained.
