Everyone likes having a dog because they bring joy and love into our lives. There is a lot of extra work involved with owning a puppy though. You must be prepared to provide solid training. Use these tips on a consistent basis and you will see a trained dog in no time at all.
Control how much you reward your dog. Giving a reward for an appropriate behavior is correct, but do it quickly and move on. Don’t let your own excitement get your dog excited or they will lose focus. Try to stay as calm as possible during your training your dog session.
Your dog will perform best on a healthy diet. A poor diet is bad for your dog on several levels. Poor nutrition adversely affects your dog’s health and can cause uncharacteristic behavior. Something as easy as proper nutrition can make a dog more obedient.
Make sure that your dog stays awake and active. Dogs can become bored very easily. When a dog’s mind begins to wander, the training process loses its effectiveness. A dog that is happy, and gets the attention that they crave, will be a better behaved and attentive dog. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.
Start training with something simple. This will be great for immediate gratification, and your dog will begin to understand what you expect along the way. Your training will become more productive.
You need to teach your puppy how to leave an item alone with a simple command such as “leave it.” You can use this command for a number of purposes. For example, it is used to prevent the dog from chewing on something or even to guide them out of harm’s way.
Your training sessions should be very short. When your dog doesn’t get bored, they’ll be a better training partner. You can choose to adopt a more intensive regimen, but only if you are willing to allow your dog a few moments of relaxation and play to break up the session.
To make sure your dog pays attention to you, you should use its name as often as possible. Use the name often, especially during the first weeks at home; the puppy should associate his name with focusing on you. A short name which sounds distinct from many other words is preferable.
Leave the leash somewhat loose during training. When dogs are going for a walk, they will often want to check out new territory. Since they will be so eager, they may try to pull too hard, straining the leash. The savvy owner will discourage this behavior, instead encouraging his or her pet to walk with some slack in the leash.
To enforce positive behavior when it comes to training your dog, be sure that you praise your dog. Positive reinforcements include treats, smiles and pats on the head. Do not reward your dog after bad behavior, it will get confused.
Short training session are better suited to your dog’s attention span. Fifteen minutes is about the right time to work on a training task, spending much more time than this will frustrate your dog and set back progress. Once you’re finished with each session, praise your dog and play with them.
Your dog must learn the “down” command. You can use it in an emergency, for example. A dog that understands the “down” command can lower to the ground immediately in a risky situation, so it’s perfect for safety reasons.
Each time that you use your dog’s name as a warning or a reprimand, try to use it three to five other times in a positive way. You don’t want to train your dog to be scared to come when called or to think you’re mad every time you use its name.
Always be consistent when you are training your dog. Use certain commands with your dog, and ensure that all of your family members know and use them. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. Different cues from different people will confuse your dog.
By this point, you should be beyond excited at the prospect of working more closely with your beloved pet. It is important to reward your dog if he behaves well and demonstrate patience at all times. These tips will not be mastered overnight, but you and your dog will soon get there.