Never let your dog walk you. You must be the one leading the walk, and keep the dog well-behaved throughout. The following article has some great canine training advice that all dog owners would be wise to follow.

When training dogs, use a similar tone and volume when you give commands. The tone should be firm, so your dog understands that you are issuing a command, not a suggestion. Doing this also ensures that your dog will know the difference between your “you’re in trouble” voice and your “do as I say” voice.

It is important to get your dog trained to walk nicely on his leash. Think of the leash as a safety requirement.

During your training sessions, you should keep a close eye on the time. Spending too long on training exercises will start to bore the dog. Aim for less than 10 minutes per session.

Training Sessions

TIP! Repetition is what causes a dog to learn. It is not uncommon for it to take between 25 to 50 repetitions of the same command for your dog to learn it.

In addition to regular walks and canine training sessions, you should make time to let your dog exercise for at least one hour every day. Without adequate exercise, your dog will find it difficult to focus during your training sessions. Fit dogs are happy and responsive to you.

Maintain short training sessions. When your dog doesn’t get bored, they’ll be a better training partner. If you desire to do a lot more training, be sure to give your dog breaks in between training sessions.

When training your new dog, you call them by name as much as possible. By using his name all the time in the first month of having our dog, he should associate his name with focusing on you. The best dog names are ones that are short and are different from other commands.

TIP! It is important to have an appropriately sized dog crate. You should keep in mind that your dog will get bigger.

Keep track of the number of treats you give your dog. Your dog needs to watch his weight, too. When trying to feed their dogs a healthy diet, many people do not count the calories in the treats. These can add up fast.

If you’re leash-training a puppy, the initial step needs to be putting a collar on them when you play with them. You should start your dog off by wearing a collar from the time they are puppy, they will not think that y9ou are going to put them on a leash this way.

Does your dog have all of the nutrition it needs. Like kids, dogs can get really hyperactive and unable to focus when their nutrition is not up to spec. Alter your dogs diet to make sure they are getting proper energy during the day. Ask your vet to recommend the appropriate diet for your dog’s age, breed and activity level.

TIP! Maintain brief training sessions. Since dogs do not have a long attention span, short lessons will prevent them from getting bored.

Dogs have natural destructive behavior, so provide outlets for them to exercise their natural behaviors. Dogs also need to be fed a healthy diet, get exercise, and be kept busy, just as you do.

Does your pet strain and pull every time you put him on a leash? Many dog owners complain about this behavior; yet, it is easy to correct. Head to your nearest pet supply store and pick up a harness for just a few bucks – harnesses dramatically cut down on pulling, and make walks enjoyable again!

Dog Barks

TIP! The first thing you should do when training a puppy is teach him to understand his name. Repeat the name as much as possible, and reward your puppy when he responds.

If your dog barks too much, take note of the ongoing activities or the environment. When you know what the triggers are, you can fix the problem. For instance, if the only time your dog barks too much is when visitors arrive, ask a friend to visit you to assist you in dealing with the behavior when the trigger event occurs.

If you catch your puppy in the act of chewing on something he shouldn’t, stop him immediately. This will teach your puppy what he can chew on, and he will be less likely to chew on those things he’s not allowed to put in his mouth.

A variety of rewards, such as treats, praise and toys keep your dog interested in pleasing you. These treats cannot be confused with every day treats at first, because you need to create a sense of specialness which will encourage the dog to obey your commands, since they know that the treats they will be receiving are out of the ordinary.

TIP! If you plan on housebreaking your pet, you must work hard to avoid any preventable mistakes. Learn to know the things your pet does when it needs to go.

Your dog needs to have regular vet check-ups. If your dog suddenly regresses in training, take him to the vet to make sure there isn’t a health issue. Dogs are good at hiding discomfort and pain. A lot of the time you will find that your dog is sick when they act differently. Common changes include losing control of their bladder and a sudden onset of aggressive behavior.

Placing newspapers or products marketed for potty-training purposes on the floor for your dog to use will result in a big training set-back. The pads eventually leak; leaked waste marks certain areas in the house as “potty areas”. The pads may also confuse the dog because of their shape. It could cause the dog to think that a bathroom mat or welcome mat is a place to go potty. It is important that you teach your dog that the great outdoors is their potty.

If you are thinking of hiring an animal specialist, be sure that you check their reputation and interview them thoroughly. Animal behavior specialists have different methods and opinions in regards to dog training, so make sure that you and the professional are on the same page before you hire them.

TIP! Use the dog’s name often when training to ensure that you have their attention. When you first get a dog it is important to say his name often, so that he will associate it to himself and will be more apt to pay attention to you when you call it.

If you lack the knowledge to train your dog, you might be fed up with them. Now that you are armed with the advice you need, you can get started on training your pooch to be a happy and healthy member of the family.