It can be quite overwhelming to train a dog. Of course obedience training is a necessity if you want a well-adapted and well-behaved dog. You must use positive training techniques; it’s best for you and your pup. Both patience and consistency are required. Put time aside every day, somewhere around 25 minutes for training; that amount of time is about the attention span of your pup. Your dog won’t be able to focus for much longer.
There are different tricks you can try when you are crate training your dog. If the dog doesn’t want to go inside the crate, put a rawhide bone in there and shut the door. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. Praise your dog once he gets into the crate.
Encourage your dog to be as active as possible. Just like humans, dogs can become bored easily. Not to mention that a bored dog is going to be more stubborn during training. Dogs are more inclined to obey when they are regularly taken out for exercise and happily accepted as a member of your family. Go on extended walks or runs with your dog on a regular basis.
Unless you offer a distraction or stimulus, your dog will probably focus exclusively on a single thing. Your dog can learn to focus less and less, except for your commands, by using repetition.
When tying up your dog, make sure it is not close to another chained dog. It is just too easy for dogs in such a situation to tangle their leads together, and this can lead to serious injuries for both of them. Situations like this can cause dogs of various sizes to cause fatal injuries if not properly monitored. Always err on the side of caution.
Early in your training, teach your new pup to “leave it.” This command tells him to drop the item and step away. This simple command will get them to stop chewing on household items or furniture, and can keep them away from dirty or potentially dangerous items outside the home.
When training your dog, always remember to have fun. You can build a strong bond with dog by playing with the dog, and that in turn causes positive reactions during training. Training can be a fun experience, however, getting some enjoyment for yourself and the dog through play is a good thing.
To train your dog efficiently, you must learn how to be firm with it. Try not to yell though, as negative reinforcement does not work. Maintaining a proper balance ensures that the relationship between you and your dog is strong.
Be consistent when training your dog. When more than one person is training your dog be sure that you are using the same word as a command and discipline. When your dog only needs to understand a single set of directions, it is easier to learn and adopt the desired behaviors.
A good thing to remember during training is the fact that your every move will play a role in the dog’s eventual personality and disposition. This is a critical fact, since you may inadvertently cause your dog to regress by teasing or laughing at bad behavior. Work towards behavior that is desired when training your dog.
When you are traveling together with a dog, make a dog travel bag. Bring food and water bowls, waste baggies and treats for a good trip. You do not have to bring some food for your dog with you because you can easily find quality food anywhere you go.
Short training session are better suited to your dog’s attention span. The average dog will pay attention for about fifteen minutes and will not learn anything once it has lost interest in the exercise. Once done, praise your dog and play with him for a while.
You will find dogs are simply dogs. Allow for activities that let him be himself and have fun. Dogs need to eat well, a spacious run, and lots of toys and interesting things to occupy their time.
If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldn’t be, stop him as soon as you catch him. This teaches your puppy what is acceptable to chew, making it less likely that he will chew your belongings when you are not able to watch him closely.
Older Dog
You need to know if your dog is old and has limits to training. Older dogs are unlikely to be completely trainable, as they will already be accustomed to certain behaviors to some extent. Keep in mind that adopting an older dog means the chance of getting a dog already set in how they do things. Try to change the things that are negative, to make your older dog a better pet.
Some dogs fear of thunderstorms can cause them harm. Talk with your veterinarian if your pet is extremely afraid of thunder. Your vet might be able to prescribe a sedative for your dog to take during thunderstorms. This may be a last resort in cases where behavioral methods do not work, but it really can help a dog that has a serious problem.
With these tips at hand, you’ll see that training your dog is not overtaxing. Doing this makes your neighborhood, home, and dog safer. These techniques make the entire canine training experience much less of an ordeal.