Shelters are filled with dogs that didn’t live up to owners’ expectations. Properly trained dogs are healthy and happy members of a family. Making your dog this way doesn’t have to be hard, if you invest the time to do it with some simple steps.
Make sure you’ve got a reward ready whenever your dog does something successfully. It is important for the dog to realize when he exhibits the proper behavior in response to your commands. By rewarding your dog after it does something you want, it will realize that it’s doing a good thing. Therefore, it will be more likely to continue this good behavior.
To ensure that your dog maintains good behavior, you must continue his training throughout his life. Your dog isn’t completely trained once he stops being a puppy. By reinforcing positive behavior, your dog will remain obedient, just as continued discipline can stop poor behavior from taking hold.
Do not wear out your new puppy with an excessive training regiment. Puppies have short attention spans and they cannot focus too much, so have shorter sessions and try to be positive during them every time. Your puppy will happier with the experience, and less resistant to your future efforts. He will be looking forward to them instead.
When housebreaking your puppy, accidents will happen. Clean up any messes that are made immediately, so it doesn’t hamper your training efforts. When a dog uses the house to relive itself, the smell can linger on the carpet if not cleaned properly. You will then have a dog that will continue to use that same spot all of the time. You can buy a spray or carpet shampoo that will remove the odor.
Be aware of special grooming requirements your dog might need. Certain breeds require minimal upkeep, whereas other breeds need lots of grooming attention week in and week out. Grooming helps your dog stay clean and happy, reducing the chances of getting a disease.
Every time you interact with your dog, you’re molding its behavior. Remember this if you are teasing your pet or playing with him since that can undo certain behaviors you have worked on. Try to reinforce good behavior at all moments.
Your dog should enjoy being trained by you. Try not to make training sessions any longer than 15 minutes. That will keep his attention. Be generous with rewards, and don’t forget to add some variety. You should lavish praises on your dog for following your instructions. The more enjoyable training is for your dog, the more he will look forward to it!
While it may be hard, you need to always be patient with your dog. Your dog is not human and does not speak or understand English. They just pick up on body language and tone without understanding why you might be acting that way. Stay cool, and take a break if you need to. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your dog won’t be trained in one day either.
Do you have a dog that pulls? You aren’t alone in this, but it is easy to fix! Trade your leash for a dog harness. Harnesses can be more comfortable, and allow you to enjoy a walk without your dog pulling on its leash.
Don’t use punitive methods to train your dog. Try to stop your dog from performing unwanted behaviors, but if he does, redirect him by demonstrating the correct behavior. Training is about teaching your dog, and building a good relationship with him.
Be aware of how you are reacting to your dogs behavior. If for some reason the animal perceives that you are amused by the performance, he may deliberately repeat the unwanted behavior to elicit a response. As a result, your training can be severely hampered, which can become extremely frustrating. Regardless of how entertaining your dog’s misbehavior may be, you must correct it consistently.
Your dog shouldn’t be leading you. You are the one to be leading. Be sure the training collar you use is good quality and have them on a short leash. When entering a door, heel your dog. It is important that your dog understands you are the one in charge.
Make sure that your dog has enough sleeping space, especially when the dog is a big one that likes to sprawl. There are big, long dog beds around for larger dogs, or you could look for a mattress taken from a crib. This has its advantages. The most apparent being that you can easily change the fitted sheets on it. Crib mattresses are also waterproof, which is another big advantage.
Do not think that a dog won’t bite you because you are supposed to be in charge. Until you have established yourself as the pack leader, you dog may think that the position is his. Therefore, it’s important that you showcase alpha behavior so that your dog will be aware that they aren’t the leader. You are. Even calm dogs may lash out and bite.
When teaching a dog to sit, get to stand, and then hold up a treat above them. Move the treat backwards over his head and towards his tail. The dog will have to look up in order to follow the motion of your hand. When his head goes up, his bottom will go down.
Always reinforce and reward your dog for demonstrating the desired behavior. This doesn’t mean punishing them when they misbehave; it means just simply not reinforcing poor behavior. Dogs can become scared easily when you negatively act towards them. Use positive reinforcement to remind the the animal that good things come when they obey.
When introducing your dog to another animal, do so slowly and carefully. Keep your current pet in mind, if you are considering adopting a new pet. You should make sure to adopt a pet that fits your life and personality so that you can establish a good bond.
It’s not impossible to have a dog that is healthy and happy. Making sure to train your dog, show it lots of love and care, and remember that his or her happiness is important. Apply the tips you’ve just read so your dog remains well-behaved at all times.