If you have a natural-born obedient dog, then consider yourself lucky. Unfortunately, the majority of dogs require some form of training. This may be needed to prevent them from destroying your home or jumping on strangers. Use the following advice and you will end up with a joyful, well behaved dog.
Reprimands should be delivered quickly and in a sharp tone. It’s not good to rant about how bad your dog is. Just say no, then let them know what behavior you want to see. Pitch your voice in such a way that your dog will recognize your vocalizations as commands.
You should develop a feeding routine with your dog. Develop a feeding schedule, and be consistent with the routines so you can teach your dog what to expect and how to behave. This will set a quality schedule for your dog so that they are ready for all meals.
Feed your dog a healthy diet. The effects a bad diet has on your dog extend further than you might think. It can damage your dog’s health and affect their behavior. By simply improving the diet that the dog gets, you may notice a great improvement in how receptive they will be when it comes to training.
By training your dog, you are helping him to become a rule follower. Often, owners get the feeling that they do not need to continue working with the dog once it is trained. However, pets are creatures of habit. For this reason, it is essential to make sure that your dog adheres to a clear-cut set of rules.
When your dog does something unacceptable, make sure that it becomes known. This will not hurt him, but it is quite uncomfortable. Before long, they will stop their habit of jumping on people due to this association.
Maintain short training sessions. The attention span of a dog is pretty short, so it is important to keep them interested in training by keeping the training short. If you want to train them more, let your dog take a break to get some energy out.
When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Always refer to your dog by his name, and begin teaching him to come anytime it is called. Your puppy’s name should be one of its first words learned. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.
Positive Reinforcement
Use praise to re-enforce good behavior in your dog when training. Positive reinforcement, shown through your tone and attitude, lets your dog know he has done a good job. Avoid rewarding improper behavior since the dog will relate this to positive reinforcement too.
It is possible to teach your pup to wait to eliminate, if you are consistent in your training. Be sure to take your puppy out for scheduled, hourly potty breaks when you’re home. If he does go to the toilet outside, praise him. Never yell at your dog for relieving itself in the house. He doesn’t know better yet and punishment would serve no purpose. Allow your dog the chance to go out after meals and when he gets out of a crate/pen.
Consider the size of your dog when purchasing a bed. You can find an extra large bed for large dogs at any pet store. An interesting alternative could be a crib mattress. These are advantageous for the fact that you are able to regularly change the cover by using crib sheets. Another advantage is that these mattresses are waterproof.
For success in dog obedience training, it is necessary to invest a certain amount of time consistently. Dogs learn best through repetition and consistent training. Also, just spending time with the dog daily is a great way to engender confidence and true friendship. These two qualities can help you become the leader.
Keep your dogs out of the trash by feeding them well and giving them a lot of toys. Make sure your trash gets emptied regularly, and never put something irresistible in there, like bones. Be sure to crate your dog when you go out and/or leave your trash can empty when you are gone.
It’s important to use treats that really capture your dog’s full attention when training. A treat that is normally forbidden, such as table scraps or cheese, is a great choice.
For dogs that bark unnecessarily, do not shout at your dog. If you yell when they are barking, they will realize that you are talking to them how they are talking. They will see that they might be barking for no reason.
Puzzle Toys
Your dog’s brain also needs some exercise. Dogs that do not chew a great deal may benefit from puzzle toys that hone problem-solving abilities. There are many types of puzzle toys for each type of dog.
Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Behavior such as inappropriate waste elimination may indicate an underlining health issue. At times the pet may be in so much pain that he is unable to act appropriately. Animals can’t tell us when something is wrong, so they depend on us to interpret their behaviors.
Even the worst dogs can learn better behavior. It just takes some knowledge and patience. Implement the advice you’ve read here, and your dog will be well-behaved in no time.