Training an unruly pet can seem like a daunting task, but all it takes is a bit of know-how and some patience. The article below can help you train your dog, so that both of you have a great life together.
When crate training an indoor dog or puppy, you may try some tricks. Many dogs are intimidated by the crate. To cure this, place something they enjoy in it and shut the door. They will want to get to the bone, which means going into the crate. If they do go into the crate, offer up praise and a treat.
When you are trying to house train your puppy, keep in mind that everything that you put in, will come out. In order to foster routine toilet habits, give your dog good food between 2 and 3 times daily on a firm schedule. Doing so helps you to learn your puppy’s schedule.
As your dog becomes increasingly more responsive to training, you can begin to give him more freedom. You will find your dog to be more obedient and your dog will be happier. Be sure not to give them too much since this can counteract training efforts.
In puppy training, use the same volume and tone of voice when you state a command. Your tone will indicate that you’re serious and to be respected. Your dog needs to understand that there is a difference between the tone you use to discipline your dog from the tone you use to give an order.
Be patient when training a dog. This will make it less likely that you or your dog will become frustrated or upset with the process of training. Your dog wants to make you happy, but sometimes it just does not understand you.
Teach dogs a “down” command. You can build from this command, or just have it handy in emergencies. The “down” command is excellent to use when your dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior.
Your dog may be engaged in destructive chewing due to anxiety. Dogs like to den up. Giving him a crate to lie in and a toy to chew on will make your dog feel secure and keep him occupied.
Dogs are dogs and need time to act as such. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.
Older Dogs
Older dogs aren’t the same as puppies. Older dogs won’t be trained perfectly. They’ll always have some quirks that need to be embraced. If you decide to take on an older dog, be aware that they are used to routines and will have certain habits. It’s possible for them to learn new tricks, but it’s best to eliminate the negative behaviors that can be altered and get used to the other ones.
Knowing your dog’s body language is key to potty training. Dogs typically have a pattern before elimination. When you learn to recognize this behavior pattern and take him outside right away, you will teach him the right way to behave. Getting in sync with the natural tendencies of your dog will make house training a whole lot easier.
Utilize a wide variety of training materials, including videos, books and classes where available, to create a comprehensive training program for your dog. Talk with those that have similar breeds to you, and learn from them. Take the information you gather and craft a training regimen specifically for your dog.
While it is definitely possible to teach an older dog new tricks, you want to be mindful of medical issues or conditions that may limit his ability to engage in some behaviors. Dogs with arthritis, for example, shouldn’t be asked to crawl all over. You can keep your senior dog sharp and alert by providing regular training. However, you must make sure that you’re not causing it unwarranted pain during exercise sessions.
Have you heard of the shake-can training method? Place a couple coins within an empty can of soda, and then seal it. If your dog is not behaving, shake the can, but shake it only once. It will startle him and it will halt his behavior. Once you do this a few times, your dog will start to realize that his behavior is unacceptable. Do not shake the can multiple times or he will become desensitized to it.
Never raise your voice to your dog during training. Shouting to counteract barking can actually be a positive reinforcement for dogs, since they do not understand that you are not reacting at their barking. By shouting at your dog while he is barking, you may very well convince him that whatever he’s barking at is worth barking at. Instead, distract your dog from barking by remaining calm.
When you do not know how to properly train your dog, then you are likely to become extremely frustrated. Armed with the information in this piece, you have what it takes to transform your dog into an ideal family member.