A trained dog is a happy dog. An obedient dog will be easier to live with and you will know what can be expected. Once trained, you will not have to worry about behavior problems when taken out into public or left home alone. While the process takes considerable time and effort, training your dog to respect commands, do tricks, and behave properly will make it all worthwhile.
Be sure to keep your dog active and engaged a great deal of the time. Dogs can get bored very easily. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. When your dog gets regular exercise, he will be much happier and will pay attention more easily. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.
Give your puppy some toys to chew on so they do not hurt while teething, keep other things they might want to chew on out of their reach! Replace the item immediately with one of the dog’s own chew toys. A frozen washcloth can provide teething relief for your pup.
Repetition is the key to success when teaching a dog a new command. It is said that a human only masters something when they do it 10,000 times, and dogs are no different, although it should take much less repetitions than that! Just remember to keep trying and be patient. Eventually, your dog will learn.
Do not ever use a shock collar to train your dog. They often do not function properly and their cost is rarely justified. Also, shock collars may actually hinder your dog’s development and thwart positive behaviors. Using these techniques can have poor results.
Disciplined leash walking is very important in dog training. This is important for the safety of your pet, and it is also beneficial for you as well.
Dog Training
Stick with positive reinforcement when it comes to dog training. Use a happy tone when you are rewarding your dog; pet him a lot, and give him a little treat once in a while. You should never yell at your dog, or physically harm them. This teaches your dog nothing and will just show him that you do not know how to train him. To get the best results from your dog training, you need to be firm and consistent, staying positive at all times.
Pay attention to your tone when you are disciplining your dog. Your dog can usually tell how you are feeling. It is okay to be stern when disciplining your dog.
A loose leash is important for training. Dogs are often eager to explore new territory when they get the opportunity to go for a walk. Since they will be so eager, they may try to pull too hard, straining the leash. A good dog trainer will work to discourage this and teach the dog to walk with a bit of slack on the leash.
Start leash training by playing with your puppy while he is wearing his collar. Having the dog comfortable in wearing its collar is crucial and it will be able to give the dog its identification in case it takes it off.
A squirt of water in your dog’s face can discourage biting and scratching behaviors. Your dog will quickly learn that bad behaviors cause bad outcomes. Your dog will learn to associate these behaviors with the water and will stop doing them.
Each and every thing you and your dog do together is forming his behavior and personality. This is crucial to know because you may undo certain behaviors by engaging in horseplay or by teasing your pet. Be sure that every action you take supports the behaviors you seek.
Never reward bad behavior with the intent of quickly ending a certain behavior. This is sure to send the message that the dog has free reign and can control you. In other words: no treats are to be given to barking dogs.
Try teaching your dog the command of “down”. You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills. When the animal is familiar with the ‘down’ command, he can be more effectively controlled with little advance warning. This is important when others’ safety is at stake.
Recall is a very important skill for your dog to master. No matter what the circumstances, your dog should come back to you when you call. Teach your dog to come, even when there are distractions. Recall is hard, but it can also be life-saving.
Training is not a good time for punishing your dog. Try to avoid unwanted behaviors to begin with. If they do occur, employ redirection by showing the dog what is expected. A positive relationship between you and your dog is what makes training work.
In the beginning, give your dog a food treat each time it successfully obeys a command. Slowly, as they get older, begin reducing the amount of treats you give them until they are only given on special occasions.
Stay consistent when you train your dog. Being consistent pertains to words used for commands you want the dog obeying, to the words’s tone, and to rewards you provide the dog if he completes the command you teach him successfully.
The important thing to understand about canine training is that it is about setting a precedence of what is expected from the relationship. The two of you will get so much more from each other once you figure this out. Continue to reinforce all learned behaviors. Keep his knowledge sharp and stay on top of any deviations in his behavior. Once your dog understands all the basics, the sky is the limit as far as what it can achieve with your help.