The day you bring a new puppy into your life is one that is filled with joy. The joy can slowly shift into frustration in the weeks after that, though! Whenever you’re cleaning up mess after mess, you’ll probably wonder just why you got your dog. However, you can avoid this situation by teaching your dog what you expect from him. The advice below will help you set out a winning strategy.
Use control to acknowledge positive behavior while training. When your dog responds to a command in the right way, you should reward this behavior when he is calm. If you get excited, the dog will become excited and everything will be out of control. You should stay calm and then give the reward.
Dogs can have a one-track mind and remain focused on one thing until you break the dog out of it. If you are consistent and use repetition, your dog will start to wait for your signals before focusing on something.
Dogs need routine, so feed your dog at the same time every day. This also helps with training. This will give you the opportunity to understand when your dog needs to go to the bathroom. Sticking to a schedule will teach your dog how to control himself until his next scheduled potty break.
Be mindful of how long the sessions are when you train your dog. It is possible that your dog will lose interest if it is made to do the same thing over and over. Keep sessions to a minimum at first. Target 10 minute sessions for increased success.
Primary Reinforcement
Primary reinforcement is an important part of any training program. Primary reinforcement uses the things that your dog loves as rewards for positive behavior. Rewards can be rubbing a dog’s belly or giving it a treat. This helps them to make positive associations with the desired behaviors.
It is important that you teach your dog proper behaviors from day one. It makes it easier for the dog to learn the correct behavior first, than it is trying to make them unlearn old bad habits. To avoid begging at the table, avoid giving the dog food off the table to begin with.
During leash training, it is necessary to ensure that the leash stays loose. Dogs become excited when they are exploring a new area. This eagerness can cause them to pull against the leash if it’s held too tightly. The smart owner discourages this behavior, teaching the dog to walk with a slack leash instead.
Is your dog getting all their required nutrients? Like children, dogs can become hyperactive, inattentive and even a little bit bratty when their diet isn’t up to par. Find out what your dog’s breed needs in terms of nutrition and then meet those needs. Check with your vet about any specific nutritional needs he might need attending to!
Teach your dog to lay down on command. This is a command that is great as a foundation for other commands, and can also be used alone in emergencies. A dog that knows his “down” command well can drop to the ground at a moment’s notice in a testy situation, making it a great command to keep on hand for safety’s sake.
It is important to work on the recall of your dog. Your dog should return to your side at all times under all conditions. Always reinforce this behavior and introduce it in all kinds of new environments. Your dog’s life may depend on recall some day, so do not skip this training, although it may be challenging to teach.
Dogs often chew because they are dealing with anxiety. Using a dog gate to set aside his own space or a crate to confine his nervousness may provide him with the security he needs while you are away, and adding a chew toy may redirect some of his destructive tendencies.
Positive behavior training is the most effective, humane training philosophy. You have to praise good behavior while not focusing on the bad behavior. If you punish your dog, he may become scared. Reinforcing good behaviors will cause the dog to work harder to please you and receive praise.
Try to avoid allowing your dog to bark out of boredom. If you dog barks because he is bored, you are the one to blame. Barking because of boredom is a sign that your pet does not get enough one-on-one time or enough exercise. Give him some quality time and go on walks and play around a little. If you are not at home, let him play with chew toys.
You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. These “wee-wee” pads can leak pet urine and feces, which can cause the puppy to mistake the area for a permanent toilet. Wee-wee pads might also cause a dog to mistake anything with a similar shape (a rug, for example) for a suitable place to relieve itself. Instead, it is far preferable to teach your pet that outdoors is the only acceptable place to relieve itself.
A clicker can be a useful tool for positive reinforcement. To properly use a clicker, you will need to set up a positive association with the noise from the clicker and a desired behavior. To begin, give the dog a treat immediately upon clicking. Do this several times each day. Very soon, the animal will understand that the noise is synonymous with good things. This makes the clicker a valuable tool.
When looking at dog trainers, do a lot of research. Check user reviews on the Internet and learn their training methods. Many of these professionals have different techniques that they will use to train a dog. You should know whether or not you agree with their methods before hiring them to train your pet!
You will need a lot of patience, love and treats to train your dog. Using the above advice will have you and your dog loving one another for many years. You cannot expect to do this overnight. However, if you’re consistent and remain patient, you can create a better relationship between you and your dog.