You may be a novice when it comes to training a dog. That means you will want great tips and ideas on how to properly do this training. This will allow you to create the best behaviors for your pet. These are a few tips for starting out.
When corrected your dog verbally, make sure to use sharp, concise wording. There’s no point in ranting at your dog. Firmly say no and redirect them. Your tone should be stern to let them know you are serious.
Buy chew toys so that your puppy can deal with painful teething. Give it one of his toys instead. If teething is causing your dog a great of pain, give him a frozen washcloth to chew on and relieve the pain.
When using a crate to train your dog, you’ll want to make sure that you select the right size. Puppies will get bigger. Select a crate that is large enough for them to fit in when they are older. Don’t restrict the size so much so that the dog cannot lie or turn easily.
Make sure you aren’t enforcing bad behavior without meaning to. This means you must not reward your dog with attention or treats for doing something you don’t want it to do. This includes things like petting them when they jump on you at the door.
When getting closer to a dog, move slowly and let the dog smell your hand. This gives the dog a chance to become accustomed to your personal scent and shows him you mean no harm. When the dog knows your scent, he is better able to trust you and follow given commands.
One command that should be taught early to a puppy is “leave it.” This teaches them to drop something and step way from it. Teaching them to “leave it” will stop them from destructive chewing and coming in contact with something that could potentially hurt them.
Primary Reinforcement
When training a doggy, use primary reinforcement. Primary reinforcement makes use of something that is already inherent for a dog to love getting as a reward when they behave. This may mean giving food items as treats or scratching the dog’s tummy. Your dog will learn well from this.
Avoid accidents when toilet training your puppy. Learn to read your dog and anticipate his needs. If your dog is pacing or whining, you need to take them outside. Do not wait more than a couple of minutes. Head outdoors to the assigned potty spot right away. When he does go, praise him! He’ll want to go out and do the right thing soon enough.
When you discipline your dog, your tone is an important factor. Dogs are in tune with human emotions and pick much of that up from your voice. Sometimes a stern voice is necessary.
When housebreaking your puppy, accidents will happen. It’s important to immediately clean up the accident to make your training more effective. If you don’t clean accidents up quickly, your pet may smell the mess and eliminate in the same spot again. Visit a good pet shop to find products created especially for odor control.
When using a leash on your dog, ensure the leash remains loose. Dogs are often eager to explore new territory when they get the opportunity to go for a walk. This eagerness can cause them to pull against the leash if it’s held too tightly. A good dog trainer will work to discourage this and teach the dog to walk with a bit of slack on the leash.
By being consistent in your methods, it is possible to teach your dog to “hold it.” Take your dog to the bathroom at least once each hour. Praise him when he uses the bathroom outside. Try not to get angry and reprimand your dog if he/she goes in the house. He does not know better, and shouting at him will only make things worse. Your dog should be taken outside when he emerges from his crate, and within 15 minutes of eating or drinking.
Training should be disciplined but also fun for the dog. Only train your dog in ten to fifteen minute sessions. A dog has a limited attention span so any longer will cause him or her to become bored. Keep your rewards coming and vary what you give them. Make sure you shower praise on your dog when they do well. If your dog perceives training as fun, he will listen to you more!
Hopefully you have a new-found confidence about training your first dog. With these tips, you can approach canine training with a little experience under your belt.