Dogs are one of the most popular pets, but that does not mean they are perfect. Just like children, puppies are hard to keep from causing trouble and being mischievous. The following article will give you some advice about training your pet.

Timing is everything in dog training. While you want to devote a good amount of time to it, you do not want to go too far. Small, focused sessions are necessary at the beginning. Watch to see if the dog’s attention begins to fade during sessions.

TIP! Reinforce calm behavior upon your arrival. Your dog should have the patience to wait for you to get settled and signal that you are ready to play with him.

Dogs have the uncanny ability to have single-minded focus when something catches their attention. After you repeat these cues enough, your dog will learn to focus on you, primarily, as he or she waits for signals.

Use consistency when you are crate training your young puppy. Whenever you let your puppy out of the crate, he must be given the immediate chance to go potty. As time passes, your puppy will start to be able to use the restroom at the appropriate times.

Pick the proper size crate for your dog if you want to be able to effectively use the crate to train it. Puppies will get bigger. Choose a crate that your puppy can grow in, but won’t grow out of. They have to be comfortable moving around inside to ensure they aren’t crowded.

TIP! Be careful not to reinforce negative behaviors. This means don’t give your dog treats or attention for something he should not be doing.

You need a commanding control if you are starting to train your dog. Be friendly with your dog, but also be firm. For example, when you walk your dog you must be in front and you should insist your dog follows behind you.

Stay with the training, so that he doesn’t forget the lessons that he learned. Keep him in practice. Do not assume that your dog will remember his training all his life. Pets are creatures of habit, and they need to constantly be taught new things. So, it’s very important that you review your training with your dog regularly.

As training progresses, dogs can be given more freedom because they are more reliable. Your dog will be happy when he gets rewards for his good behavior, such as freedom. Don’t be too lenient all of the sudden though, as this can have a negative effect.

TIP! Don’t bother with shock collars. They often don’t function as well as advertised and are far more expensive than conventional training methods.

Keep your voice firm and level when delivering commands to your dog. Maintaining the same tone lets your dog know that you are serious and they should obey your commands. It will also help him distinguish between a disciplinary tone, which is sharper, and a commanding tone.

One of the very first commands you should teach a new puppy is the “leave it” command, which tells them to drop an item and step back from it. This basic command is extremely helpful when your dog is chewing on something he shouldn’t and also helps to keep him away from dangerous items.

Stay firm when you are training your dog. Yelling at the dog is counterproductive, and it is necessary to balance strictness in response to misbehavior and love in response to obedience. This will help improve the relationship between you and your dog.

TIP! It is important to get your dog trained to walk nicely on his leash. This will ensure both his safety and yours when you take him on walks.

In order to decrease barking, stay around the offending item. Whether your dog barks in response to other dogs, people, certain sounds or something else, it is important to habituate him to this circumstance. Your dog can learn he doesn’t have to bark.

The tone of your voice is an important part of successfully disciplining your dog. Dogs pick up on subtle changes in their owner’s voices. An adequate stern tone can help reinforce their discipline.

Do you have a problem with your dog pulling on his or her leash? This is a common complaint that owners have with their dogs and it’s simple to fix. Head to your nearest pet supply store and pick up a harness for just a few bucks – harnesses dramatically cut down on pulling, and make walks enjoyable again!

TIP! Wearing out a puppy with too much training and information, will be extremely counterproductive. Remember that all dogs have short attention spans and puppies even more so.

You never want to give your dog a punishment during training. Try to prevent bad behavior, but if it does happen, show your dog what he should have done. Training should be a positive experience that helps to build trust, and a closer relationship between you and your dog.

It terms of barking, take note of the sorts of things that cause your dog to bark a great deal. Knowing what triggers the behavior can help you deal with it constructively. If you notice that your dog barks even after visitors have arrived and settled in at your home, ask a friend to help you with this behavior.

Understand limitations of older dogs. You can certainly teach an old dog new tricks, but remember that it may not take 100 percent, no matter how hard you try. There may be strongly entrenched habits and attitudes in an older dog. Although you may be able to teach it some new things, sometimes the best thing to do is focus on the negatives that you want to modify and live with the rest.

TIP! Try to keep your leash loose when you take your dog outside to train. Dogs want to explore new territories while going out for a walk.

Having a well-kept home and owning a dog doesn’t have to be a ‘one or the other’ scenario. You might not be able to have a presentable house if your dog is bad; try some training. Make use of this article’s advice if you want to forge a rewarding, enjoyable bond with your dog.