Lots of folks adopt dogs, but don’t consider the full impact of their decision. Owners have to be committed to their dogs. Training a dog improves their behavior and reduces the amount of trouble they get into. If you have adopted a dog that needs to be trained you can use the guideline that is provided in this article.
If you are crate training your dog, you need to show them that this is where they will sleep. At meal times always put their bowl of food inside the crate leaving the door open the whole time while they are eating. This creates a positive association between good food and their new crate.
If you want to teach your pet to use a crate, first try these simple tricks. If your dog doesn’t want to enter the crate, put a chew bone inside the crate, then close to door. They will see and smell the bone and will want you to let them in there to get it. Upon entering the crate, praise your puppy to make sure it knows it did a good job.
Training Sessions
During your training sessions, you should keep a close eye on the time. Devoting strict amounts of time to any particular aspect of training will have your dog feeling distracted and bored. Try to limit initial training sessions to 10 minutes or less.
Use the same command for the behavior you want him to demonstrate. First, say his name, then the command. This gets his attention, then you can follow through with the command. Dogs commonly respond quickly when their names are called, and they realize that you want their attention.
Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Dogs can easily sense how their owners or trainers feel. Talking sternly is a good tone when you are teaching discipline.
Keep your dog’s leash loose when training him. When you take your dog out for a walk, he will want to explore. Eager dogs will begin to put some strain on their leashes. Smart pet owners will make sure the pet walks on a leash with some slack to it.
To keep your dog from biting at furniture or people, or scratching at doors, spray him or her with a bottle of water. This technique will show your dog that the behavior is unacceptable. Soon, you will see an improvement in your dog’s behavior.
Don’t ever reward destructive or bad behavior. This will teach your pet that it could do whatever it is that it wants and that it has control over you. An example of something to avoid is giving your dog a treat when it is barking.
If traveling with your dog, be sure to pack all of the things you will need to keep him happy on your travels. You should take their bed, bowls, and things to clean up after them. You do not have to bring some food for your dog with you because you can easily find quality food anywhere you go.
Unless breeding is in your dog’s future, make sure he or she is spayed or neutered before six months of age. This should happen before you start obedience classes. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. By spaying or neutering a dog he will have a longer happier life.
Always take your dog to the vet on a regular bais. If you see some regression in training, check up on his health. Dogs are great at hiding discomfort and pain. If your dog is behaving erratically, seek medical attention. Aggression can show pain, and “accidents” around the house could show an infection or even bladder stones.
Try using a clicker to help enforce good behavior. The objective is to create a favorable link between the sound of the clicker and a positive outcome or reward. Try clicking and giving your dog a treat at the same time. Do this several times during the day. Soon, your dog will associate the click with ‘reward’ or other positive actions, which can be very helpful in shaping the desirable behaviors you hope to achieve.
Make an appointment with your vet to make sure there aren’t health problems that are causing behavior issues. Inappropriate behavior is a symptom of some health conditions, as the pain associated with some conditions can cause dogs to go into attack mode. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.
Each dog has their own needs when it comes to training. If your dog won’t respond to one method, try another. Once you find a treat that motivates your dog, you will see huge progress in its training.
Even untrained, mature dogs can benefit from these tips. You need to do it right now before something happens you might regret.