Training a dog is a wonderful thing to do for both of you. Dogs need to learn a variety of skills, including simple obedience training and social skills, to get along with your family and other people in your neighborhood. This article contains tips that will help you make sure that your dog is properly trained.
You can use a few tricks when crate training your dog or puppy. Place a treat inside the crate and shut its gate in front of your dog. A tempting bone will prove too hard to resist, and the dog will be panting to get into the crate in no time. If they do go into the crate, offer up praise and a treat.
Training Sessions
Your training sessions must be long enough for your dog to learn the desired behavior but no so long that he becomes bored. Begin with shorter training sessions and gradually increase the time each day. Pay attention to the point when your dog starts to get restless.
Try to think like a dog. Things that seem simple to you may not be as simple to your dog if he is having a hard time learning them. Instead of giving up entirely, you might consider trying to put yourself in your dog’s mindset. This could help you overcome training hurdles.
If you have a focal point for your dog to pay attention to, he will ignore all other distractions he would normally be tempted to watch. With frequent practice, your dog will begin to focus on you and the signals you are giving him instead of other distractions.
Try not to reinforce bad behavior in your dog by accident. This means you must not reward your dog with attention or treats for doing something you don’t want it to do. For instance, if you are trying to train your dog to not jump on you, you shouldn’t be petting them whenever they do so.
To strengthen your training efforts, you can use a designated verbal command to help your animal understand what your expectations are and when they have been fulfilled. Words like “yes” could be an effective way of communicating to your dog that he has done something you are pleased about.
Early on, always have a tasty treat on hand to immediately reward your dog for responding to a command. They need to know that the behavior they have done is exactly what you wanted them to do. This is the best way to ensure that the dog understands the difference between right and wrong.
To house train your dog, you should make sure that your dog follows a regular feeding and elimination schedule. Once you’ve established a schedule, it will be easier to predict when your dog needs to go to the bathroom. When a dog has a schedule, they also learn the valuable skill of “holding it” until you take him for his next scheduled trip outside.
When training your dog, make sure to have fun with him too. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Although training itself is fun, it is good to spend time each day just playing with your dog because you can.
Make sure you avoid all the accidents you can whenever you’re toilet-training your dog. Watch your pet to identify his unique behaviors and signals that indicate when he must relieve himself. They may pace, sniff, whine or walk in circles. If you see your dog doing this, take action immediately. Quickly leash your pet and lead him to an area where he can relieve himself. Praise your dog when he does his business where he is supposed to. Over time, he will be able to signal to you his need to relieve himself.
Maintain your dog’s training throughout its lifetime. Training does not stop when your dog leaves his puppy stage. If you reinforce good behavior, your dog will be obedient, and he will stop being negative as long as he is being disciplined.
Try using a different voice for each different purpose. Praise, commands and corrections ought to have different tones associated with them so that the dog can understand what it is you want. Stand firm and be sharp when using commands. Use louder tones for corrections, and use your natural tone when giving praise.
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. This includes things like treating to avoid barking.
Bringing dogs on a trip means bringing all their supplies, too. Include water, food bowls, bathroom bags and paper towels, so you can have a relaxing ride. You do not have to bring some food for your dog with you because you can easily find quality food anywhere you go.
If you plan on training your dog, try looking at training your dog resources like books and magazines that pertain to your specific breed. Talk to those who have the same kind of dog you do, and get suggestions. Take the information you gather and craft a training regimen specifically for your dog.
More often than not, dogs bite out of fear more than anything else. This is the end result when your dog feels scared or trapped. Don’t forcefully train your dog. This could have the unfortunate effect of causing your dog to bite you. A dog’s main purpose in life is to please you, as he regards you as his leader.
We hope these tips will help you and other people enjoy your dog to the fullest. Training your dog makes ownership a rewarding experience. Training can be done yourself, or you may want to enlist the help of a professional; either way, proper training will bring you many rewarding years with your pet.