You’ll always remember the day your puppy came home with you. Shortly thereafter, that enjoyment sometimes turns to irritation and possibly even regret. Whenever you’re cleaning up mess after mess, you’ll probably wonder just why you got your dog. You can regain that first-day joy by training your dog to behave. The article below will teach you how.
Spoken directions should be made using a simple, concise and forceful tone. Avoid launching a lengthy tirade against your pet and his naughty behavior. Inform them of your disapproval and move on. The tone of your voice should let them know you are serious about the command you are making.
Use a controlled and calm behavior when rewarding your dog for good behavior. When your dog does commands correctly, they get a treat. If you are overly excited, the dog will become that way too. If you are able to maintain your calm, you can expect your dog to maintain calm too.
Dogs will focus on something and ignore all else unless something breaks that attention. If you keep up with his training, your dog will look to you more often for direction rather than looking to the environment.
With patience and a handful of tasty treats, you can easily teach your pet to roll over. First, make sure the dog is in a laying position. Then hold one treat near his head and near the floor. Pull the treat over the dog until your hand is on the other side. He should then roll over while following the treat. While rolling, use your vocal command. Be patient if they don’t get it right away; they’ll get it soon enough!
When using a leash on your dog, ensure the leash remains loose. When dogs are going for a walk, they will often want to check out new territory. This means they’ll pull on the leash. Be sure to train your dog to walk on a slack leash right along with you.
Bringing dogs on a trip means bringing all their supplies, too. When you come prepared with plenty of supplies, you will be able to enjoy your trip. Don’t worry about carrying dog food along. It’s easier to buy some at the location you’re going to.
Stay consistent when you are trying to train your dog. Use certain commands with your dog, and ensure that all of your family members know and use them. It is also recommended that everyone use the same positive reinforcements for good behavior and negative response when the dog is disobedient. Different people rewarding and punishing different behavior confuses the dog and makes it difficult to learn.
Don’t use punitive methods to train your dog. Try to prevent negative behavior, and show your puppy how you expect him to behave if he makes a mistake. You should teach your dog and talk to him during training sessions. Training is the time to build your relationship in a positive way.
Big dogs need sufficient space to stretch their tired bodies out, get comfortable and settle in for a big nap. You can give your dog a bed that is sized appropriately, or consider an unconventional bed for your dog, such as a crib mattress. This is a great alternative because you can easily put a variety of covers on it and wash them regularly. They also have the added benefit of being waterproof!
Don’t ever assume that a dog won’t bite. When a dog thinks he is the boss, you could be trouble. You should always give them the impression that you are the Alpha. If your dog is not sure what you are doing, they might still bite you.
When teaching your dog how to sit, hold a treat above him while he’s standing. Throw the treat right above him and then put your hand behind his back. It will make the dog look up to watch your hand. When his head goes up, his bottom will go down.
Use treats your dog really loves to achieve maximum training efficiency. This is one time you can use something you would not usually give them, like meat.
Your dog’s mind has to be worked out, too. Dog puzzle toys can stimulate its brain. You will have many options, so decide on a puzzle toy that you know your dog will like.
Your dog can provide clear indications of his wants, needs and preferences. Do not force your dog if he is showing signs of being uncomfortable when he meets new animals or people. He is uneasy for a reason, and that should be respected. Pushing too hard may result in aggressive behavior that could have been avoided.
Understand why it is said that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. It could take you some time to get a dog to stop jumping on people or sleeping on the couch if the dog has been doing this for years. Training as a puppy is easier, of course.
Treats are great rewards, but you need to find other positive reinforcements for training. Use treats to improve the behavior of dogs. You probably do not carry treats with you 365 days a year when you are not in an “official” training session. For this reason, learn to use praise and attention by rubbing, patting and hugging your dog to reinforce the good behavior.
Dogs who are allowed to go to the bathroom indoors must have a specific area in which to go. Put potty pads in the area, and then slowly move them so that eventually, there is just one pad situated in the spot where you want the dog to relieve itself.
In order to train your dog, you’ll need love, patience and plenty of treats. The tips here will put your dog and you on a path to a rewarding relationship for years in the future. It may not be an immediate change, but if you ensure consistency, you will achieve a home that is happier for everyone.