Training your dog is the responsible thing to do. Not only will a solid foundation in obedience make your dog a good citizen, it also ensures that he remains safe and happy. Here are some useful tips on finding a proper trainer, or becoming a good one yourself.
Choose a crate that fits your dog properly and use it to crate train them. Keep in mind, puppies do not stay small forever. You need a crate that can still fit the puppy once it becomes a dog. Generally speaking, your pet should be able to circle, sit and sleep without discomfort.
Keep your dog up to date with training your dog, in order to keep him or her compliant with an established set of rules. Many owners believe that once training is over, the dog will be set for life. Like their human owners, pets truly are creatures of habit. For this reason, you need to reinforce what your dog has learned in training or better still, teach him a new trick every now and then.
Be prepared to reward the dog as soon as it completes a positive behavior. It is important for your pet to understand that you have certain expectations, what those expectations are, and that he will be rewarded for complying. Your dog will soon learn the difference between good and bad behavior.
“Leave It!” should be one of the first commands that a puppy learns. This command instructs them to release an object and walk away. This command is a great way to avoid damaging furniture or eating dangerous things.
When training your pet, see to it that you get its attention all the time. Start commands by using his name. His name will catch his attention and then he’ll know you’re speaking to him. Dogs often respond to their name immediately and know you intend for them to pay attention.
Be firm with your dog when training, for its own sake. That said, love should prevail and yelling should never occur. This will strengthen the relationship between you and your dog.
Silence your dog’s excessive barking by teaching them a silencing command. When your dog barks, show them a treat and repeat the order, for instance, ‘be quiet’ until it stops barking. Then, you can treat them. If this is done with sufficient frequency, the dog is sure to associate treats with the command to be silent.
When training a dog it is important to teach him good habits from the start. It will make your life less stressful if you are teaching the dog good habits rather than trying to change bad ones. Never feed your dog from the table, if you don’t want him to get the habit of begging for scraps.
It’s to be expected that your new puppy will likely have an accident now and then. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. If your carpet begins to smell like urine and feces, your puppy will believe that it is the right place to potty and return to it again and again. There are a wide variety of odor control products designed to address just this situation, so head to the pet shop and ask about them.
An effective training tool is to use different tones of voice for various commands or purposes. Praise, corrections, and commands need their own tones to help the dog differentiate between effects and causes with both of your behaviors. Commands call for firmness; corrections need a louder volume and praise should be in your natural tone.
When you are walking your dog, a good tip in training him is to be alert for other dogs. There are aggressive dogs, and not every owner is at fault. If you see a dog acting aggressively or fearfully, avoid that dog.
It is important to work on the recall of your dog. Your dog must always return when called. Your dog will learn that he is to come to you even when there are distractions after time. Recall will become very useful if your dog is in danger or about to attack someone, which is why you should spend some time on this command.
With these tips, you will get the most enjoyment out of your new, well-behaved dog. Your family and friends will be proud. A well-trained dog is happier and a joy to be around. Whether you train it yourself or seek the help of a professional, training will improve the life of you and your dog, so get started!