Dogs all need to be trained, whatever the reasons. Read on for some ways to get started training your dog.
Try to think like a dog. It’s easy to get irritated with them when they aren’t learning the basics quickly or even at all. Instead of giving up entirely, you might consider trying to put yourself in your dog’s mindset. Looking at the world through their eyes could give you new insights about training them.
Make sure you feed your dog healthy food. The effects a bad diet has on your dog extend further than you might think. It can negatively impact a dog’s health and disposition. Sometimes, it is possible to improve your pet’s behavior and cooperation simply by improving the quality of his or her diet.
It’s important to avoid inadvertently encouraging inappropriate behavior if you want your dog to learn. Thus, you must not reward the dog if it does something you are working to stop. If they jump on you, don’t pet them, for example.
Primary Reinforcement
Use primary reinforcement when training your dog. Primary reinforcement uses something that is inherent for the dog to love as a reward for good behavior. Some common reinforcements include your dog’s favorite treat or a belly rub. This way, your dog learns the right way to get what he wants.
You have to be firm during puppy training. You should not be extremely strict or loving all the time. Find a balance on gentle firmness to use with your dog. This will strengthen the relationship between you and your dog.
You need to be very consistent when training your dog. When more than one person is training your dog be sure that you are using the same word as a command and discipline. The dog will have an easier time learning if he has only one set of commands to learn and if he knows what response each behavior will receive.
House training a puppy can be frustrating, as accidents are going to occur on occasion. Make sure to clean up accidents as soon as they happen. Odor from feces or urine can stay in your carpet which will make your dog return to it when it wants to urinate. There are many products on the market that can help with this, so check with your local pet shop.
When you are walking your dog, be aware of and pay attention to other dogs in the vicinity. Some dogs may be aggressive regardless of how responsible the owner is. If you see an antisocial or aggressive dog, avoid having your dog be near it.
When training a dog to a leash it is important to keep the leash loose. Dogs love exploring new land whenever they get the chance to go walking. Since they are excited, they may pull on their leash. A good dog trainer will work to discourage this and teach the dog to walk with a bit of slack on the leash.
Training sessions should be brief. Any longer than fifteen minutes spent training your dog will exhaust his ability to concentrate and lead to frustration. After training, praise the dog for a job well done.
One of the most important things in training is teaching your dog to come back to you. Your dog should come back to you regardless of the environment they’re in. These are things that have to be done to have a obedient dog. Recall may one day save the life of your dog, so don’t overlook this training even if it is challenging and time-consuming.
Untrained or poorly trained dogs can wreak havoc on your home and drive you crazy in the process. By taking to heart the advice contained here, you will be well on your way to training your dog in the skills he needs to be a well-mannered pup.