Dog owners buy their pet expecting things to turn out well. Yet, all too often things don’t go as expected and the dog is given to an animal shelter. This doesn’t need to be the cause, though. Proper training will produce a good well-behaved family dog. A great dog can be yours; just read on.
Make the dog know that the crate is it’s home when you are doing crate training. You should put their food in the cage and leave the door open if it is time for them to eat. Thus, they will associate a good thing like yummy food with the crate.
Reinforce calm behavior upon your arrival. It is okay to have play time, but when you enter a room your dog should be calm. When you ignore the dog on entry, they shouldn’t bother you about playing.
In dog training, use the same volume and tone of voice when you state a command. This tone tells the dog that you mean business and that they need to obey. They will also know when you are being positive.
When training your dog, one of the first commands they should be aware of is the “drop” command, which lets them know they should drop any items they have in their mouth. This command teaches them to cease chewing on furniture or items around the house and it keeps them safe from filthy or hazardous items outside.
Training should be completed in small spurts. Dogs’ attentions are very short. Maintaining short training sessions ensures that your dog can remain focused on the task at hand. If more training is desired, work in some break times so your dog can play before continuing with training.
You can keep a dog from barking by teaching it an order that means they should be silent. Use your no-bark command and follow with a treat only when the dog is quiet. Then, you can reward it with a treat. Enough repetitions will result in the dog associating the treat with the command and remaining quiet.
Enjoy Training
It’s important that your dog enjoy training and look forward to training sessions. Your dog will enjoy training sessions most and be able to pay attention well if lessons are short. Ten to fifteen minutes is a good guideline. Rewards should be plentiful and varied. Make sure to praise your dog when he does something right. Making training fun makes listening fun, too!
If you are going to play fetch the ball with your dog, establish that you are the master by not moving and waiting for your dog to bring the ball back to you. Suppose the animal simply picks up the ball and then drops it into the grass. If you take the initiative to walk to the ball and retrieve it, you will appear subservient. By making it clear that you expect your dog to return the ball, you are showing that you are the natural leader and that you have clear expectations for him.
While you can definitely teach an old dog any new tricks, keep in mind conditions or medical issues which can limit his capability to behave in certain ways. If your pet has problems with their bones or muscles, you should not expect them to be very active. Older dogs benefit from training in many ways, though. The concentration and mental challenge of training can keep an aging dog’s mind sharp. However, you want to make sure that you are not causing him any unwarranted pain during these exercise sessions.
Your dog needs to have regular vet check-ups. If you have a hard time training your dog, you should take them to the vet. Dogs are good at hiding discomfort and pain. It is often the case that behavioral symptoms are the only indication of a health problem. Common changes include losing control of their bladder and a sudden onset of aggressive behavior.
Implement canine training methods which will lead to a successful outcome when dealing with chewing. Keep dangerous items out of your dog’s reach. Things like brushes, small toys and nylons are common things around the house that pose a choking hazard.
Each dog will respond to different training methods. If your dog is shy or aggressive, make sure that you complement their style with the appropriate training. Try using a different method if your current method presents little success.
If you are trying to potty train a puppy, pee pads are not useful. Wee-wee pads leak and mark areas as “potty areas” with the enzymes in urine and feces. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. You will have better results overall if you teach your dog to use the outdoors to relieve himself.
The fear that some dogs experience during thunderstorms can cause them to endanger themselves. If the fear is that great, talk to your vet. The vet might suggest mild sedatives that can be given to the dog prior to a storm. This is only for extreme cases, but it can help if things seem hopeless.
As this article has already mentioned, it is not impossible to have a dog that is well-adjusted, happy and healthy. It’s your job to train them to get them to that state. If you just use the tips here your dog will be a regular member of the family.