Training your dog can have many benefits. Not only does the canine benefit, but so does the pet’s owner. The following article will teach you about all of the benefits that come with training your dog. It can be a bonding opportunity instead of a time of struggle.
Get your dog into a feeding routine. Make sure that they know when a meal is coming, so that they can get into a set routine. This will ensure he eats it all quickly instead of doddling or grazing all day.
You need to teach your dog how to walk when on a leash. Think of the leash as a safety requirement.
Remember to exercise patience whenever training your dog. Patience is the best way to keep your dog from becoming confused and for you to remain calm. Bear in mind that your dog wants nothing more than to please you; however, your language is somewhat confusing to him.
Training Sessions
Your training sessons should be kept short. Since dogs do not have a long attention span, making sure training sessions are kept short ensures that your dog will not dread them. If you do have long training sessions, break it up so your dog can rest a little bit.
Use a steady and commanding tone when speaking to your dog. Dogs are very good at responding to perceived emotions of their trainers. Try using a stern tone to really convey your message to your dog.
When you are trying to house train a puppy, it is not going to learn overnight, so be prepared. Clean up any messes that are made immediately, so it doesn’t hamper your training efforts. Smells from urine and feces can linger in a carpet and attract your pet to return to the same spot for elimination. Check any local stores or pet shops for products that are specifically designed to remove the urine smell from a carpet.
Never reward bad behavior with the intent of quickly ending a certain behavior. This method will only result in the dog learning to do what it pleases. For instance, avoid giving treats to calm a barking dog.
If your dog is accompanying you on a trip, be sure to bring along whatever your dog needs for sleeping, eating and eliminating. Some treats, a bottle of water and a favorite blanket will go a long way towards making the trip more comfy for everyone. It is often just as easy to buy a bag of food once you reach your destination as it is to pack it up and bring it along.
Teach your dog to learn ‘down’. You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills. When the animal is familiar with the ‘down’ command, he can be more effectively controlled with little advance warning. This is important when others’ safety is at stake.
Dogs will be dogs, so give your dog outlets to work out his canine behaviors. Dogs need to eat well and have a good place to exercise and keep busy.
Giving lots of treats for good behavior is important to do with your puppy. Once they understand the process, start using treats more selectively until they are relatively rare.
It is important to realize that as a dog ages, he will have limitations. It will not be possible to train a dog that is older perfectly. They all possess little quirks you should simply try to live with. A dog in his senior years may not be as receptive to changes and new behaviors. You can often alter really bad habits, but some things may just be idiosyncrasies you have to live with.
Positive Reinforcement
For best results, your pet should be trained with consistent application of positive reinforcement. Negative behavior should be ignored. Punishment can adversely affect your dog and cause behavior problems. If you rely solely on negative reinforcement, it is possible that your pet may become frightened and resentful of you. Utilizing positive reinforcement will cause your dog to want to perform good deeds so that they will be rewarded for doing so.
Use dog treats that are tasty for your dog, and are of high value in order to obtain great results. A treat that is normally forbidden, such as table scraps or cheese, is a great choice.
Discourage inappropriate behavior when it occurs during training your dog. Tell your dog “No” in a firm voice. Do not yell and/or hit your dog at all. Discourage bad behavior when it occurs or soon after. Dogs have very short memory span. If you take too long, he will not understand what it is you are trying to tell him.
A clicker is a good way to reinforce positive behavior. In order for the clicker to work for your training, you need your dog to understand that when he or she hears the click, good things will happen. When using the clicker, you need to click and treat immediately. Try doing this for a few days. Slowly but surely, your dog will understand what the sound of the clicker means and you can shape his or her behavior accordingly.
When a dog barks without good reason, refrain from yelling at the dog. Shouting at your dog for barking is actually encouraging your dog to bark because he isn’t aware that you’re yelling at him for his barking. This feedback makes the dog believe that what they are barking at may be a big thing, so remain calm and try to distract the dog to prevent problem barking.
There are many benefits to training your dog. When using the advice from the above article properly, you’ll see that you can even have fun training your dog. You will both have fun and learn to work as a team.