Everyone likes having a dog because they bring joy and love into our lives. There is a lot of extra work involved with owning a puppy though. There is tons of training that must be done. Use these tips on a consistent basis and you will see a trained dog in no time at all.
When you are using a dog crate in your training, you need to help your dog get used to it as his home. To help your puppy feel at home, place your puppy’s food dish inside the crate. This will give your dog a positive association with the crate.
There are few effective ways to approach the matter of crate training your puppy or dog. If your puppy seems reluctant about entering the crate, place a chew toy inside and close the door to the kennel. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. When your dog goes inside, give him plenty of praise, and let him know he is doing a good job.
Use small steps when training a dog or pup to get into a crate, so that they can become familiar with it. If they are uncomfortable with the door closed then try to feed them snacks to reassure them that they are okay. In the beginning it is important to only leave the dog in the crate for a few seconds. After a while you will be able to leave them in the crate for longer amounts of time. If the dog becomes agitated, slow down a little more to make them more comfortable.
The best way to train your dog is to reward it when it behaves properly. Reward your dog with some treats right after they obey an order. If your timing is off, your dog will not understand what you are rewarding.
Establish a quiet environment when you go into a room your pet is in. Your pet needs play time (and you might too), but your pet needs to be calm when you step into rooms most of the time. To help your dog learn this behavior, ignore him when you enter the room. after you have been in there a few minutes, acknowledge him.
Repetition is key to teaching your dog new commands. It isn’t unusual to have to repeat a trick dozens of times before the dog understands. Keep trying the same commands until your dog remembers it for good.
Always remain consistent when crate training any young pups. As soon as you let your dog out of the crate, take him to his potty location. In time, the dog will have the ability to exercise restraint when it comes to nature’s call.
You must begin your relationship with the dog as the boss for any training to be effective. Put yourself in an authoritative position, so that your dog knows to obey you. When walking with your dog, always walk first, never let your dog lead, as this is the leadership position.
You should never tether two dogs in close proximity to one another. This is due to the fact that they could become tangled in each others cords and end up injuring themselves when trying to get free. If the dogs are different sizes, it could be even worse. A small dog could easily choke to death if it were to get too tangled up with a larger breed.
Repeat training exercises every day until your dog remembers them. It is easy to feel that once your dog’s training is over, the lessons are learned and will stay with the dog forever. That’s not a good idea, since animals and humans form and retain habits in a similar way. This shows that you need to do periodic refreshers so that your dog continues to follow the rules.
You will have to repeat commands several times before your dog learns it. It will take up to 50 repetitions to learn a new command. Continue trying the same command and be patient, your dog will get it.
Every command should be giving with the same tone and volume. Using a even, official tone will let your dog know you are serious. You should also work on developing different tones to use in different situations. For example, you can have a sharp one for disciplinary purposes, and a firm, but not-as-sharp one for simple commands.
Don’t use things like shock collars. These things rarely work as promised, and they’re usually much more expensive compared to the traditional training methods. Also, shock collars may actually hinder your dog’s development and thwart positive behaviors. These techniques don’t normally work.
Always be aware of your tone of voice when you have to discipline your dog. Dogs are in tune with human emotions and pick much of that up from your voice. It is okay to be appropriately stern.
If you want your do to be house trained, you must make sure that he follows a regular elimination and feeding schedule. This will help you better understand when your dog needs to go outside, so he doesn’t go on the carpet and ruin it. This will also teach your dog “hold it” until her next trip outside.
When it comes to training a puppy, it is not a good idea to provide too much information and training at one time. Brief, simple, positive training sessions are well-suited to the limited supply of energy and attention a pup has to work with. He’ll likely forget everything you taught him if you do too much at once. He will also look at training as a negative experience and it will be harder next time.
Teaching your dog to not tug and pull when on his leash is an important part of his training. The safety of both of you while out walking is paramount, and the proper training will ensure this.
During leash training, it is necessary to ensure that the leash stays loose. Dogs love exploring when they get to walk. Many dogs will strain against the leash due to their eagerness. Informed owners avoid this behavior by leaving a bit of slack when walking.
In order to decrease barking, stay around the offending item. Whether your dog barks in response to other dogs, people, certain sounds or something else, it is important to habituate him to this circumstance. Your dog will eventually come to realize that barking is unnecessary in reaction to these triggers.
Spray bottles are the perfect deterrent for bad behavior. This helps show him that you will not tolerate certain behaviors. Soon your dog will stop these behaviors and you’ll have a playful yet obedient dog.
Don’t bog your puppy down with more information than he can process. Puppies have short attention spans, therefore keep your sessions short and provide ample amounts of praise. When you put too much training on the animal at one time, it can stress the animal and work against what you are trying to accomplish. So keep it short, intense, and create a great bonding and training routine for your new puppy.
Does you dog eat an appropriate diet? Like kids, a dog’s mood can be severely affected by their diet. Your dog will be more energetic if you give it food suited for dogs. Your vet should be able to recommend the right food for your dog.
Understand that your every action is teaching your dog and shaping his personality. It is essential to know this because you might inadvertently undo desired behaviors by teasing or engaging your dog in horseplay. Mold your dog into the pet you want by constantly working towards the behavior you desire.
Even if it’s hard for you, you should keep calm around your dog. Dogs don’t understand English and he isn’t a person. Physical gestures and tone are the only ways he will know what you are trying to communicate. Keep your cool, and take breaks if you find yourself too frustrated to continue a training session.
Is your dog getting proper nutrition? Like children, dogs can become hyperactive, inattentive and even a little bit bratty when their diet isn’t up to par. If you switch brands of dog food to reflect the unique needs of his breed, your pet will become happier and more energetic–the perfect companion. Your vet should be able to recommend the right food for your dog.
Spay or neuter your dog at the age of six months. After the dog is neutered or spayed, you should begin obedience classes with your dog. You don’t want hormones to interfere with the learning process. This will make your pet healthier and happier, and make your ownership experience happier, too.
Each time that you use your dog’s name as a warning or a reprimand, try to use it three to five other times in a positive way. The dog must realize that his own name can be something associated with positive things and that he should never fear coming to you if called.
Positive Reinforcement
When your dog barks, pay attention to the environment or activity that causes excessive barking. Being aware of these triggers could make you address your pet’s behavior constructively. For instance, if the dog tends only to bark when visitors arrive, ask someone to come by to assist you in solving the problem.
Positive reinforcement is the best kind for dogs. This doesn’t mean punishing them when they misbehave; it means just simply not reinforcing poor behavior. If you rely solely on negative reinforcement, it is possible that your pet may become frightened and resentful of you. Positive reinforcement is the best way to go and gain the trust of your dog.
Using a variety of tasty treats as a reward during dog training is important. Do not use the treats that you would give your dog day to day. They should be specific to training and ensuring the feeling of being rewarded for something specific. The dog will also be more likely to obey if they know they will receive something special.
With what you’ve learned, you are now ready to get these tips into play! Practice patience and reward your dog with tons of positive reinforcement. It takes time, but it’s worth the endeavor.
You should not let your dog drag you when you are walking him or her. Remember that you are the master, not him. Therefore, make sure you use a short leash and a solid training collar. Always walk ahead and pass through gates first so that you stay in control. Remember, you’re the leader!