When your dog is obedient from the get go, you’re blessed. When he’s not, you have to start training. Utilize this advice to turn your disobedient dog into a well-manned furry companion.
Correct your dog verbally with short, sharp statements. Do not rant on at length to your dog telling them how they were bad. Be firm and get them to do your bidding. Your tone should be stern to let them know you are serious.
Consistency is key in crate training a puppy. Shortly after you allow your puppy to exit the crate, he must be given the chance to relieve himself in the designated area. When done with consistency, your dog will trust you and wait for the right time to relieve himself.
Establish a quiet environment when you go into a room your pet is in. Play time is great, but your dog needs to learn to stay calm as his master enters the room. Don’t acknowledge your dog when you enter the room. By doing this, you will be able to create a controlled environment in which you determine when and how play time begins.
Never chain two dogs too close to each other. The restraints for each dog can become tangled and in an effort to free themselves, they can be injured. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dog’s neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.
Consistency is key in crate training a puppy. When he comes out of the crate, you must immediately allow him to relieve himself in an appropriate place. When done with consistency, your dog will trust you and wait for the right time to relieve himself.
Training should be completed in small spurts. Dogs can’t concentrate for long periods of time, so long training sessions are pointless. If you want a long session, make sure that your dog has a break in between.
Teaching a puppy their name is one of the first steps to undertake and creates a lasting bond. Repeat his name regularly, so he will learn to come to you when he hears it. This is the first set of commands you should teach your new puppy. Spending lots of time will create a strong bond with your puppy, and will lead to unbreakable trust. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.
Your dog’s training should never end. Canine training does not stop once your dog is no longer a puppy. If you reinforce desired behaviors, you will ensure your dog’s continued obedience, and by continuing to discipline your dog, you will prevent negative behaviors from appearing.
A good way to reduce the level of barking come from your dog, is to immerse them in their barking triggers so that they get used to them. It may be a noise, or seeing other animals or people. Your dog will know the difference and will understand that there’s no reason to bark when presented these situations.
Using a different tone of voice for different purposes is a great teaching tool for training your dog. Commands, corrections and praise should all have their own tone in order to help your dog distinguish cause and effect with his and your behavior. Commands should be clearly stated in a firm tone. Corrections and reprimands must be spoken more firmly, while praise should be delivered in a natural tone.
Use your dog’s name as many times as you can, this will keep his attention on you. By using it as much as possible during the first weeks you own him, your puppy will learn that this sound is in reference to him. Choose a puppy name that sounds differently than other words your puppy may hear throughout the day.
Is your dog getting all their required nutrients? Just as in the case of kids, dogs have the potential to grow hyper, bratty and scattered if they do not eat the right foods. Change your dog’s food if you need to. Talk to your vet regarding specific food needs for pets.
Use praise to re-enforce good behavior in your dog when training. Positive reinforcement, shown through your tone and attitude, lets your dog know he has done a good job. Don’t even give praise or treats when the dog doesn’t follow your commands or you will destroy what you’re trying to achieve.
Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.
Ensure you frequently put your dog in social environments at an early age. He has to understand what is okay when it comes to being around dogs and people, too. Doing this will also decrease the likelihood that the dog will respond poorly when introduced to new environments.
Make sure you get a bed big enough for your dog. You can buy your dog a bed specially designed for bigger dogs, or buy a mattress for a crib instead. A crib mattress is practical because you can use fitted crib sheets that can be easily washed and replaced. Just so you know, these mattresses are typically waterproof.
Each and every thing you and your dog do together is forming his behavior and personality. It is essential to know this because you might inadvertently undo desired behaviors by teasing or engaging your dog in horseplay. You want to constantly be teaching your dog the behavior that you want it to have.
Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered at six months. This should go hand in hand with the start of obedience classes. The dog will preform better in obedience training after they have been neutered or spayed. Your dog will be a better companion after training and this will lead to a better life overall for the animal.
Don’t give up on training your dog, no matter what. Your canine will need to constantly be reinforced, or what you teach them can be forgotten. Much like providing your pet with food, training is a continuous process that is never truly finished.
In most cases, it is possible to instill new behaviors in even the oldest dogs, but be mindful of any physical limitations. For example, a health condition or physical malady might impair the ability to learn. A dog with arthritis won’t be able to stand for very long, for example. An added benefit to training an older dog is that it will stimulate his cognitive functions. But do not overdo it and make them work to hard!
If you’re traveling with dogs, remember to have everything that your pet may need in terms of sleeping as well as when it comes to using the bathroom. Some treats, a bottle of water and a favorite blanket will go a long way towards making the trip more comfy for everyone. Items like food can be left at home. Simply purchase some when you reach your destination.
Make sure your dog has gotten its shots. Health is important to ensure a functional dog for training. Dogs are able to easily hide any pain or discomfort. Frequently, the only way you will know that a health problem exists is when you observe changes in behavior. For example, an aggressive dog may actually be in pain or a dog that fails to follow house training lessons may have an infection of the urinary tract.
If you are consistent, it is possible to teach a dog to delay responding to nature’s call. Be sure to take your puppy out for scheduled, hourly potty breaks when you’re home. Give him a little praise if he makes waste outside. Don’t yell at your pooch for going potty in the house. He doesn’t know any better and yelling at him will not help him learn. Allow your dog the chance to go out after meals and when he gets out of a crate/pen.
If you know that your dog will react negatively in response to certain triggers, distract him until the moment is over. As an example, if your dog doesn’t like to be around other dogs, then you need to keep him busy with his attention focused on you when you approach other dogs while on a walk. This should help him establish a relationship between seeing that stimuli and good things happening.
“Down” is an important command for dogs to learn. You can build from this command, or just have it handy in emergencies. By teaching your dog the command “down,” you can ensure his safety in the event of an emergency.
Some dogs fear of thunderstorms can cause them harm. If your dog has an extreme fear of thunder, speak to your veterinarian. Some vets will prescribe mild sedatives that can be administered to your pet before that first loud clap of thunder. This is only for extreme cases, but it can help if things seem hopeless.
Consistency is one of the keys to successful dog training. Make sure everyone knows the right commands to give the dog; keep a list if necessary. It is also recommended that everyone use the same positive reinforcements for good behavior and negative response when the dog is disobedient. Your dog will understand what is required if everyone involved uses the same approach.
Watch your dog’s body language to understand what he does and does not want. Do not push your dog toward interacting with other animals and people. He’s telling you he needs some space. Pushing the dog in such situations may cause him to become aggressive.
Don’t give mixed signals. If you express amusement after poor behavior, the dog is likely to do it again. As a result, your training can be severely hampered, which can become extremely frustrating. No matter how entertaining your dog is when he misbehaves, you must consistently correct him.
Go on a long walk with your dog if you plan to be away from the house a long time. If you are able to tire your pets out, they will not be as anxious when it is time for you to go.
If you catch your puppy in the act of chewing on an inappropriate item, stop it right away. This helps teach them that they cannot chew on some things and can help them leave your belongs alone when you’re not watching.
Make sure you use your dogs name in positive tones when training. This will cause the dog to associate their name with a positive attitude and good behavior. Never speak your dog’s name using a negative tone.
Consistency is the key in dog training. You must be consistent in the commands you use, the tone of your voice as well as the rewards you offer for good behavior.
Give your dog a lot of affection. When your dog exhibits the right behavior, reward it with positive attention. Praise liberally for good listening and good behavior. This makes them happy and easier to train.
While it is possible to train older dogs, be aware that they may have some physical limitations due to medical conditions. For instances, dogs with arthritis should not be asked to crawl for extended periods. You can make your dog’s cognitive functions better with training, which helps fight age related decline in older canines. That said, don’t overdo it and cause them any discomfort as you exercise them.
Flexibility is a huge part of training a dog. Flexibility helps when your dog has a hard time. That way, you can adjust your techniques to best fit the dog’s needs.
Different dogs respond to different things. For instance, a loving and calm dog will probably succeed with positive reinforcement, while a dog that is more aggressive may require negative reinforcement to honor your position of alpha. If you have been trying one method without success, then you might need to think about switching up your tactics.
Even your disobedient dog can be trained. Patience and information are all that are required to train that dog. Use the tips you’ve learned here to minimize the anxiety and maximize your results.
If certain things trigger bad behavior in your dog, keep him occupied whenever you pass something that will tempt him to misbehave. Alternatively stated, when your pet dislikes the company of other animals, try to distract him or her whenever you encounter them out in the neighborhood. This will teach your dog that things he once feared or disliked have positive associations.