Deciding to get a dog is an important decision not to be taken lightly. Dogs require a commitment by their owners. The training needed ensures they’re obedient. Use the advice offered below to help you get started on training your pooch.
Always reward good, calm behavior. If your dog is responding to your commands and is not overly excited, give him a treat. Though you may be happy with the accomplishment, excitement on your part leads to excitement on their part and diminishes control of the situation. Be calm and be sure to reward appropriately.
If you plan on using a crate as part of your puppy’s training routine, introduce the apparatus and its’ functions very gradually. Once your puppy feels comfortable in the open crate, close the door and offer the dog a treat. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If the dog becomes overwhelmed, it means that you are moving too quickly for them.
Give your puppy something it can chew to help it lessen teething pains, like a toy or a piece of rope. Keep any items you treasure out of reach of your puppy while it is teething. Instead of allowing it to continue chewing on your important furniture or toys, provide a well-loved chew toy. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.
Spoken directions should be made using a simple, concise and forceful tone. Don’t rant on to the dog about the thinks that he did wrong. Just tell them no, and point them in the desired direction. Pitch your voice in such a way that your dog will recognize your vocalizations as commands.
Be careful not to reward bad behaviors without realizing it. Don’t ever reward a dog that is behaving badly. For instance, if your dog does not sit when commanded, do not rub his head affectionately unless he actually sits.
Establish a calm environment when you enter a room that your dog is in. Play time needs to be a distinctive time you initiate. If you do not recognize them right away, they will be more calm.
As your dog progresses in training, you can provide more freedom. Rewarding them by showing them you trust them more will only encourage better behavior. Try to remember that you shouldn’t provide a lot freedom at one time, as it could regress the training that you’ve been doing.
Good behavior means rewards! If your dog follows a training command properly, then it is acceptable to reward the behavior to a calm animal. While you might be pleased, acting too excited may cause the dog to get agitated, lessening your control. Stay calm, require calm from the dog, and give the reward.
Don’t approach a strange dog too quickly. Hold our your hand and slowly move closer. This gives the dog an opportunity to learn your scent. When the dog knows your scent, he is better able to trust you and follow given commands.
It takes many repetitions before a dog is able to learn new commands. It’s very likely to take many repetitions of one command in order for your pup to fully understand it. Be patient and say the same command in the same way each time. Your dog will learn eventually.
Continue training your dog using the same techniques over time. If multiple family members are involved in a pet’s training, make sure everyone is using the same commands and a similar system of discipline and rewards. When your dog only needs to understand a single set of directions, it is easier to learn and adopt the desired behaviors.
Pick the proper size crate for your dog if you want to be able to effectively use the crate to train it. Do not forget that all puppies will grow up. Choose a crate that can grow with him. The ideal size would be one that doesn’t make your dog crowded when turning around or laying down.
Wearing a puppy out by overloading it with information and training is counterproductive. A puppy has a short attention span and limited energy to focus, so keep your sessions brief and as positive as possible. If you try to do too much, the puppy will probably not remember much except that it was an unpleasant experience, and that will make it more difficult when the time comes for the next training session.
Learning how to show authority is the foundation of all puppy training. Make sure he knows that you know what you are doing and are in control of the situation. Then he will look to you and defer to your judgment. Always walk ahead of your dog when you go on walks, as this establishes that you hold a position of leadership.
Accidents are bound to happen while housebreaking your puppy. Clean up any messes that are made immediately, so it doesn’t hamper your training efforts. If the accident is left behind, the smell will make your pet think it’s okay to eliminate in that spot. It will be difficult to discourage his eliminating in that spot once a habit is formed. Many products are sold that will neutralize these odors, so ask about them at your local pet store.
Do not ever use a shock collar to train your dog. These devices are expensive and do not always work as well as you would expect them to. This is also a negative way to train your dog and might cause them to be aggressive. You will usually get negative results with these techniques.
Do not quit when you are training your dog. Your dog will need constant reinforcement, otherwise the behaviors and actions you have taught it may be lost. Food and shelter are lifelong needs for your dog, and training is no different.
No matter how long you have owned your dog, you can always train them. It is always best to attempt to correct negative behaviors quickly for the safety and happiness of everyone involved.
If traveling with your dog, be sure to pack all of the things you will need to keep him happy on your travels. Pack his feeding bowls, potty bags, toys, blankets and everything else needed for his care and comfort. You can buy dog food when you get there, of course, which is a lot easier than bringing it with you.