An effective training program translates to a happy pet and an equally happy pet owner. By being trained, you and your dog can relate to each other and where the other one is coming from. If you train your dog, you won’t have to worry about what might happen when you leave the house. have guests, or walk him in the neighborhood. Even though it may be a bit stressful at the time, once it is trained and has learned it manners and a few tricks, you will see that it was well worth the time investment.
When corrected your dog verbally, make sure to use sharp, concise wording. Yelling and screaming at your dog is counterproductive. Say no and let them know what you would rather have them do. You should also be certain that your voice is loud enough to get their attention, but also conveys seriousness.
Gradual increments are easiest on your dog when going through crate training. If they are uncomfortable with the door closed then try to feed them snacks to reassure them that they are okay. Start off small, like 10 seconds at a time, and slowly move up the times. If the dog becomes upset, then you need to take a step back and slow down the training.
It takes many repetitions before a dog is able to learn new commands. You might have to repeat the same exercise up to fifty times before your dog remembers it. Try using the command more often and be very patient if you want your dog to learn.
Always ensure your dog is getting enough exercise. Dogs can become bored very easily. A bored dog is very difficult to train. When your dog gets regular exercise, he will be much happier and will pay attention more easily. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.
Stay away from training devices such as shock collars. These devices are expensive and do not always work as well as you would expect them to. They can cause your dog to be confused about all their behaviors. These methods yield negative results.
It is dangerous to put more than one dog together in a close space. The chain from one dog could wrap around the second and the dogs could get hurt trying to get free. In the case that a large dog and small dog become entangled, the large dog’s rope or chain could cut off air circulation to the small dog, and it could be severely injured or die.
When training your dogs, always use the same tone of voice and volume level when you give a command. The tone should be firm, so your dog understands that you are issuing a command, not a suggestion. This also assists the dog in understanding what the difference is between a tone for a command and the tone for discipline.
Dog training starts with patience. Patience prevents both of you from becoming frustrated and angry during the training process. Your dog’s goal is to make you happy, but since he does not speak like a human does, it is harder for him to communicate.
If you need to approach a dog that you are not familiar with, approach it slowly and allow it to sniff your hand. This gives a dog a chance to become familiar with your personal scent, which engenders trust. When the dog becomes familiar with your smell, he will not fear you and will respond to your commands easier.
Training Regimen
While training your dog, make sure both of you are having fun. Playing with your dog helps build a stronger bond between dog and human, which encourages the dog to respond positively during training. Although training itself is fun, it is good to spend time each day just playing with your dog because you can.
Begin your training regimen with an easy task for your dog. This will give them instant success and serve as a building block for your training regimen. In doing so, you will see more consistent and positive results.
If your dog barks a lot, try getting them accustomed to whatever causes the problem. First, determine what it is that causes your dog to bark- a knock on the door, someone walking by the car, or other cause. Eventually, your dog should see that barking is not necessary in this situation.
Among the initial commands a dog should learn is “leave it,” which instructs the dog to drop whatever it has and step away from it. This is a good way to keep your dog from chewing things and make sure they do not chew dangerous objects.
During leash training, it is necessary to ensure that the leash stays loose. Dogs become excited when they are exploring a new area. This eagerness can cause them to pull against the leash if it’s held too tightly. Teach your dog to relax and let them get used to walking along on a slack leash.
Primary reinforcement is the method commonly used to train dogs. With primary reinforcement, you use something that your dog loves when it needs to be rewarded for positive behavior. Rewards can be rubbing a dog’s belly or giving it a treat. This will enable your dog to learn how to obtain something it is interested in having.
Giving praise to your dog for a job well done is important. Smile, offers treats and show excitement to relay to your dog that he is doing something positive. 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.
Be sure to always grab your dog’s attention the same way. Start your commands by calling out his name. You can get their attention by doing this and then use the command. Using your dog’s name lets him know you want his attention.
Do you notice that your dog is dragging your leash? This is very simple to fix. Go to the pet store in your town and get a harness so that you can walk with greater ease.
Be consistent when training a dog. Being consistent applies to the words you use for the commands you are looking for the dog to obey, to the tone you use with the words, and to the rewards you are providing for the dog if they successfully complete the command you are teaching them.
Consistency is the key to dog training. The commands that you use should be used by others as well. Make a list, and make sure other people who deal with your dog know the commands. Discuss with family members what methods to employ in encouraging good behavior by your dog. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.
There are many resources you can call upon for good canine training information. For example, you might look into breed specific books, training videos, dog fancier magazines and more. Find other people who have the same kind of dog as you and ask them questions. Customize training specifically for your dog based on your knowledge.
Research dog breeds if you’re interested in training a dog for agility. Most dogs can do the sport, but competitions call for certain breeds most of the time.
When teaching about sitting, have your dog remain standing while the treat is held in front of him. Move the treat right above his head and behind him. He will end up looking up when following your hand. When a dog does this, it is natural for them to sit.
Older dogs aren’t the same as puppies. 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. Remember that if you adopt an older dog, they may be very set in their ways. Teaching them some new things might be possible, but it’s easier to eliminate the biggest negatives while leaving the rest of them alone.
When you want to stop your dog from chewing the furniture or anything else forbidden, allow him to succeed. Make sure that your dog can’t get into trouble by chewing on the wrong item. Keep all items which can fit in your dogs mouth, like hair accessories or office supplies, away from your dog’s reach.
Reinforce your dog’s positive behaviors. Never use punishment; instead, don’t reinforce any bad behavior. Negative reinforcement does not encourage trust between you and your dog. Positive reinforcement is the best way to go and gain the trust of your dog.
Learn about boredom barking. If he is bored, take responsibility. Obviously, the dog does not have a way to release it’s energy. Make sure you walk him regularly and don’t overlook playtime. If you can’t be around, leave your dog some chew toys.
Discourage any bad behavior that occurs when you train your dog. You must learn to tell your pet “No” in a very firm voice. Don’t raise your voice or hit the dog, of course. Chastise him for bad behavior when it happens, but not too long after. Your dog has a very short memory span. If you take too long, he will not understand what it is you are trying to tell him.
Above all, the goal of a training program is to set well-defined expectations for your pet. Your relationship with other people is strengthened by shared respect and mutual understanding; a relationship with your pet is no different. Remember that reinforcement is important if you want your dog to retain his new skills. Remain aware of his behaviors, and always stay consistent with praise and punishment. Once your dog understands all the basics, the sky is the limit as far as what it can achieve with your help.
If certain things trigger bad behavior in your dog, keep him occupied whenever you pass something that will tempt him to misbehave. For example, if your dog doesn’t like other dogs, try to keep him entertained and busy as you pass by other dogs on walks. This could re-jigger his associations and make him associate other dogs with positive reinforcement.
