Training a dog can feel overwhelming to those who are new at it. You can have information out there. This article contains some basic information to help you get started.
Crates should feel like a safe place to puppies. So, you should never use them as a way to discipline your dog. Dogs may need to be familiarized with the crate to feel comfortable and secure in it. There are many tricks that you can try to make it easier for both of you. Many dogs are intimidated by the crate. To cure this, place something they enjoy in it and shut the door. They can see and smell that bone, and they will want in the crate to have it. When your dog goes inside, give him plenty of praise, and let him know he is doing a good job.
Try not to reinforce bad behavior in your dog. This means you must not reward your dog with attention or treats or attention for something he should not be doing. For example, do not pet the dog lovingly if it jumps on you the minute you arrive home if this is something you are attempting to cure.
By giving your dog the proper amount of rewards, you’ll have an easier time training. Treats, toys and praise have to be given in the right doses and at the correct times. If your timing is off, your dog will not understand what you are rewarding.
This lets the dog know you are in training mode. It also helps the dog to understand the difference between a command and a sharp but non-punishing command.
Always reward good, calm behavior. Give your dog a treat after they properly respond to your commands, but only if they are nice and calm. Though you might be satisfied with this type of accomplishment, excitement may lead to your pet having diminished control over the situation. Be calm and be sure to reward appropriately.
One of the first commands you need to teach your dog is how to step away from it. This command teaches them to cease chewing on furniture or items around the house and also helps to keep him away from dangerous items.
Avoid restraining two dogs too closely together. If chains get intertwined, the dogs can get hurt. 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.
Continue training your dog throughout the dog’s entire life to ensure positive results. You should not stop training them as a puppy. If you provide positive reinforcement for desirable behaviors, you will ensure your dog’s continued obedience, and by continuing to discipline your dog, negative behaviors are less likely to occur.
It may take several times for your dog to learn new commands. Repetition is key in training your dog. Some estimate that your pet must hear a command as many as 50 times to learn it. Firmly and steadily repeat the command. Remain patient and eventually the command will be learned.
You have to be consistent when training your dog’s training.If more than one family member is training your pet, make sure they all you the same commands, discipline and rewards are concerned. Your puppy will learn quickly if he knows what to expect.
It is important to have an appropriately sized dog crate. As your dog gets older, he will probably grow larger. Choose a crate that your puppy can grow in, but won’t grow out of. There should be enough space to move around without feeling cramped.
Use your dog’s name often when training to ensure you have its attention. Use the name repeatedly during the first weeks after your dog’s arrival, so your pup learns that he should pay attention to you when you call his name. Choose a shorter name that can stand out from other words your puppy may hear throughout the day.
Give your dog a clear verbal cue that means “yes” to aid in training. “yes” is a great bridge word between the dogs positive accomplishment and the reward they receive.
Puppies have short attention spans and they cannot focus too much, keep it brief and positive. If you do too much the puppy will just forget what you have taught him, and remember it in a negative way, and that will make it more difficult when the time comes for the next training session.
It is important to leash-train your dog. This is both for the dog’s safety and your own, as well.
Using various voice tones for different training purposes is a useful tool in training a dog. Be firm with your command, but vary your tone depending on what you are trying to get the dog to do.
When you are training your doggy friend, use what is known as primary reinforcement. This means using a beloved item to reinforce positive behavior. You can use food or a nice belly rub as primary reinforcements. This teaches your dog something that they desire.
Each and every thing you and your pet will go a long way in shaping its attitude and actions.You will want to mold your pet by working toward desired behavior.
Use your dog’s name when you can, as it will help to get your dog to pay attention. Use the name repeatedly during the first weeks after your dog’s arrival, so he pays attention to you when he hears the name. Put some thought into your dogs name, and choose one that isn’t too long and that isn’t too similar to other common words.
Do not quit when you are trying to train your dog. You must supply constant reinforcement for your dog; if you fail to do this, or he or she will go back to how they were before being trained. Keep in mind that in addition to giving your dog food and shelter, and just as important as providing him with food and shelter.
Let your dog socialize, which can really help to develop their skills. He has to understand what is okay when it comes to being around dogs and people, too. This is the best way to prevent sporadic behavior in these situations.
Take your dog to the bathroom. Praise him when he goes to the bathroom outside. Never scold your dog for relieving itself in the house. He won’t know any better and yelling at him will learn nothing.
Always avoid offering your pet a reward for bad behavior in the hopes of snuffing out an undesirable action or tendency. This only tells your dog that it has the choice to do whatever he wants and that you are under his power. An example of something to avoid is giving your dog a treat when it is barking.
Training Sessions
Make sure your dog enjoys training sessions. Training sessions need only be 10 to 15 minutes, so the dog reaps the benefits within his attention span. The reward system can be generous and filled with surprises. Be sure to praise your dog when he does a good job. Make the training process fun.
Training should be seen as fun for the dog. Keep training sessions to more than 10 to 15 minutes to stay within your dog’s attention span. Make sure to praise your dog with praises when he does something right. If you make training sessions enjoyable for your dog, he is going derive pleasure from listening to you, too.
It might be hard, but you must be patient when it comes to your dog. Since the dog isn’t human, he can understand what you are saying. Your dog only understands your physical language, such as tone of voice and body behavior. They have no way of understanding just why your behavior is a certain way. Keep your cool, and take breaks if you find yourself too frustrated to continue a training session.
Consistency is the most important requirements for effective canine training. Make sure the dog when it does well and not reinforcing poor behavior. Different training methods will confuse your dog and delay training.
Why does your dog bark? Having an awareness of the triggers, can help you address the behavior constructively. You could bring your dog into these situations and correct it when it starts barking.
Be certain you are giving the right signals when your dogs behavior. If you express amusement after poor behavior, then he is likely to repeat this bad behavior indefinitely in the future. This is sure to hinder training and cause you to get frustrated. No matter how your pet is when he does something bad, you need to consistently correct them.
You will get better results if employ a mixture of treats as a reward for your dog. Don’t use your dog’s everyday treats for training. You want to place special emphasis on their improvement in training.
These treats need to not be similar to daily treats, because you want the dog to look forward to getting a special reward when it obeys your command.
Do not assume a dog will not bite when you are beginning to train it. An untrained dog may think you are part of his pack, but may think he is the leader. You have to prove to your dog that you’re the leader so he knows to follow your commands. Even calm dogs will bite they are confused about human behavior.
If you are looking to train your dog, make use of the many resources available to you such as books, general puppy training books and books specific to the breed of dog you are looking to train. Talk to other owners of the same breed. You can make adjustments based on the information you get.
You may have to be aware of a medical condition that your dog is facing. You cannot require an arthritic older dog to crawl or do other stunts a younger dog could do, for example. You can keep your senior dog sharp and alert by providing regular training. Remember that the last thing you want to do is force your older pet to perform certain tricks or behaviors that may cause physical discomfort.
Make sure you have your dog neutered or spayed at six months old.This should happen at the start of obedience classes. A newly neutered or spayed dog is a better pet and a more attentive obedience student. Your dog will be a better companion after training and he or she will live longer.
Anyone who is potty training a dog should avoid “wee-wee pads”. These pads often leak, and the enzymes from urine or feces on the pad can end up marking its spot on your floor as a potty zone. One problem with wee-wee pads is that because they are use to their shape, anything with a similar shape with be their bathroom target. Ideally, work on teaching your dog that outside is always the best place to do his or her business.
For example, a loving and calm dog will probably succeed with positive reinforcement, whereas a more aggressive dog may need negative reinforcement in order to respect your alpha position. If you do not experience success, then it’s likely you should select another method.
A clicker can be a useful tool for positive reinforcement. 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. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Soon, your dog will associate the click with ‘reward’ or other positive actions, which can be very helpful in shaping the desirable behaviors you hope to achieve.
These tips should have given you some great starting points. You will realize more success and train a happier dog by keeping these ideas handy when training your pet.
Your dog needs to exercise its brain too. For dogs that do not have an issue with excessive chewing, canine puzzle toys may be enjoyable and may help it develop problem-solving skills. There are many puzzle toys from which to choose, so go with one that suits your dog’s preferences.