Most dogs require training to become well behaved. Utilize the following tips to help turn your dog into a well behaved family member.
Try not to reinforce bad behavior in your dog by accident. This means don’t give your dog treats or attention for something he should not be doing. If your dog leaps on you when you return home and you wish to discourage this behavior, you must ignore him and go about your business. Even negative attention from you can cause the behavior to continue.
Try to see things from your dog’s eyes. A lot of owners get frustrated when their dog is not understanding a basic command. Rather than abandoning the training, consider what the dog might be thinking. Imagining the world as they see it might give you a new perspective on training them.
Give your dog a word that tells them they’re doing the right thing. Using an affirmative word can help your dog understand they did their part and it is time for a treat.
Your dog should always give you its attention when asked. If you get your dog to focus on you, it will help his behavior.
Primary reinforcement is a proven principle that is useful in training dogs. You need to give your dog a treat if they are good. Rewards can be rubbing a dog’s belly or giving it a treat. This teaches your dog something that they desire.
Stay away from training devices such as shock collars. In addition to being very expensive, they usually do not work as well as the more traditional training techniques. This is also a negative way to train your dog and might cause them to be aggressive. It is common for these tactics to create adverse behavior.
To keep your dog from barking, teach them to obey to a simple order that will make them quiet. When he barks, show him his favorite treat, and repeat the command. “Quiet” works well. At this time, give the treat to your dog. Repeating this enough times can help them associate the treat with the quiet command.
Approach an unfamiliar dog slowly, offering only the backside of your hand for his inspection. Dogs need to familiarize themselves with the smell before they can trust you. Dogs that know your smell are less likely to fear you and more likely to obey commands.
Use your dog’s name all the time, this will help focus him. You puppy will develop the association between his name being called, and him needing to pay attention to what you are telling him. 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.
If you want your do to be house trained, you must make sure that he follows a regular elimination and feeding schedule. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Following a schedule will also help your dog learn how to “hold it” until his next potty break.
You cannot rush through the training process. Puppies can only handle small amounts of training, so it is best to keep training to short but intense periods of time. Your puppy will happier with the experience, and less resistant to your future efforts. He will be looking forward to them instead.
If your canine jumps on top of you, gently grab their paws and squeeze them; this will tell them that they cannot jump. Although it may be uncomfortable, it does not hurt them when done lightly. They will stop doing this behavior since it will be associated with a negative feeling.
House training a puppy can be frustrating, as accidents are going to occur on occasion. When accident do happen, clean them up rapidly and thoroughly. The smell from a pet’s feces or urine can stay in the carpet. The puppy may return to that spot if it isn’t cleaned quickly. Check any local stores or pet shops for products that are specifically designed to remove the urine smell from a carpet.
Make sure to give your dog a good hour of exercise each and every day. When your dog gets adequate exercise, he can be trained more effectively and it can bring out your dog’s good behavior. Your dog will be happier and more responsive when he gets the exercise he needs.
Keep tabs on the number of treats you give to your dog as a reward in order to avoid making him gain weight. These treats are often ignored when considering calories, and yet they have an impact on the diet and health of your pet.
Avoid accidents if you want to housebreak your dog. Sometimes, your dog will have triggers for when its that time. Pacing, sniffing and whining are common signs. Don’t delay if you see your dog needs to go out. Head outdoors to the assigned potty spot right away. Reward the dog for using the bathroom outdoors. Do this consistently and he will always let you know when he needs to go outside.
To enforce positive behavior when it comes to training your dog, be sure that you praise your dog. Be positive, excited and provide treats. Avoid rewarding improper behavior since the dog will relate this to positive reinforcement too.
Use the dog’s name as much as possible to ensure that it pays attention. Use it constantly in the first few weeks that you have your dog: your puppy should associate this sound with paying attention to you. Pick a name that is distinguished and no longer than two syllables.
Grooming is very important. Be sure to research any special grooming and hygiene requirements associated with the breed of your dog. Different dogs require different levels of grooming, with some needing little and some needing a lot. A groomed dog is happier, cleaner, and healthier.
Keep your eyes on other dogs as you walk your own. It’s true that certain breeds or animals are more aggressive than others, and you must also take into account that not all pet owners take responsibility for their dogs. Keep your dog at a distance from angry or aggressive dogs.
Remember, each action you perform around your dog affects who he is. Realize that you could very well sabotage your own training efforts with innocent activities such as rough-housing. Work towards behavior that is desired when training your dog.
When using a leash on your dog, ensure the leash remains loose. Dogs become excited when they are exploring a new area. Eager dogs will begin to put some strain on their leashes. If you know what you are doing then you will train them to walk on a leash with slack.
It is important to improve your dog’s recall ability. Regardless of what is happening, your dog must learn to come back to you when he is called. Build this important behavior in parts, in order for your dog to learn to obey regardless of distractions. This crucial skill can save your pooch’s life, so be willing to commit some time to it.
Your dog needs to learn what ‘down’ means. This command helps them build upon other commands, or it can be used in emergency situations. The “down” command is excellent to use when your dog is exhibiting aggressive behavior.
See to it that you’re not giving your pet wrong signals when it behaves badly. If you act amused when you dog misbehaves, it is likely to repeat that behavior. Doing so will really set back your training sessions. Regardless of how funny the misbehavior may be, it is necessary to correct the dog with consistency.
Before you correct your dog for barking, find out why he/she is barking in the first place. Being aware of these triggers could make you address your pet’s behavior constructively. For instance, if your pet barks when it sees visitors come into your house, have a friend go to your house more in order to address this type of behavior.
Understand that older dogs have certain limitations. It’s impossible to perfectly train older dogs because of the quirks already ingrained into them. If you decide to adopt a dog that is older, remember he may be set in his ways. Although you may be able to teach it some new things, sometimes the best thing to do is focus on the negatives that you want to modify and live with the rest.
Make sure your dog eats well and has lots of toys. Otherwise, he may dig in trash. Make sure your trash gets emptied regularly, and never put something irresistible in there, like bones. Don’t forget to crate dogs when leaving.
To keep accidents from happening in your house, learn the cues that your dog displays. Most dogs exhibit some sort of pattern before they have to go. If you know what they do before hand you will see that they need to go outside. If you learn your dog’s natural signs, you will have an easier time house training your dog.
When you begin training a dog, never assume they will not bite you just because you are a human and you think you are the leader. Until you have established yourself as the pack leader, you dog may think that the position is his. Understanding what alpha behavior you need to show your dog will help your dog understand you are the leader. Even the calmest dog may bite you if they don’t understand your behavior.
Though you actually can teach older dogs some new things, it is important to take note of medical problems or other conditions that could reduce an older dog’s readiness to perform certain tasks. For instances, dogs with arthritis should not be asked to crawl for extended periods. Training may actually improve a dog’s mind functions, and that can be great for old dogs. However, you want to make sure that you are not causing him any unwarranted pain during these exercise sessions.
Even if your dog is extremely unruly at the moment, do not despair. Most dogs simply need training with good techniques and some patience. After reading this article, you should be able to make training your dog the easiest experience possible.
Always take your dog to the vet on a regular bais. If you see some regression in training, check up on his health. You might see that they are must sick or in pain. Often, behavioral issues are a first sign of health issues. If your dog is overly aggressive, try to get them help immediately.