The Beginners Guide To Training Your Dog
You may be a novice when it comes to training a dog. That means you will want great tips and ideas on how to properly do this training. This will allow you to create the best behaviors for your pet. Read on to learn some tips and advice to help you train your beloved dog.
To achieve the best results when housebreaking a pet, be aware of the food and water he consumes. To ensure that your dog’s bowel movements remain regular, feed him or her some high-quality food a minimum of twice per day during the same times daily. This way, you will have a good idea of when your pup needs to go out, so that there is less of a chance that an accident will occur.
Your dog needs to learn good feeding habits, and this is best accomplished with a clear routine. You can set a firm schedule by teaching the dog to anticipate that the food will be removed within 10 to 15 minutes of the start of mealtime. Before long, your dog will complete its meal before the time comes for you to take the dish away.
When training dogs, use a similar tone and volume when you give commands. Using a even, official tone will let your dog know you are serious. It can also help the dog realize the distinction between disciplinary tones and other types of commands.
Teething Pain
Accidents are bound to happen while housebreaking your puppy. When accident do happen, clean them up rapidly and thoroughly. If you don’t clean accidents up quickly, your pet may smell the mess and eliminate in the same spot again. There are a number of products available at pet stores that get rid of these odors.
Always give your puppy plenty of toys to chew on to help with teething pain. Otherwise, you might find your shoes becoming chew toys. Give it one of his chew toys immediately. Teething pain can be soothed by a washcloth that has been soaked in water and frozen.
When you go out with your dog, always pay attention to other dogs and animals you come across. You need to be well aware of any dogs that seem aggressive. If you come across a dog that seems aggressive avoid it.
It takes many repetitions before a dog learns a new command. It isn’t uncommon for 25-50 repetitions of this same command to be used for the dog to understand it. Continue repeating the command patiently, and eventually your dog will understand it.
Give challenges to your dog regularly. Even though you know he’s been properly trained, be sure to quiz him from time to time.
Start training with something simple. This will cause you to get your dog to learn its first trick quickly, which is rewarding. It will also show your dog what training is all about. You’ll have better results this way.
If your dog has an issue with barking, pay attention to potential triggers. This way you can avoid the things that trigger barking. 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.
During your training sessions, you should keep a close eye on the time. If you try to focus for a long period of time on one command, your dog will show signs of boredom and begin to get antsy. Start off with individual training periods of no more than 10 minutes.
If you catch your puppy gnawing on an object that doesn’t belong to them, stop the behavior right away. This will help your puppy understand what is acceptable and what is off limits.
Primary Reinforcement
Understand limitations of older dogs. Sometimes, an old dog will have some limitations for what they can learn. Also, an older dog may be set in their own routine. While teaching new habits to him may not be impossible, it is sometimes better to focus on negative things you can change and get used to living with the other habits.
When you’re training your dog, it is important that you understand primary reinforcement. Primary reinforcement is a positive reinforcement training strategy that relies heavily on things your dog already enjoys. This can be a belly rub, a favorite toy or a tasty treat. This way, the dog can learn how he can get things he wants.
No dog should pull you around. You’re supposed to be the leader, not him. Be sure the training collar you use is good quality and have them on a short leash. When entering a door, heel your dog. Keep in mind that you are in charge!
Avoid letting your dog have accidents when potty training. Sometimes, your dog will have triggers for when its that time. Pacing back and forth, snuffing and whining are some common signs. The moment your pet begins to do any of these things, don’t waste a single moment. Put his leash on and take him to the place you wish him to go. Be sure to give him praise for proper toileting. He’ll want to go out and do the right thing soon enough.
Keep your emotions from other areas, such as a fight with a friend or family member or being upset with another pet, at bay. You want to avoid using a cold tone that your dog can sense. Don’t chastise your dog for something that is out of their control.
Firmness is essential for successful training your dog. You should not be extremely strict or loving all the time. Find a balance on gentle firmness to use with your dog. This will help you develop a strong bond with your dog.
Clickers can be great behavioral training tools. By associating the clicking noise with positive rewards, you can make a clicker an easy and effective tool. You should click, and then immediately treat. This method will be necessary until your dog learns that the “reward” is the clicking sound alone. Soon enough, your dog will recognize that this noise means “great,” turning the clicker into a useful tool for shaping desirable behavior.
Dogs have natural destructive behavior, so provide outlets for them to exercise their natural behaviors. There should always be good outlets available for your dog to exercise and keep busy, and do not forget the right diet to provide this energy.
There are dogs who have such a phobia about thunder-storms that they endanger themselves. If your dog has an extreme fear of thunder, speak to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can suggest and prescribe some mild sedative for your dog to take prior to a storm. You should only medicate a dog that cannot be helped through behavior modification alone; however, when used properly, medication can dramatically improve your pet’s quality of life.
Whenever your dog misbehaves, ensure you don’t provide the wrong signals to your dog. If he thinks you are amused by his bad behavior, he is likely to repeat that behavior. Sending these mixed signals will undo some of the time that you have already invested in training, making things even harder on you. Consistency is the key to accomplishing your goals when training your dog.
Your dog can provide clear indications of his wants, needs and preferences. If your dog seems uncomfortable when associating with new animals or people, do not press the issue. Your dog is trying to tell you that he or she is uncomfortable, so take the warning seriously. If you push or force him, he may become a fear-biter.
Agility Training
Positively encourage your dog without using treats. Dogs love treats, and easily learn new tricks when this is their motivation. You probably don’t constantly have a treat in your pant’s pockets. It is important to also learn skills like praising, and physical affection to replace treats.
If you want an agile dog, make sure you choose a breed that tends to be agile. Some of the better dogs for agility training include Shetland sheepdogs, Labrador retrievers, border collies, and Australian shepherds; however, most breeds are able to participate in agility training successfully.
Each dog has their own needs when it comes to training. For example, if treats don’t work, you’ll have to find alternative rewards. If treats are effective with your dog, use them in all situations.
Training your dog is a great way to get him to be better behaved and learn to do some neat tricks. Once you apply these concepts, you will have started the process of turning into a training expert.
If you opt to use indoor potty pads, put them in the same place every time. Always keep potty pads in that area, and change them regularly.
