Training a new dog can be a stressful endeavor. However, this important task is crucial if you are to have a loving and mutually enjoyable relationship with your pet. Use positive reinforcement to train your puppy, and you will get some good results. Be patient and remain consistent to help your dog remember what you expect from it. Spend a certain amount of time every day to train your dog. Typically, it’s best to spend about a half an hour for each session, since this is most time you can probably get out of them. If you go for longer, he will be much less responsive.
A new dog needs to feel safe and happy in their crate during training. You should put their food in the cage and leave the door open if it is time for them to eat. They’ll build a positive view of the crate this way.
Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The restraints for each dog can become tangled and in an effort to free themselves, they can be injured. For example, a large dog could tangle the chain with a smaller dog, wrapping the chain around the neck of the small dog, causing it to die.
Timing is everything in dog training, and you need to make sure you don’t overdo it. Gradually increase the amount of time you spend training them each session. Watch to see if the dog’s attention begins to fade during sessions.
It is important to have an appropriately sized dog crate. Your little puppy will get bigger, remember! Choose a large enough crate to offer extra space beyond your dog’s dimensions. Dogs need room to move about and lie down, and they should not be cramped.
Try to see things from your dog’s eyes. You may feel burnt out if your dog does not seem to be responding to their training. Try putting thinking like your dog would, rather than quitting. Try to see the world through their eyes.
Your dog must respect you in order for training to work. You need to establish your authority, or he will ignore your commands. Always walk in front of the dog when you go on walks, because this is the position to show leadership.
To improve the efficiency of your training routine, make sure your dog eats and poops at around the same time every day. Then you will be aware when your dog needs to go outside to use the bathroom. Conversely, this also teaches your dog that he may need to wait to go to the bathroom.
Keep treats on hand to reward your pet for doing good. The first step is to teach your dog to lay. Hold a treat between your forefingers near the left side of your dog’s head, and then slowly pass the treat in front of his face and to the opposite side. He will probably follow the treat, rolling side to side as it moves. Each time he sways to one side, tell him to “roll over”. Keep doing this until the treat is no longer needed. Be patient with him when you are teaching this because once he learns it, he can be quite the show-off amongst your friends.
Always be patient when you train your dog. This will reduce anger, stress and tension when you train your dog. Keep in mind that your dog aims to please you, however, it does not understand your language, so it takes time for it to learn what you expect.
If your dog barks a lot, try getting them accustomed to whatever causes the problem. Triggers can include strangers, loud sounds or new places. Your dog will know the difference and will understand that there’s no reason to bark when presented these situations.
Primary reinforcement is good to use when training your dog. Primary reinforcement is a positive reinforcement training strategy that relies heavily on things your dog already enjoys. Some common reinforcements include your dog’s favorite treat or a belly rub. Using this technique will train your dog what you expect from him.
You have to train your dog not to bark when you don’t want them to. When he barks, show him his favorite treat, and repeat the command. “Quiet” works well. Then, allow them to have the treat. By repeating this, the dog learns that silence brings treats.
To get your dog to stop barking, train him to obey a command that tell him to stay quiet. After your dog starts barking, show your pet the reward and repeat the command until they cease. Then, you reward them with a treat. When you repeat this action multiple times, your dog will eventually learn that the order means to be quiet.
Spray your dog with water when it does something you don’t like. This will show the pooch that there are consequences to these actions. Before you know it, your dog will cease the biting behavior and just be playful.
Do not give your dog too many treats; you could make him gain some weight when you offer an excessive number as rewards. Treats don’t spring to mind when thinking about a pet’s diet, but they have an impact – one that is magnified during the reward-heavy training process.
Unwanted Behavior
Once you decide to train your dog, it is very important that you continue with the training no matter what. If your dog doesn’t get reinforcement for his current level of training, he’s likely to slide back into how he acted before he was trained. Just as you need to keep feeding and sheltering your dog, training is a never-ending process.
You should be sure to respond positively when your dog does something good. Smile and get excited and make your dog know that he is doing something you like. Never reward unwanted behavior as the dog will also relate the unwanted behavior to something positive as well.
Try teaching your dog the command of “down”. You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills. Dogs trained in the “down” command will get to the ground within a moment of the command in tense situations, making this command a great safety tool.
Stay as consistent as possible if you want your dog to learn how to delay going to the bathroom. If you are home, spend time everyday with your puppy, and take him out every hour or so. When he does his toilet outside, remember to praise him. If your dog has an accident in the home, do not scold him. He does not know better, and shouting at him will only make things worse. Make it a rule that fifteen minutes after the dog eats or drinks, he is taken out for a walk. As well, he should be taken out each time he is let out of the crate.
Training should be seen as fun time to your dog. Training sessions should be kept to 10-15 minutes maximum so your dog enjoys the full benefits of his attention span. Rewards should be plentiful and varied. The more you reward your dog the more he will continue the positive behavior. This will make training and listening pleasurable for your dog.
Dogs are capable of knowing the right and the wrong things to do with proper and consistent training. Everyone in your house needs to enforce these strict rules. It will instantly undo all of your hard work!
Crating is a viable strategy for teaching your dog. Crate training will work if you let your dog go out on a regular basis and maintain a schedule that stays consistent. Dogs who are crate trained are often the best trained, having less accidents.
You should be constantly challenging your dog and re-teaching it the tricks you’ve previously taught it. Test your dog on occasion, to be sure that he remembers what you have taught him and help him keep it fresh in his mind.
Never let your dog pull you. You are the one giving the commands, not the other way around. You need to have an adequate training collar as well as a short leash for obedience training. Keep your pooch at your heel at all times. Keep in mind that you are in charge!
Avoid using punishment as part of your training routine. While it’s best to prevent bad behavior to start with, if your pet is misbehaving, make sure he does it right the second time. Training is a time to teach and talk with your pet; the process is all about building a positive relationship.
Show your leader status while doing fetch training by having the dog return the ball. If you pick up a ball that your dog drops, then your dog will believe he is in charge. Teaching the dog this way will make him understand what he must do with the ball.
Consistency is really the key to successfully training your dog. Consistency means not only consistent word choice, but voice tone and the rewards provided for a particular behavior.
Use treats that your dog really wants if you want to get the best results from your training sessions. Even if the treat is not something you would normally give them, it’s OK to use as a reward during training.
When your dog is six months old, have it spayed or neutered. This should coincide with the beginning of obedience classes. Spaying or neutering your dog will make a more enjoyable pet and also a better student. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.
Sometimes dogs bark for nothing more than boredom. It is your fault if your dog barks from boredom. Boredom barking means that your dog is not getting the amount of attention that they need to keep happy. Be sure to take your dog on walks daily and play with him often. When you are not around, give him some chew toys to distract him.
Learn about boredom barking. When your dog does this, you have to accept some of the blame on yourself. You have to give him the opportunity to get his energy out. Play with the dog, walk him and exercise him frequently. If you can’t be around, leave your dog some chew toys.
Every dog is receptive to different training techniques. If your dog isn’t responding to a treat reward, you will have to find a different reward which will make him work harder. If your dog responds well to treats, you can use that reward frequently.
If you utilize the advice provided above, you are certain to succeed in dog training. You will have a better-behaved dog and a happier, healthier home. You need to be consistent when you are training your pet.
Before leaving your dog for an extended period, make sure your dog gets some good exercise like a walk. By exhausting them, you will help them handle the inevitable separation anxiety they have when you leave.