Most of the time, even a misbehaving dog can be effectively trained. A well trained dog can become a happy, healthy, and well adjusted member of the family. Making your dog this way doesn’t have to be hard, if you invest the time to do it with some simple steps.
Make the dog know that the crate is it’s home when you are doing crate training. At meal times always put their bowl of food inside the crate leaving the door open the whole time while they are eating. This will give your dog a positive association with the crate.
Keep treats on hand to reward your pet for doing good. First, place your dog in the “down” position. The next step is to palm the treat and hold your hand beside your dog’s head. Slowly raise the treat over your dog’s head to the opposite side. He will naturally use his nose to follow the treat, thus rolling over his whole body. Whenever your dog does actually roll over, say “roll over” out loud. Repeating this over time forms a mental association in your dog’s mind that eventually causes him to roll over on command. Make sure you are patient because this is likely to take several attempts. However, your dog will eventually learn this command.
Rewarding dogs properly and generously is the key to training. It is essential that your dog get treats at the proper times and in the correct amounts. Unless you administer praise and treats as soon as the dog exhibits the desired behavior, he will not be able to connect the behavior to the treat.
When you are approaching an unfamiliar dog, be sure to approach slowly and offer the dog the back of your hand to sniff. This lets them warm up to the scent and they’ll most likely trust you. As the dog begins to trust you, he will more likely follow your commands.
Be careful of disrupting your training time with rewards. If the dog follows commands correctly, you should reward the animal only if it is calm. Though you may be happy with the accomplishment, excitement on your part leads to excitement on their part and diminishes control of the situation. Be calm, expect calm, then reward appropriately.
Patience is definitely a virtue when training your pet. Patience helps avert anger and frustration throughout the training process. Your dog wants to make you happy, but sometimes it just does not understand you.
Do your best to keep your dog active through the day. Dogs require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. When a dog is bored, he will be hard to train. It is easier for your dog to focus if he is happy and well exercised. Before every training session, prepare your dog by taking them for a walk.
It is not good for a puppy to train too often, it will wear it out if it has to process too much information. Puppies have short attention spans and they cannot focus too much, so have shorter sessions and try to be positive during them every time. If training sessions are too long, the puppy won’t remember the specifics of the training session, just that is was grueling and exhausting. This will make it harder to train him next time.
“Leave it” is a command that should be taught and reinforced early on. You can protect their safety and stop them from destroying valuables by teaching them to obey this simple command.
Changing your vocal tone depending on what you want to communicate will help train your dog. Praise, corrections, and commands need their own tones to help the dog differentiate between effects and causes with both of your behaviors. Commands should be firm yet sharp, whereas corrections require a louder tone. Natural voicing is good for praise and reinforcement.
Training is a lifetime endeavor. A dog does not stop learning after puppyhood. By continually reinforcing obedient behaviors and disciplining negative behaviors, you will have a dog that behaves appropriately.
When training your puppy to use a leash, wrap a collar around him while the two of you are playing. When he is comfortable in the collar, he’ll be ready to learn how to walk on a leash, too.
You should always try to be aware of any other dogs when you are going for a walk with your dog. You should not assume every dog is friendly; some dogs may be aggressive. Take care to avoid coming into contact with any animal that appears overly aggressive or antisocial.
It’s important to know if your breed of dog will require special grooming. Certain breeds do not need much grooming, whereas others requires detailed, regular grooming. Grooming your dog will ensure they remain clean and happy. In addition, this helps decrease the chance of them contracting any diseases.
Your training will mold and shape your dog, so take the responsibility seriously. This is a critical fact, since you may inadvertently cause your dog to regress by teasing or laughing at bad behavior. Focus more on encouraging desirable and appropriate behaviors at all times.
It might be hard but you have to be patient when you are training your dog. Dogs cannot speak English, and they are not human. He will pick up physical gestures, and this is how he will learn from you. Keep your cool, and take breaks if you find yourself too frustrated to continue a training session.
Destructive chewing is often a result of anxiety. Enclosing him in a crate will prevent accidents from occurring and leaving him a chew toy will discourage destruction of your property.
When you want to train a dog, you should use all the resources available, from books to blogs. Chat with others who own the same breed you have in order to gain new ideas. You can make adjustments based on the advice you get.
Consistency is key to training a dog. Teach them single word commands and be consistent with the words such as sit, stay and speak. You should also have consistency with your tone of voice and positive reinforcement for commands that are obeyed.
Challenging though it may be, you can have a dog who is obedient, loving and healthy. You cannot achieve this, however, unless you can provide your dog with the affection and discipline he requires. Use the ideas and advice presented within this article, and your dog is going to be a vital member of the family.
Dogs generally bite because they are afraid of something. The occurrence is frequently due to a dog’s anxiety, claustrophobia, or sense that danger is imminent. Don’t forcefully train your dog. This could make the dog act out in an aggressive manner. A dog’s main purpose in life is to please you, as he regards you as his leader.