Dogs are trained for all sorts of reasons. Some dogs get trained for work, some for hunting and some just to be a good dog around the home. No doubt, dogs are known for their desire to please. This is one of reasons they are known as man’s best friend. The following article will allow you to learn how to properly train your dog.
Always reward good, calm behavior. If your dog follows a training command properly, then it is acceptable to reward the behavior to a calm animal. You may feel great about it, but you don’t want to make the pup feel over-excited. If you are able to maintain your calm, you can expect your dog to maintain calm too.
For the best results in training your pet, you must be diligent about giving rewards and encouragement. It’s very important to provide treats at the proper time. If you do not give the treat right away, your dog is not going to understand why you are rewarding it.
If you house train your puppy, keep in mind that everything that goes in is eventually coming back out. Feed your puppy three times regularly each day. 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.
Decide on a specific command phrase for your pup during house training. Each time you let your dog out to relieve himself, use a phrase such as “go potty” so that he associates going outside with going to the bathroom.
Always buy a crate that is the correct size for your dog so you can train them well. Keep in mind that puppies grow up. Choose a crate that is sure to fit them suitably when they hit adult size. Dogs need room to move about and lie down, and they should not be cramped.
Approach an unknown dog slowly and let him smell your outstretched hand. This gives the dog an opportunity to learn your scent. When the dog becomes familiar with your smell, he will not fear you and will respond to your commands easier.
To strengthen your training efforts, you can use a designated verbal command to help your animal understand what your expectations are and when they have been fulfilled. Words like “yes” could be an effective way of communicating to your dog that he has done something you are pleased about.
When implementing discipline with your dog, monitor your tone of voice. Your dog can usually tell how you are feeling. An appropriately stern tone can reinforce discipline.
Walking on a leash is a big step in your dog’s training. The safety of both of you while out walking is paramount, and the proper training will ensure this.
It is vital to keep some slack in the leash when you are trying to train a dog. Dogs want to explore new territories while going out for a walk. Due to their excitement, they will try to pull on their leash. Instead of setting up this dynamic, put some slack into the leash in order to help your pet walk with you.
Begin your training regimen with an easy task for your dog. This ensures that success comes quickly and your dog learns to love training sessions. You will see more results as you are training this way.
Keep a spray bottle handy to deter your dog when it tries to bite people or things. This will show the pooch that there are consequences to these actions. As your dog learns the behavior is unwanted, he will begin to avoid doing the bad behavior.
If your dog wants to jump you should squeeze their paws when they do so, they will know that they shouldn’t do that. This does not hurt the dog if you do it lightly, but it is an uncomfortable feeling for them. Eventually, they’ll quit jumping on other people because they’ll start associating jumping with this pinching.
Make sure that you let your dog get used to people regularly. Your dog has to learn how to behave around other animals and people. The best way to develop good behavior in these situations is to put your dog in the environment as much as possible. In addition, this helps decrease any troublesome behavior whenever they are introduced to new environments.
“No” shouldn’t be a huge part of training. It’s important to discover positive methods of reinforcing your dog’s training. “No” is negative and doesn’t give your dog a real command he can follow. Every dog and situation is unique and you should adapt your strategies accordingly.
Understand that your every action is teaching your dog and shaping his personality. Realize that you could very well sabotage your own training efforts with innocent activities such as rough-housing. It is important to shape the dog’s progress by consistently striving for good behavior.
Teach your dog not to bark with a simple command. Each time your dog barks, wave a treat in front of him and voice your command. Then, you are able to reward the dog. When you repeat this action multiple times, your dog will eventually learn that the order means to be quiet.
If you are consistent, your puppy can learn to “hold it.” Take your dog to the bathroom at least once each hour. Give him a little praise if he makes waste outside. Never scold your dog for going in the house. He is unaware of the problem, and shouting will be ineffective. When it has an accident, take it out and show it where it should go.
When you discipline your dog, your tone is an important factor. Dogs are very intuitive. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.
Is your pet dog eating healthy? Like kids, dogs can also act out if they are not eating well. If you switch brands of dog food to reflect the unique needs of his breed, your pet will become happier and more energetic–the perfect companion. Your vet should be able to recommend the right food for your dog.
A key part of dog training is to start early. It’s far easier to teach a puppy good habits than it is to deprogram bad habits. For instance, a dog that is never fed table scraps is less likely to beg at the table.
Give your dog a treat to get him to respond as you desire. Once he gets used to this system, cut down on the frequency of treat-giving until you’re only giving him a treat occasionally.
Make sure you know your dog’s grooming needs based off his or her breed. Some breeds of dogs need little or no grooming, whereas other breeds need meticulous grooming weekly. A dog who is properly cleaned and groomed is protected against sickness and is more comfortable and easygoing.
If you catch your puppy chewing on something he isn’t suppose to be chewing, stop him immediately. Through replacement, you will teach your dog that chewing is fine as long as it is an acceptable chew toy.
You need to work on the recall of your dog. Regardless of the situation, your dog must be taught to come back to you when it is called. Work on this behavior the most and make sure your dog follows your command. Having your dog come back to you might help you, or them, when in a life-threatening spot one day.
When training your dog, it is important to always be consistent. Use the same words or phrases for commands and speak them in the same tone each time. This consistency is also appropriate for the types of treats and punishments administered during training.
You should be constantly challenging your dog and re-teaching it the tricks you’ve previously taught it. Make sure your dog knows what he is doing by testing him!
As you start the process of dog training, do not make the assumption that the dog won’t bite you simply because you fancy yourself superior. If your dog is untrained, they may not regard you as a leader. You have to display alpha behavior in order to show your pet you are the boss. Dogs that don’t understand human behavior can bite even if not provoked.
Does your dog like to pull on his leash during a walk? This issue is often faced by dog owners, but is quite easy to fix. Visit a local pet supply shop and get a cheap harness as a way to prevent pulling and to make your walks fun.
You can entice your pet to sit on his haunches by waving a treat before his nose as he stands. Move the treat over their head, so they are forced to sit. This way, the dog will need to look upward to follow along with your hand. This behavior is a natural way to get them to sit.
If you wish to participate in agility classes, be sure to choose a breed of dog that does well with this sort of activity. Almost any dog can learn and participate in the sport, but some of the more competitive breeds are Australian shepherds, border collies, Labrador retrievers and Shetland sheepdogs.
Always reinforce positive behavior in your dog. Never use punishment; instead, don’t reinforce any bad behavior. Dogs can become scared easily when you negatively act towards them. Positive reinforcement helps dogs do more positive things to gain praise and rewards.
Make use of a crate when training your dog. To make crate training work, make sure you take your dog out often and on a stable schedule. Given time, a crate trained dog is much less likely to have accidents inside.
If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dog’s environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Make sure that your dog can’t get into trouble by chewing on the wrong item. Items such as nylons, hairbrushes, as well as other common chewable, yet dangerous household items, can be a danger for your dog. He can choke easily, so watch out for them.
If you are looking to train your dog, make use of a variety of resources such as magazines, general dog training books and books specific to the breed of dog you are looking to train. Talk with those that have similar breeds to you, and learn from them. Modify the method of training to suit your specific needs.
One good training method is known as “shake-can”. Put a few coins in an empty soda can and seal it. Use this can if your dog misbehaves. The sound will startle your dog and he will stop whatever he is doing. Eventually, your dog will get the idea that the behavior is not allowed. Only shake the can once, if you do it multiple times your dog will desensitize.
If your dog has separation anxiety, it’s important that it learns to connect with more than one person. By developing other relationships, the dog will be able to become less attatched to you.
Dogs are trained for a variety of reasons. Dogs are known for their desire to please, which makes a well-trained one a pleasure to have around. This article, hopefully, has helped you with some ideas that can make it less of a hassle to train your dog.
Before leaving your dog for an extended period, make sure your dog gets some good exercise like a walk. If you are able to tire your pets out, they will not be as anxious when it is time for you to go.