If you’re thinking you want to start training your dog properly, but aren’t sure how, then you’re in the right place. The thing about proper dog training is that the more you know, the more you can use towards training your dog. Take note from this article and see what information applies to you and your dog.
When you have gotten a new dog and you are working on training a key thing to remember is that you must always enforce the commands that you give your dog. Do not let the dog ignore you, and do not say the command over and over. If you are not going to be strong enough to enforce what you are saying, you might as well not waste your time.
The walk can be very hard to master, but with the right practice and patience, your dog will be walking right by your side in no time. Firstly, do not allow them to leave the door first. When you put his leash on, make him sit first or give you his paw. In short, some sort of obedience to get him in the spirit. Then, when you are actually outside, if he begins to walk in front of you, give the leash a quick tug to assert yourself as the one in charge.
Teaching your dog a fun trick, such as “play dead” can be a fun way of distracting him. When your dogs behavior is bad, simply use the command you have established for his trick instead of using negative punishment. This provides for a fun activity for your dog and creates a positive environment for you as well.
If you want to help your dog succeed in his training program, take a moment to try and think like he does. Understanding how your pet views the world can help you make better training decisions for him. The better suited your program is to your dog’s personality, the more success you will have while training.
It is important to take a leadership role while training your dog. This does not mean that you need to try and force your animal to bend to your will. Acting as a teacher and showing him what you want him to do by rewarding his actions will help your dog succeed.
As you plan out your dog training sessions, focus on only teaching your pet one new skill at a time. Too many instructions and expectations can cause your dog to become confused and frustrated. You will achieve much better results if you work on one skill, achieve mastery and then move on.
When training your dog to specific commands, don’t mix in pleasantries and other extra words. Give the command word sharply and alone. Your dog doesn’t understand words like “please”, and won’t be upset at your lack of manners. Keeping the commands alone and clear makes it easier for your dog to understand and obey.
The key to potty training a new puppy is consistency. Remember that when he is with his mother, he can relieve himself whenever he needs to, so it will take some time for him to learn that he must wait for someone to take him outside to go to the bathroom.
Go through the door before your dog, eat your own dinner first and always make sure that you win tug-of-war, by taking away the toy when you’re done. This all asserts that you are the pack leader and your dog is subordinate. This will help curb other obedience problems and help in other aspects of training because your dog realizes that he MUST do what you say. It’s how he’s hard-wired.
Set your dog up to succeed for the end of a session. End all of your training sessions with a command that you know that he can do and reward him for his effort. You don’t want him to come away depressed about training time, but you also don’t want to reward him if he was not responding well during the session. Giving him a task or command that you know he can do allows you to reward him without confusing him.
Being a proactive pet owner is the first step in training your pooch. An owner who anticipates troublesome situations for their dog, and works to keep him away from those situations whenever possible, will have a better behaved animal. Extensive training will not be as necessary if you get to know your dog so you can anticipate his actions.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to always reward good behavior, and discipline bad behavior. This is important because your dog needs this stiff structure. Otherwise, it may get confused. Your dog can not comprehend many human emotions and needs a strictly on/off type of response from you.
A new puppy needs to be socialized to many different environments. Your dog needs to know how to act around other dogs and humans, and frequent socialization is the only way to teach these skills. This will help reduce any sporadic behavior within new environments, too.
To properly train a dog, you must be consistent at all times. Never allow your dog to partake in such activities as pulling you on walks or jumping all over people. Don’t ever give into your pet’s really cute face. In doing so, your dog will become confused and not know what is right or wrong in that particular situation and will do what he/she wants.
Your dog should learn that nothing in life is free. Have him work to get goodies, no matter how small. Have your pooch “sit” and wait before meals are placed on the floor, and release with a command. Have your dog “sit” and wait by the door before walks. He’ll learn patience, and he’ll learn to wait for your cue.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you’re feeling like you can start forming some good strategies towards training your dog. Remember that the information in this article isn’t all there is to know about dog training, so be sure to always be on the lookout for new information to apply towards your training regime.
