Training any dog of any age or breed can be frustrating if you don’t have the right strategies and techniques in mind. There is a true secret to dog training, and it is in the knowledge that you have and the understanding of the dog you are training. You need to know their behavior and the way they learn best. These tips can get you off to a great start.
The dog, man’s best friend. We’ve all probably found ourselves owning a dog at some point, but perhaps weren’t the one responsible for training it. One of the keys to training a dog is consistency. You have to reward it all the time for good behavior, and punish it all the time for bad behavior. For example if you are potty training and your dog uses the pad, reward her with a treat each and every time to reinforce that behavior.
Sometimes it may be necessary to physically establish yourself as the Alpha in the pack. If your animal is being aggressive to another animal or a person, hold them by the scruff of the neck and put them in a prone position on the ground firmly, not violently. This lets your dog know you are in charge and exhibits behavior they would expect from another dog.
Stay in control as you reward your dog’s good behavior. Whenever your dog does something right, it’s important that they remain calm. While you might be happy with this accomplishment, your excitement plus theirs can cause this situation to get out of control. Stay calm and bestow rewards calmly too.
As you train your dog, it is important to remember that everything you do with your pet is an opportunity for them to learn. Without realizing it, you may be rewarding undesirable behaviors throughout the day. Keep in mind that whether you are actively training or not, your actions are still having a large impact on your dog’s behavior.
Food and treats can be your ally in training your dog to seek out his crate. Allow your dog to find strategically placed bits of food and a few treats every once in awhile when he returns to his crate. He will make it a habit of checking the crate out more regularly just in case something else has miraculously appeared there.
Be patient when teaching your dog, it will take some time. You may need to repeat the command more than 20 or 30 times. Try using the command more often and be very patient if you want your dog to learn.
The first thing that you must do is to command control over your dog. Be friendly with your dog, but also be firm. Demonstrate your position of authority to your dog by leading the way whenever the two of you are walking.
While training your dog, it is important to maintain a calm voice, even if you feel frustrated. If you get angry, your pet is not going to enjoy learning and will not respond well to your commands. Your dog should enjoy the training process rather than dread it.
Producing good dog training involves patience, encouragement and a good reward system. What you need to do is establish a quality reward system for when they are doing the right things. Supplementing positive behavior with treats is a great way to start, and after some time you can train them with a different reward system such as compliments and affection. The main thing to focus on is encouraging them to do the right thing.
Many people make the mistake of calling their dog to them when they are bad. If you are currently dog training, it is essential that you do not do this. Your dog will begin to associate you calling him over, as a bad thing and the dog will want to avoid you. So make sure you are calling your dog when he has done something well.
Learn to read your dog’s signals when training, so that you can see the difference between confusion and disobedience. A different response is required from you when your dog doesn’t understand a command versus when they understand the command but choose not to obey. Understanding your dog’s signals, can help you to choose the more appropriate response.
Only work on one command at a time. Focusing on one command allows your dog to really hone that skill and get it right. By trying to learn too much at once, you risk confusing your dog, and they may have more difficulty remembering which behavior goes with which command.
Before you ever get a dog, be sure that you have everything you need. You should have: sturdy food and water bowls; a good quality of dry dog food; a comfortable bed; a crate/kennel in the right size for the dog you plan to get; and an appropriate leash and collar or harness. By having everything in place, you will avoid a lot of rushing around and uncertainty with a new dog or puppy. This will help everybody settle in better.
Desensitize your dog to the cause of their barking in order to reduce the behavior. Everything from a sound to a particular person could be a trigger. Your dog will eventually learn not to react in these situations.
If you want to get started in dog training, you have to start with a great deal of information so you can best understand what your dog is going to respond to. All dogs are different, and all can be a bit difficult to train if you aren’t using the right tips, such as these found in this article.
