Training your dog might seem like a difficult, intimidating task to take on. Many pet owners choose to send their dog to a professional trainer. This is a good option, but the following article has many tips that will help you train your dog on your own and in your home.
When training your dog for specific commands, be sure to use the exact same wording during everyday life as you do during training sessions. If you select “down” for “lie down”, use “down” every time you want the dog to lie down. Changing up the terminology can confuse your dog and interfere with training.
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.
When training your dog, keep your goals and expectations for your dog reasonable. Just like when you try to learn something new, your dog isn’t going to learn new tricks the first time you teach them. Different breeds and even different dogs within the same breed, will have different levels of receptivity towards training.
If you have a dog with separation anxiety, you can train him out of this anxiety by varying your routine. If you act like you’re leaving the house, but then don’t or store your jacket in the car instead of the closet, you can break the cycle of actions, that get the dog hyped up with anxiety to begin with.
Not all dog training needs to involve food based treats. Some dog breeds respond better to non-edible rewards. These rewards could very well include stuffed toys, rawhide bones, or rope toys. They will also have the added benefit of giving you and your dog a new activity to enjoy together.
For your dog to understand what you are punishing them for, you need to catch them misbehaving. If you reprimand a dog for something that happened hours ago, chances are your dog will not make the connection. And if you choose to ignore your dog to show that you are mad, do not ignore it for more than a few minutes.
Be mindful of exactly what behavior you are reinforcing, so stand your ground and don’t give into your pet’s persistence. A dog will generally repeat whatever action has previously earned him a reward. Thus, if you give a dog food so that it will stop begging at the table one night, you’re only making the dog more inclined to beg for food again, the next night.
Train your dog so that living together is fun for both you and your dog. Living with a dog should not be a hardship, but it can be if you don’t take the time to research the type of training a dog understands. A dog does not think like a human, so learning how to train in a way they understand will make it easier for both of you.
You should always take your dog around people when they are a puppy to get them used to it. 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. This ensures their safety and the safety of others.
If your dog is not fond of unfamiliar men, consider this tip to curb Cujo. Keep a jar of treats near the entrance of your home. Bring new people around who love dogs and understand the situation, and have them treat your pooch. They should extend the treat out sideways from their body, without looking at the dog. It’s non-confrontational and teaches the dog that new people are exciting.
Listen to professional advice. If you adopt a dog from a shelter or a rescue organization, listen to their advice. More often than not, they will have spent a lot of time with the dog, and will know the best method to train him. Some shelter dogs are very skittish, and require extra care when trying to train them, especially if they have been previously mistreated.
Plan training activities with your dog during a time when interruptions are minimized. Training goes much faster when both you and your pet can focus on the training activities without being distracted by other activities or disturbances. A focused 15 minute session is more effective than several sessions which are interrupted by distractions.
Don’t let your new puppy sleep on your bed. While it might be tempting to bring a puppy up onto your bed for the night, it’s a big mistake! Once they get used to it, they will refuse to sleep anywhere else. Also, remember that the small puppy that only takes up a small amount of space will grow very quickly. Every dog needs its own personal space, as do you!
Start slowly if you have an aggressive dog. A sudden change in your behavior can be seen as a challenge if your dog already considers himself to be the alpha dog in the pack. Make sure that you don’t approach with aggressive behavior or it will take a lot longer to get your dog in an accepting, learning mindset.
Following the tips in this article will ensure you have a well-trained dog. There are many options for training, including using professionals or doing it yourself. Whatever path you choose, you need to know that your dog can understand your commands and be in control in any situation you are in.
