Most people love dogs, because of the love and enjoyment they can bring. A puppy is quite a bit of work. There is need for much training. You will soon have a well-trained dog if you use the above advice.
Enforce all of the commands you issue to your dog. Do no issue a command on a whim. Only give a command to your dog if you truly mean it. This can lead to having to repeat your commands. A well-trained dog should only need to be told once to do something.
As you begin the dog training process, make sure to reward your pet when they perform desirable behaviors. Although discipline is necessary at times, the more you are able to praise your dog, the better your relationship will be. A good relationship means that your animal will want to follow your directions and the training process will be much easier.
Do not train your dog through fear of physical punishment. Teaching your dog to respect your commands and dominance will create a healthy and stable pet. Dogs learn to respect the pack leader in the wild by being dominated, not attacked. Physical punishment can lead to an irrational and often violent pet.
Consider hiring someone to help you train your dog. Just like playing a sport, pet training is a skill that takes time to develop. Everyone has their own style, and it may be that the way you are interacting with your pet is not quite working. Another person can help you see how to tweak your training sessions to make them a better fit for you and your pet.
When you are working on commands with your dog, work only on one command at a time, and only say the command one time. Do not say the command word more than once. Your goal is for your dog to obey the command immediately. You don’t want to have to say the same thing over and over.
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.
It is important to understand that training your dog will require a lot of patience and repetition. It often takes a dog between 25 and 50 repetitions before they are able to learn a new command. Getting frustrated will only delay your results and may hurt your relationship with your pet.
Don’t get discouraged when training your dog. You may start to feel as though you will be carrying around messy treats in your pocket for the rest of your life. This is not the case. As your dog learns a new behavior, he will look to rewards less often for that behavior.
When house training your new puppy you need to follow a strict schedule. Get your puppy outside to eliminate first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple of hours in between. This will help him to learn that elimination happens outside. It also prevents pee scents (which are attractive to your dog) from being in the house to begin with.
Exercising your dog is a good way to get rid of pent up energy which can impede training. Through this technique you establish a calm demeanor in your dog. This does not mean tiring the animal completely, but blowing off some excess steam can greatly reduce over excitement when training.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is that your timing and the expected timing of your dog’s actions are essential. This is important because this is one learning aspect that is common to all dogs. While different dogs require different teaching methods, timing is a communication method that will help you find success no matter what you try.
Be patient when training your dog. You may need to repeat positive reinforcement numerous times to consistently get the behavior you want. You may also need to consistently refocus your dog from negative behaviors. Realizing it takes time to train a dog can make the experience much more pleasurable for both you and your pet.
Be sure to spend time with your dog and teach him things every day. When he is a puppy, teach him his name, how to come when called and show him the proper place for toileting. When he gets a little older, begin gentle leash training. When he is six months old, join an obedience class so that he can learn how to behave in public and get some formal training.
Use the same simple words in a low, firm tone of voice, every time you give your dog a command. Don’t shout or repeat the command multiple times. Say it once, firmly and then, assist the dog in complying if he doesn’t understand (e.g. press down firmly on the hindquarters while saying “sit,” if he doesn’t sit the first time you tell him).
In order to properly train your dog it is a good habit to always use your pet’s name to get his attention. This will reinforce your control over your pet and it will be beneficial in the long run. This can be done when calling your pet for food or even when playing simple games.
An important rule of thumb in dog training is that people lead and dogs follow. Never let your dog lead you around while it is on its leash. Make short, sharp, well defined corrections with the dog’s lead to bring it back to heel. Your dog must learn that you are the one directing things, not the other way around.
After you have brought your new furry friend home, its time to begin training him. Be patient with your animal and make sure, above all, that you show your dog when he is doing the right thing. It won’t be an overnight success story, but with time you both will be much happier.
