Many dog owners erroneously assume that their dogs will benefit from a flexible environment free of rules. Nothing could be further from the truth. All dogs should have fun, but with the guidance and encouragement of their owners. A regular training routine can help build a proper relationship between you and your dog. Your dog’s anxiety can be replaced with confidence with just a little work! This article has tips to build a solid training routine for your pet.
To introduce a new animal into a home that already has dogs, you should give that animal their own territory. This could mean initially giving the new cat or dog their own room or taking your old dogs out of the house before bringing the new dog in. Because dogs are very territorial, this tactic gives your new dog more leverage and makes your older dogs more reluctant to get aggressive.
When walking your dog on a leash, never keep the leash too tight. A tight leash creates a counter pressure response and can cause the dog to become uptight or agitated. Your dog may then pull, rather than walk correctly on the leash. Being less restrictive with your leash hold will allow for a more pleasant walking experience.
Reward your dog for obeying you, but only occasionally. Rewards like treats and excessive praise can be useful tools when training your dog. Just be careful that you do not condition them to expect this every time they do as they are are told. Reward them for following instruction, but do so randomly.
If you want to train your dog, it helps if you can think like a dog. You need to exercise patience with your pet, even if you think he should be learning at a faster rate. Try putting thinking like your dog would, rather than quitting. Your training will improve if you view things the way they do.
Just as reinforcement of good behavior when training a dog should be immediate, so too should punishment for bad behavior be immediate. Saying “no” in a harsh voice tells the dog he has acted inappropriately but he only connects the message with the targeted behavior if that message is delivered immediately after that act.
Dogs often become destructive because they are bored and lonely. Consider a house dog that destroys the sofa while you are away from the house. Consider the larger outside dog that chews up the shrubbery. The answer to alleviating their destructive behavior might be as simple as spending more time with them or buying them a new toy.
When dog training, it is vital to have a lot of patience with your dog if you want to maximize the effectiveness of the overall process. Training takes a lot of time and conditioning to get your dog to act the way you want, as patience will yield the best results.
When training your dog to walk on a leash, remember that your dog should follow where you lead, not the other way around. Dogs are pack animals, and the leader of the pack always travels in front. You want your dog to see you as the leader, so they need to learn to walk behind you.
All dogs should be taught the basics of obedience training not only to keep them safe but to protect people and other animals to which they are exposed. Start teaching your dog how to sit, stay, heel, come, and understand the word “no” as soon as he is old enough to be trained. Even the calmest dog may unexpectedly start to chase a car, a bike, a cat or a squirrel. Giving the command “no” or “come” should stop the dog in his tracks and prevent him from getting hit by a car or endangering the person or animal he is chasing. Some dogs tend to jump on people as a means of welcoming them, but this could be dangerous to small children or elderly people who aren’t steady on their feet. Telling your dog to “sit” and “stay” eliminates this concern. A well-trained dog not only makes a pleasant companion but also reduces the risk of accidental injury to himself or others.
You should make sure to eat your own meal first before feeding your dog. This shows your dog that you are leader of the pack and helps establish your dominance. Your dog will be much more likely to follow your other commands if he or she knows that you are the boss because you eat first.
Be generous with rewards when training your dog. Do not be afraid of giving too much praise or too many treats. Rewarding your dog encourages him to continue the behavior that led up to the reward. Do not be afraid of spending too much time with training your dog. It will pay off.
If Fido has really messed up and say, eaten the trash for the third time this week, take a moment and calm down before reacting. If the incident didn’t happen immediately, your dog will not connect the behavior to the punishment, so save your voice and consider ways to make sure the behavior doesn’t happen again.
It’s easy to see how a few lifestyle changes can truly benefit your canine friend for years to come. Your dog needs rules, boundaries and guidance to make the right choices, and he depends on you to set him up for success. Your job as a pet owner is to always make sure your pet is comfortable. A solid training routine to build his confidence is the first step to behavioral success.
