Are you new to dog training? If so, then you’re likely searching for advice on the best methods of training your dog. Read on to learn some tips and advice to help you train your beloved dog.
Specific feeding habits should be established with your dog. Feed your dog at the same times every day, so that he knows what to expect. This will ensure he eats it all quickly instead of doddling or grazing all day.
When feeding your dog, always expect the dog to be in a calm state and ready to eat. Hyper activity at feeding time will not allow the pet to properly address feeding rituals. Establish a ritual of a calm animal who sits and waits patiently for you to give food. After this behavior is taught, your dog will probably begin sitting patiently as you prepare their food.
Create a regular schedule for your dog. Make sure his meals are at the same time each day, and walk him morning and night. Try to take him out for toilet breaks using a consistent routine. Dogs tend to thrive when they have a schedule that they can follow.
Be aware that you are not going to have a perfectly trained dog overnight. Changing behaviors is a lengthy process that will involve a lot of successes and a lot of setbacks. If you are not training from a puppy, the process can take even longer as your dog will need to both unlearn bad behaviors and learn new ones. Be patient and you’ll start to see results.
Have flexibility when training your dog. Be willing to vary or change a routine if it isn’t working. You may need to try different locations or times of day. You may need to adjust the duration of your training schedule if it is too long a session, or too short.
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.
Set goals for training your dog. Decide what time of day you will work with your dog and how long you will work. Decide exactly what you want to work on, and be consistent. Work on the same things, in the same way, at the same time every day until mastered. Once you have accomplished one goal, build on it by adding something new. Don’t skip around or be inconsistent. This is confusing for your dog.
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety and gets restless when you are about to leave the house, you should feed your dog right before you leave. This will keep your dog busy while you prepare and distract it from the stressful situation. This should make the separation much easier.
Generosity towards your dog goes a long way when you are trying to train your pet. Reward your pooch where rewarding is due and don’t be stingy with the doggie treats. You and your pet both deserve a reward for all your hard work and make sure to put enough time aside for your dog’s training.
Correct bad behavior immediately. The common mistake many people make in the care for their dog is allowing bad behavior to go unchecked until it becomes a problem. Proper training of a dog involves recognizing bad behavior right away and correcting it. It is harder to correct a problem once it has grown out of proportion.
Your dog will benefit from having a strong leader. Be confident in your ability to communicate with your dog! You two may speak different languages, but your physical gestures have more meaning than you think. Stand straight during training sessions and always make physical gestures clearly. Your dog will thank you for your clarity with great behavior!
Your house shouldn’t be like doggy prison. Your dog should have a wide variety of social interactions daily. This will ensure he’ll continue to blossom as a social animal, and he’ll be able to use up some of his energy meeting all these exciting new people and dogs. You’ll both benefit from the experience.
A great way to potty-train your puppy is to crate-train it. A dog won’t potty where it sleeps, so keep the puppy in his crate and let him out for a potty break at regular intervals and he will go. Eventually, your pup will learn that bathroom time is outdoor time. This type of training also prevents a lot of accidents.
Don’t send mixed signals to your dog when he misbehaves. If he thinks you are amused by his bad behavior, he is likely to repeat that behavior. Doing so will really set back your training sessions. It doesn’t matter just how cute your dog may be whenever he is misbehaving. You have to remain firm and correct his bad behaviors.
A barking dog can drive its owner as well as the neighbors crazy! A good way to train your dog not to bark is to offer him a reward to stop barking! When he barks, use a command such as “Quiet!” or “No bark!” and wave his favorite treat in front of his nose. Soon he will learn that dog treats are better than making noise!
Training your dog can be simple, effective and even fun, when you have the right advice on hand. After reading the above advice, you should feel a lot more confident about your own potential as a dog trainer.
