When people first bring home their new puppy, they do not realize the importance of crate training. If you understand the proper way to crate train your dog, you will be be able to avert problem behaviors down the road. This article contains a number of helpful tips on crate training your new puppy that will keep both you and your pet happy for many years to come.
If you have gotten a dog or puppy and you have crate trained them you should always try not to keep them in there for more than four or five hours at a time unless it’s overnight or it’s just a once-in-awhile thing. If you have to have them in the crate for longer periods of time, a dog probably wasn’t the best option for you.
Your friends and family, in most cases, are not dog trainers. While those around you may have advice and opinions on how you should handle your dog’s training, it does not mean they are correct. This input may be well-meaning, however, you can ignore most of it if you have taken the time to do your homework.
Socialization skills are an important part of a well-rounded training program for any canine companion. Learning to get along with adults, children and other pets makes for a happy dog that is welcome in his surroundings. Socializing your dog is easy and can be incorporated into your daily activities. An evening dog walk, trip to the park or visit to the pet store can provide a great opportunity to expose your dog to short interactions with neighbors and their pets, while getting much needed exercise and bonding time with you.
Feed your dog consistent amounts at approximately the same time every day. This is particularly important during the house training phase of pet ownership. This allows the dog to establish a regular elimination pattern and the discerning owner can use that pattern to their advantage in speedily training their pet.
The best way to prevent your dog from barking excessively, is to make him more comfortable with whatever it is he barks at so frequently. Dogs bark at anything that scares of threatens them, so if you show your dog that the object of their fear is nothing to be afraid of, he’ll stop barking.
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.
To prevent your dog from chewing, you should apply a smelly substance on objects that your dog is not supposed to chew. Buy some chew toys for your dog: some dogs chew because they are going through teething, and some use chewing as a way of releasing stress caused by loneliness.
A great dog training tip is to be perceptive about what dog foods and treats your dog likes. Just like humans, not all dogs like the same foods. There are a lot of different dog treats. Try experimenting with different dog treats to see which ones your dog likes the most.
A good dog training tip is to start training your dog while it’s young. Younger dogs are more impressionable, and far more responsive to training than older dogs. Older dogs tend to be stubborn because they already have experience and behaviors that they’ve become used to for a while.
In many cases, a dog’s diet can be contributing to the behavior and health problems that he is having. Be sure that you are feeding your dog a balanced diet and he is going to thank you by adapting his behavior to be accepted, more important than that, he will be healthier for many more years.
Even if you think that you have taught your dog everything that he needs to learn, find something new to train him. Dogs will never stop learning and the more training you provide them, the more the dog will feel accomplished and happy. Training should be reinforced for their entire life.
Teach your dog to “look” up to you, literally! Your dog should learn how to check in with you regularly, so he makes your direction a priority. Having him “look” at you randomly gets him comfortable with eye contact, heeling, and sticking close to your side. It’s an excellent way to establish a proper relationship!
Dog training should be a fun and rewarding experience. Aim for a 10-15 minute training session, which is optimal for the dog’s attention span. Be generous when it is time to reward! Give your dog plenty of praise and this will make him happy. If you make training sessions enjoyable for your dog, he is going derive pleasure from listening to you, as well.
Working on your dog’s recall is essential. Your dog has to learn to come to you, regardless of the situation. Build this behavior in steps and your dog will obey you despite many distractions. This important lesson can save your dog some day.
When training your pooch, patience is a virtue. All dogs learn at their own pace, and getting frustrated with your pet often adds to the dog’s confusion. Avoid punishing your dog for misbehavior and offer rewards for good behavior instead. Dogs love treats, but you can also reinforce the desired behavior with love and affection.
As was stated in the beginning of this article, most people do not realize it is very important to crate train your puppy. If you know the right way to crate train your puppy, then it will make it much easier for your new dog to understand the rules of the house. Apply the advice from this article and you’ll be well on your way to having a properly trained puppy.
