A dog can mean a companion waiting for you when you get home, a walking buddy, and a pal you can always play with. However, it can also mean torn-up shoes, incessant barking, and a general lack of obedience. Training your dog can alleviate these problems, but it sometimes feels like your dog just won’t learn. This article will provide some advice that will help make your dog a friend, not a foe.
When you are wanting to work on training you dog you should start of by making sure that he knows his name. At least 10 times a day use their name for things like playing, feeding and treats. Try not to use their name in a punishment so that way when something good happens they think of their name as a good thing, not bad.
The walk can be very hard to master, but with the right practice and patience, your dog will be walking right by your side in no time. Firstly, do not allow them to leave the door first. When you put his leash on, make him sit first or give you his paw. In short, some sort of obedience to get him in the spirit. Then, when you are actually outside, if he begins to walk in front of you, give the leash a quick tug to assert yourself as the one in charge.
Your home is your domain. Your dog must see the environment they live in as your territory. Stepping around a lying dog or not moving the animal from a place you intend to use gives him the right of way. This should not be allowed. Dominance in the pack means exercising your power in a non-confrontational way but with firm resolve that this is your territory.
You must be willing to invest the time required for practice if you want your training to be successful. It isn’t unusual to have to repeat a trick dozens of times before the dog understands. Just remember to keep trying and be patient. Eventually, your dog will learn.
While dog training with a leash, make sure that you are keeping the collar snug, yet a little bit loose. When the collar is too tight, it can actually make the dog want to pull you. A little slack can go a long way when you are dog training with a leash.
To teach your dog to mush, you should start by introducing him or her to common mushing terms before you have them pull weight. Start by taking your dog for a walk and saying “Gee” when turning right and “Haw” when turning left. Make sure to praise and reward your dog for turning with you in the right direction. Eventually, your dog will learn the commands and be able to move in the right direction without your physical guidance. Simple directions are essential for mushing dogs to know because it can prevent lead tangles and confusion when pulling an actual sled.
Use food as a reward when training your dog. Many dogs will respond on a basic level to edibles. The reward of food will usually encourage them to continue on a food winning path. Vary the types of treats you get for your dog. Alternate fresh meat with packaged treats.
End each training session positively. Even if your dog has not mastered the skill you are working on, end each training session with a skill they know and praise him profusely. This ensures that each training session ends on a positive note and is a positive memory for your dog.
Get in the habit of only giving your dog a direct command one time. It will seem easy to just repeat it over and over until he responds, but don’t do that. Instead, revisit the training until your dog understands that you expect him to react the first time you say something.
If your dog seems depressed or gets anxious when you are about to leave the house, your dog might suffer from separation anxiety. To help your dog go through the day, leave something that has your smell on it, such as an old piece of clothing. This could mean that your dog will not miss you so much.
Never punish your dog, or discipline him, after the fact. If you find that he urinated on the carpet earlier in the day, punishing him now won’t help. Dogs cannot reason and have very short term memories, so they will not associate the earlier accident with the punishment at hand.
When your dog is displaying unwanted behaviors, use water to spray him. Getting sprayed is a little unpleasant, and will give your dog the idea the the behavior is unacceptable. Eventually, they won’t do these behaviors anymore and your dog will be obedient and playful.
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.
A dog is man’s best friend, but many times it can feel as if it’s the greatest rival. Properly training a dog is a necessity for getting the dog you want. The tips here will hopefully make sure that your dog is indeed a good friend and not a rival. It may take a lot of work, but heeding the advice will get rid of the bad aspects of the dog, keeping only the good ones.
