Dog training is an area that different people will be approaching very differently. Some people may be confident trainers, whose dogs appear regularly in shows, while others might be new pet owners, struggling with a dog that is showing the effects of his troubled past. However, there are some key ideas everyone can benefit from learning and trying out. You can use the following tips to learn a few things that may help both you and your dog to have more fun and to build a closer bond.
Never reward negative behavior. Many dog owners have difficulty training their pet. When a long training session has ended and there has been no progress, they might find themselves tempted to reward their dog anyway. Even if you love your dog dearly, never reward their bad or undesirable behavior.
You must enforce any command you give when training your dog. Giving a command that you are not confident in or not willing to follow through with diminishes your role as leader. Do not ask, beg or scream. Give firm commands in a dominant tone and expect the dog to give the appropriate behavior. Your dog will see you as a true leader when you follow through.
As you train your dog, it is important to remember that everything you do with your pet is an opportunity for them to learn. Without realizing it, you may be rewarding undesirable behaviors throughout the day. Keep in mind that whether you are actively training or not, your actions are still having a large impact on your dog’s behavior.
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.
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.
Puppy chewing is a natural and necessary behavior, but it can be redirected. A puppy’s chewing is one way that he explores the environment around him. Provide your puppy with clear leadership and a lot of human interaction and stimulation. Also, provide him with fun chew toys. This will help stop him from chewing on the things that he should not be chewing on.
When training your dog, use the dog’s name when you want their attention. This ensures that you will have good verbal control when you go outside your home, and good verbal control is absolutely vital to responsible pet ownership. Never call your dog to you in order to dish out punishment, as this will create a negative connection.
To keep your dog from barking, you need to stop rewarding this behavior by giving him what he wants. This means paying attention to your dog, letting him inside the house or comforting him. Your dog will associate your behavior with the barking and will think that you want him to bark.
When looking to hire a dog trainer, finding someone who uses positive training techniques can be very beneficial. Your dog will respond better to praises, treats, and encouragement than to physical or mental agitation. Negative training methods can be very ineffective and cause harm to the animal as well.
When deciding to train your dog, make sure that you have patience towards your pet. All dogs are unique and learn at different paces. To be effective in training your pooch, make sure you have the patience to see it through. Treat your dog with kindness even if he or she may try your patience.
A good dog training tip is to be consistent with the words you use when you communicate with your dog. English is a foreign language to dogs and they’re constantly trying to decipher what you’re saying. By being consistent with your words, your dog will be more likely to learn.
Praise your dog lavishly every time he or she comes closer to following commands. For instance, when first teaching the dog to come, praise for turning in the right direction. Then praise for a few steps toward you. Eventually, praise the dog enthusiastically for running straight to you at the first call. The dog associates obedience with the joy of pleasing you and shares in your excitement.
Only ask your dog to do something if you know you can follow through with the command. If you tell your dog to sit and he does not do it, you must impose a consequence. If you don’t, your pet will begin to view your instructions as something they can choose to do.
Only correct your puppy’s mistakes as you witness them. Dogs don’t understand anything that isn’t in the “here and now.” So trying to correct a puppy’s mistake after the fact will only have a negative effect.
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.
Whatever your skill level and the behavior of your dog, education is key to good dog training. Understanding dog psychology, particularly what influences and motivates dogs and the impact your behavior, body language and ‘body tells’ can have on that is vital. This article has given you some methods and suggestions for doing just that, which should be fun for both you and your dog to try.
