You just got a new puppy and want to get started on training him, as young as possible. This is important to do early in your dog’s life, in order to shape his personality and responsiveness. In this article, we will provide the best tips and tricks for training your puppy quickly and successfully.
As you plan out your dog training sessions, focus on only teaching your pet one new skill at a time. Too many instructions and expectations can cause your dog to become confused and frustrated. You will achieve much better results if you work on one skill, achieve mastery and then move on.
Training sessions for your dog should be fun and stress-free. Your dog will learn better, and you will be able to teach better in a positive environment. Use your training session as a bonding time with your dog and have fun. This will help you and your dog have a life-long relationship.
When you are training your dog, make sure you are very patient. Different dog breeds learn at different rates. One dog can learn quickly while another dog will take a long time. If you are impatient you will stress your dog and he will be resistant to your best training efforts.
Keep your voice firm and level when delivering commands to your dog. Your voice tone lets your dog know that you are serious and that you expect their obedience. It also allows your dog to realize the differences in each command.
Only work on one command at a time. Focusing on one command allows your dog to really hone that skill and get it right. By trying to learn too much at once, you risk confusing your dog, and they may have more difficulty remembering which behavior goes with which command.
When your dog does not do what you want, tell him “No!” then redirect him. Be patient and calm. Your dog wants to please you, but sometimes dogs just don’t understand what is expected of them. Never hit or yell at your dog. If you yell and hit, your dog will just think you are out of control. You want your dog to trust you and respect you as the pack leader, so stay calm and consistent.
An easy way to stop a puppy from biting is to act hurt when he or she nibbles at you. By startling your puppy with a noise and leaving the room, your puppy begins to learn that biting has negative consequences in the form that you will stop playing with it.
Teach your dog to “drop it”. You never know when that command will come in handy. Be generous with praise and treats as you work with this command, and continue to practice it from time to time even after your dog has mastered it. A word to the dog sure beats having to wrestle unsavory objects out of a dog’s mouth.
Build your dog’s attention span by increasing challenges. If your dog knows a command well at home try it outside on a quiet sidewalk. If he succeeds at these tasks consistently bring him to a more noisy area like the park. This builds up his attention span and increases his likelihood of listening to you around chaos.
Set your dog up for success. If your dog faces situation-specific challenges like raiding the trash while you’re gone, come up with solutions to stop those problems before they even start. For the above example, a trash can with a lid and crating the dog upon leaving are both excellent ways to stop a problem before it begins!
Walking should be a time for you to work on your relationship with your dog. Your dog shouldn’t totally ignore you in lieu of squirrels, trees and other interesting things. Instead, keep him occupied with commands and rewards for great work. This will encourage heeling and attentiveness in your dog.
Your dog should be challenged regularly. Test the dog occasionally to check his memory, even though both of you know that he remembers his commands.
Older dogs aren’t the same as puppies. It will never be possible to train an older dog perfectly; each has its own peculiar quirks that you’d best learn to love! Remember that if you adopt an older dog, they may be very set in their ways. You’re likely to encounter some opposition, so it’s best to focus your training efforts on eliminating only the most problematic behaviors. The rest should be negotiable.
Use the same simple words in a low, firm tone of voice, every time you give your dog a command. Don’t shout or repeat the command multiple times. Say it once, firmly and then, assist the dog in complying if he doesn’t understand (e.g. press down firmly on the hindquarters while saying “sit,” if he doesn’t sit the first time you tell him).
The way to train a dog is to be consistent with your training. It is important to pick one style of training and stick with it. Consistency in the method of training is just one step. You must also consistently train your dog. Taking breaks in training confuses your dog and training will take longer.
Do not push your dog to eat things he does not love thinking it will train him to enjoy the food over time. The treat or dog food bag may say that all dogs love the food the bag contains, but the truth is that dogs are very selective about their food. Experimenting to find food and treats that your dog loves goes a long way toward your dog’s overall happiness.
In conclusion, training your puppy requires that you take a completely different approach than training an older dog. Luckily, you are starting off when it is easiest to do so. As long as you follow the tips provided, you should be able to train your dog successfully and form a great relationship between the two of you.
