Training a dog can be overwhelming to those who are new at it. There are many different ideas and theories out there, and the sheer amount of information can be overwhelming. Use the following tips to train your dog.
All dogs need daily exercise and it can be an important part of your training efforts. Daily exercise shows your dog that he is a member of the family, as well as letting him know you are a strong leader. Exercise encourages his confidence and provides you with wonderful bonding opportunities.
Dogs are creatures of habit. If you customarily take them out for their walk at the same time every night, they will grow to expect that walk, even to depend on it. Missing the scheduled date by even just a few minutes can result in an accident for the younger dog and even for the older one.
Your body language is an important tool that will help you as you begin training your dog. Even more than words, the way you act tells your dog a lot about what you want. Stop talking as much and start showing your animal what behaviors are important to you.
Housebreaking a dog takes time. The key is to be consistent when teaching him where it’s not acceptable for him to relieve himself and consistent in the message that you send as to where you expect him to go. This may be on a pad inside the house, on a lead when you take him outside or running free in a fenced yard.
When training your dog, be sure to enforce every command you give. This helps your dog understand that they must listen to you when you give a command. If your dog learns to think that he can can ignore you when you give a command, it can be very difficult to correct this.
Reinforce desirable behavior from your dog. Don’t just rely on treats though. You can reinforce these behaviors through positive attention as well. Petting your dog and talking to him in cheerful tones can be a good incentive too. So can a new squeaky toy or a trip to the park.
Make sure you’re not reinforcing an undesirable behavior. You don’t want to give your dog treats or special attention during training if they’re not performing the task properly. If you do, then they’ll think you’re pleased and continue to do things the way they’re doing them, and they won’t improve.
Physical punishment does not work, and can hinder training. Never ever hit your dog, especially when training. While it may appear to work because the dog stops the behavior, in reality they have only learned to fear you and not do that behavior in your presence. So toss out that rolled up newspaper and break out some tasty treats instead.
Dogs are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend,” but when they are unruly and untrained they can be a nightmare. The old adage that one cannot teach old dogs new tricks is false, but it is definitely easier to train a puppy. Dogs are ultimately pack animals and it is important for a dog owner to be the leader of that pack.
Well trained dogs are happy dogs and dogs that are trained make for happy dog owners. It is a win-win situation. Training your dog takes time, but it starts with house-training and moves onto learning how to walk on a leash. Simple commands such as heel, sit and return are important for any dog’s safety. Dog owners can find pet trainers via their local big box pet store or the veterinarian, but it will take a lot of work from the owner regardless. A dog that is well trained makes a happier pet and really happy pet owner.
To teach your dog anything, you need to be consistent. This means you should give the same order every time, and reward or punish your dog in a similar way, all the time. This will help your dog assimilate certain concepts much faster than if you were using a more complex and diverse way of communicating.
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.
Be consistent when you’re training your dog. Your dog doesn’t understand what your praises mean. Pick one form of praise to use such as: “Good Girl” or “Well Done” and use the same phrase every single time. This will teach your dog that you are praising him or her, and when your dog hears the chosen phrase, he or she will understand it is a compliment.
A great dog training tip is to make sure your dog gets a little bit of exercise every day. Exercise is not only good for your dog’s health, it also keeps them social with other people and other dogs. Taking your dog for a daily walk is key for socialization.
Find out what motivates your dog as a training reward, and save it for training sessions to get maximum results. Some dogs love a chance to chew on a special squeaky toy or ball, while others adore a certain brand of treats or tiny chunks of fresh baked chicken. It never hurts if the dog is a little hungry so the treats seem even tastier.
It is hoped that you have found some guidance from these suggestions. These suggestions can help you train your dog, and help you love him or her more.
