Having a dog can bring great joy into your life, especially if the dog is properly trained. There are many techniques that you can employ to train your animal into being a fantastic companion. Whether you simply want the dog to stay off of the furniture or learn tricks, good training is something you can start today. Here’s how to get started.
Reward your dog’s good behavior. You and the dog should both remain calm. You might be thrilled with that accomplishment, when you are excited, they becomes excited and that cuts down the control in the situation. Stay calm, require calm from the dog, and give the reward.
It is important to take a leadership role while training your dog. This does not mean that you need to try and force your animal to bend to your will. Acting as a teacher and showing him what you want him to do by rewarding his actions will help your dog succeed.
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.
When giving commands to your dog, do not repeat the command over and over before getting a response. By giving the command one time and waiting for the dog to respond, you will teach him that you are expectant of a behavior. If the command is not obeyed at first, show your pet what you expect before saying the command again.
Create a bridge between the dog’s response to a command and the reward for success. By saying a bridge word such as “yes” or “good”, you will reinforce that the behavior is acceptable and the reward will follow. Keep using this bridge word even after training is complete to be consistent with your pet.
Give your puppy something to chew on. Having specific items for this purpose will help to train them not to chew on everything. This will reinforce good behavior.
Throwing out your dog’s food bowl can assist you with your training program. Studies have shown that animals respond well to working for their meals. Incorporate food as a reward in your training and also, use it for entertainment purposes. You can do this by putting the food in a toy or a puzzle.
When doing early leash training, select a nylon leash about six feet longer. A leash made of leather or other heavy material will drag on the dog’s collar even when you aren’t attempting to give a reinforcement, and can be extremely distracting for the dog. Once your dog is fully leash trained, however, leather leashes may look better and last longer than nylon ones.
A great way for your dog to learn new skills (or brush up on some old ones) is to attend classes at your local dog training center. If you are not sure of where to take him, your friends or veterinarian may be able to help you find a place that best suits your needs.
Continue training your dog using the same techniques over time. If more than one member of your family is training your dog, be sure all people use the same commands, rewards and discipline. When a dog only associates one word with each action, it is easier on him.
When training a dog it is very useful for the dog’s owner to do some research into training. By learning how to train a dog the proper way one will make their job much easier. It can be done the most effective way and be the easiest for both the owner and dog to adjust too.
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.
Stay calm. Your dog gets his cues from you, and when you start acting agitated and upset, his actions will be sure to follow. Dogs can sense when you are uncomfortable. If you act calm and in control, you convey a disposition to your dog that allows him to relax as well.
Reinforce positive behaviors as you train your pet. You do not necessarily need to punish the dog for errors, but you should not reinforce problematic behaviors. If you yell and scream, your dog may become very frightened of you. Positive reinforcement is the best way to go and gain the trust of your dog.
As soon as your dog is bad, discourage the behavior right away. Start by saying “No” in an authoritative voice. Do not yell or strike your dog with your hand or some other object. Discourage poor behavior immediately. Dogs have very short memories. If you respond too long after, your dog will not make an association.
If certain things trigger bad behavior in your dog, keep him occupied whenever you pass something that will tempt him to misbehave. Keep your dog busy if you come across other dogs while on a walk. Doing so helps to build up a strong relationship between the two of you.
As you can see, there are many methods of training available to you, to make your dog the best canine he/she can be. Try any or all of these techniques to begin teaching your pet how to behave properly in your home. An educated animal will be a incredible friend for years to come.
