Learning about dog training can be very overwhelming, but just like anything else, it can also be very easily researched, taught, and applied. Now that you have found this list of tips, hopefully, you can become more knowledgeable when it comes to dog training, so that you can refine your methods and have a well-behaved dog.
If you want to have a well behaved dog, make sure that you are filling their most basic needs. They need to have water, food, shelter and love. These are essential to a happy and healthy pet, and only then will they want to or have the energy to let you tell them what to do.
Dog training should be viewed as a form of self control. If you’re not able to control yourself, you’ll never control your dog. Walk away from your dog, rather than letting him see an angry outburst, and remain calm even when his behavior is not stellar. Your dog will respond in a positive light if he watches you do the same.
Show your dog that you love them and are proud of them. It’s easy in dog training to focus on the negative and try to show your dog that what they are doing is wrong. Make sure that you also work to accentuate the positive and praise them when they are doing well.
Make sure to get everyone involved in training. If you are the only member of the family working with Fido’s behavior, then the other members of the family are giving him mixed signals. Consistency is extremely important in dog training. Also make sure that everyone is using the same key words and rewards so that the behavior will be reinforced correctly. Off and down are two different things to a dog, so make sure you aren’t confusing him.
A very important command that any dog should know is ‘stay’. Not only can this command stop him from doing something dangerous like running into the street, it can calm him down in a strange place. Firstly, tell him to ‘sit’. Hold him in the sitting position, repeating the word ‘stay’. Praise him with a treat, all the time ensuring that he stays seated.
Take everything that your friends and family members say about your training program with a grain of salt. Everyone will have their own opinions about how you should help your pet learn to follow directions. Ignore most of it and do what you know is best for you and your pet.
Make sure you and your family are consistent with your commands. If one person uses “down” to tell the dog to get off the couch while another says “off” and a third is letting him lay there, the dog is going to get mixed signals. It makes it much more difficult for him to learn the commands.
If your dog tends to chew on your shoes or other household items, you can stop this behavior by giving the dog a yummy substitute, such as a raw hide bone, to chew. The dog will likely abandon your shoes in favor of the raw hide, as the only reason he or she is chewing your shoes is that he or she is bored and needs something to do.
Being a proactive pet owner is the first step in training your pooch. An owner who anticipates troublesome situations for their dog, and works to keep him away from those situations whenever possible, will have a better behaved animal. Extensive training will not be as necessary if you get to know your dog so you can anticipate his actions.
Allowing your new dog gradual access to all areas of your home will greatly aid you in training and will spare damage to couches, shoes and floors. As your dog learns not to do things like jump, scratch, and chew, open more doors to him. Many make the mistake of allowing full reign of all rooms, which really just offers the dog more opportunity to do the wrong thing.
Keep some of your dog’s favorite treats with you when you are training him to obey a new command. Dogs thrive on positive reinforcement. When you have his treat on hand, you can reward him as soon as he successfully obeys this new command. Before long, he will be able to respond to this command efficiently.
Correct bad behavior immediately. The common mistake many people make in the care for their dog is allowing bad behavior to go unchecked until it becomes a problem. Proper training of a dog involves recognizing bad behavior right away and correcting it. It is harder to correct a problem once it has grown out of proportion.
To relieve separation anxiety in your dog, give him plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a happy dog. Slip in and out of the house without making a big deal out of it. Sometimes saying goodbye to your pet increases his anxiety. If you notice that your pet has associated something like picking up keys with leaving, then start doing the action several times a day to quell negative feelings.
Be consistent. Set a schedule for your puppy. Take him out to the bathroom on regular occasions, and feed and walk him at the same time every day. Dogs thrive on consistency, and this way they are much easier to train. Always remember to offer praise when he follows the rules, and correct any mistakes that he makes.
See, it wasn’t that bad. Like any other subject, dog training is vast and has a wealth of information available on it. Sometimes you just need a little hint as to where to begin, so that you can start training your furry friend. Hopefully, you have received that information from these tips.
