Training any dog of any age or breed can be frustrating if you don’t have the right strategies and techniques in mind. There is a true secret to dog training, and it is in the knowledge that you have and the understanding of the dog you are training. You need to know their behavior and the way they learn best. These tips can get you off to a great start.
When it is time to leash train your new dog or puppy, you must let him know that you are boss. Punishment does nothing but make him afraid of you and it doesn’t actually correct the behavior. One thing that you should do, is make a short leash so that he has to stay right by your side. Do not let him lead you. You are the leader, not him.
Any dog owner should consider their pet’s diet when looking to correct behavioral problems. As with humans, dogs are what they eat. If their diet is not nutritionally sound, internal and external problems can develop. Make sure your dog is eating his best, and improved behavior will often follow.
Dog training requires generous rewards that are given correctly. Treats are great to give your dog when he does something good, but timing is very important when doing so. By giving treats at the proper time, you’ll ensure that your dog understands which behavior it’s being rewarded for.
When giving commands to your dog, never come down to their level. Maintaining eye contact and a fully erect, dominant stance imparts control to the dog. Your dog will be receptive to commands given from this posture much easier than a crouching owner who is seen as an equal or playmate.
Make sure the diet you are feeding your dog is healthy and nutritious. If your dog isn’t getting what he needs from his diet, he will have a hard time concentrating during training. It not only makes your dog unhealthy but can make him misbehave as well. Simply improving their diet may have a bigger impact on how they respond to training.
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.
Don’t force your dog to go into his crate. Instead, profusely praise him when he enters his crate on his own. Young puppies, in particular, might be somewhat afraid of the crate when it is first introduced. If you force them to enter it their fear might turn into terror. Their natural curiosity will eventually override their fear.
Do not tie a dog up near another dog, or dogs. The two chains could get tangled up. This could panic you dogs as he tries to get free and he could potentially hurt himself. In the worst case, a large dog might be able to strangle or crush a smaller one, entirely by accident, while trying to free itself.
Don’t feed your dog food they aren’t accustomed to when house training them. Very rich foods, in particular, make it hard for a dog to control their bowels. Stick to the tried and true in terms of types of food and the quantity you feed and the house breaking experience will proceed much more smoothly.
If you are trying to train a dog that seems unresponsive and even aggressive, check to see that the dog’s basic needs have been met. A dog that doesn’t get enough attention, for example, will be grumpy and not respond well to training. And of course a hungry dog will be unlikely to respond as well.
Any dog you adopt should go through at least a basic obedience class with a professional. The skills you can learn from a professional course will more than outweigh the cost of the course. Also, a course gives you and your dog a chance to socialize with other dogs and their owners.
If you have a dog that is driving you crazy with barking, the first step in stopping the barking is to determine the cause. For example, a territorial bark at 2 PM every day, might be related to the mailman’s arrival. If you know the cause of the barking, you can intercept it and help deal with the problem.
Be mindful of exactly what behavior you are reinforcing, so stand your ground and don’t give into your pet’s persistence. A dog will generally repeat whatever action has previously earned him a reward. Thus, if you give a dog food so that it will stop begging at the table one night, you’re only making the dog more inclined to beg for food again, the next night.
Underestimating the necessity of good exercise will cramp your dogs training style. Naturally, all dogs need to run, chase and play just to release energy so if they do not get enough exercise outside of training they are very likely to be distracted or over excited and cause the session to be frustrating for everyone.
If you want to get started in dog training, you have to start with a great deal of information so you can best understand what your dog is going to respond to. All dogs are different, and all can be a bit difficult to train if you aren’t using the right tips, such as these found in this article.
