A common pet among many people are dogs. Dogs make great household companions, as they are very lovable and playful. Dogs can be a great pet for anyone if they are trained properly. Use the advice in the following article if you need help training your dog.
Negative methods of training your dog don’t work. Just as with humans, positive reinforcement of behaviors is much more effective. Use praise, treats and play time to show your dog that you are pleased with their performance. If he cannot do what you are asking him, do not punish him or yell at him. He will associate trying to do the task with negativity and will avoid the task even harder the next time.
Puppies tend to nip as a way of communicating, and this should be curbed. It is normally a signal that they want to play. If you observe a puppy with his litter mates, this is the way that they interact with each other. When your puppy nips you, say ‘no’ firmly, and immediately give him a toy to play with.
When training your dog for specific commands, be sure to use the exact same wording during everyday life as you do during training sessions. If you select “down” for “lie down”, use “down” every time you want the dog to lie down. Changing up the terminology can confuse your dog and interfere with training.
Remember that sometimes patience is key, don’t become frustrated if your dog doesn’t catch on right away. It would be nice if every dog could understand your every command but you have to remember they can’t. Just try and be sure you are aware of your dog’s emotions and when they do follow your command reward them so they know what they did was right.
It is best to pick a phrase for potty training your dog, and use it consistently. Tell the dog a phrase, like “go potty!”, whenever you go outside to help your dog keep the goal of going outside in mind.
When you are training your dog, focus on what your dog does right during the training sessions, not what they do wrong. This will make training more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Enjoyable training sessions will ensure that your dog remembers what you taught and is ready to come back for more at the next session.
Start training your dog early. Many people believe that very young puppies are too young to learn. The reality is that even puppies as young as six weeks old are able to begin the basics of training, and starting early ensures that your puppy will have a strong foundation for more advanced training later.
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.
Rewarding bad behavior, even in desperation, must be avoided. The dog will only learn that it is the boss. In other words: no treats are to be given to barking dogs.
Teach your dog to “look” up to you, literally! Your dog should learn how to check in with you regularly, so he makes your direction a priority. Having him “look” at you randomly gets him comfortable with eye contact, heeling, and sticking close to your side. It’s an excellent way to establish a proper relationship!
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 needs to have a good recall. Your dog should learn to return to you when called, no matter what is going on. Foster this behavior gradually to help the dog learn that it must obey no matter what. You might just save your canine’s life some day because of recall, so never skip or pass on training this, regardless of what it takes to get it done.
Does your dog jump up on you? Simply turn your back to your dog for a few seconds when she jumps up. Most dogs will quickly learn that jumping up makes you ignore them, but when they have all four feet on the floor, then you pay attention to them.
Puppy proof your house to prevent cherished possessions from becoming your puppy’s favorite chew toy. Remove items, such as shoes, from the area where you keep your puppy. Many pet stores sell a bitter tasting spray that you can use to keep your puppy from chewing on electrical cords. Remember that most puppies will grow out of this stage.
An important rule of thumb in dog training is that people lead and dogs follow. Never let your dog lead you around while it is on its leash. Make short, sharp, well defined corrections with the dog’s lead to bring it back to heel. Your dog must learn that you are the one directing things, not the other way around.
Understand that training takes time. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking a dog is ‘untrainable’ when things don’t go according to plan immediately. Some dogs respond to commands sooner than others, and it is usually according to breed and age. If you have adopted an older dog, it may take a long time, as he will already be set in his ways. Remember to be patient, and understand that a dog always wants to please his owner in the long run.
In conclusion, dogs are a common pet for people. Dogs are playful, lovable, and make great companions. When properly trained, dogs are good pets for anyone. If you remember the advice from this article, then your dog will be properly trained and a lovable companion for you.
