In some ways a dog is similar to a remote that needs programming to work with your television. The potential is there, but it’s your job to suss it out. Practically any dog is capable of learning new things, but only if the owner is willing to put forth some effort in teaching these tricks.
Spoken directions should be made using a simple, concise and forceful tone. Yelling and screaming at your dog is counterproductive. Be firm and get them to do your bidding. You should also be certain that your voice is loud enough to get their attention, but also conveys seriousness.
A main focus of training is timing your sessions appropriately. You should not over do it, train in small time increments. This will give you a good idea of when to put more effort into your training session.
You will have to repeat commands several times before your dog learns it. It may take 25-50 tries before your dog understands a command consistently and thoroughly. Using the exact same command and remain patient with them so that they can get it.
Make sure you aren’t enforcing bad behavior without meaning to. You should avoid using strips of food or attention to train when you are trying to discourage behaviors. For instance, if your dog does not sit when commanded, do not rub his head affectionately unless he actually sits.
Before you begin training your dog, you need to establish yourself as the alpha. Put yourself in an authoritative position, so that your dog knows to obey you. In practice, this means that you should walk ahead when walking your dog, for instance, rather than allowing him or her to take the lead.
Do not ever use a shock collar to train your dog. Often times, they do not work and are over priced. Plus, using devices like shock collars can stifle your dog and discourage even good behavior. The negative training causes negative outcomes.
Keep your voice firm and level when delivering commands to your dog. This helps your dog to understand when you are in training mode. It is important that your dog be able to distinguish between a command and a reprimand.
You must teach your dog how to walk correctly when the leash is attached. This will help to keep both of you safe while taking walks.
Pay attention to your tone when you are disciplining your dog. Dogs tend to be well in tune with how their trainers are feeling. A disciplinary command is best delivered in a stern tone.
Watch the number of treats you give your dog during the day to avoid making your dog overweight. Treats don’t spring to mind when thinking about a pet’s diet, but they have an impact – one that is magnified during the reward-heavy training process.
When training, only use short sessions. Training sessions should be no longer than fifteen minutes at a time to help ensure success. End each session by praising your dog.
It is critical that you teach your dog the difference between correct and incorrect behaviors. Doing this involves setting firm boundaries for acceptable behavior which all family members are willing to enforce. This will undo all your training!
Your dog can, and should, find the training experience to be a positive one. Keep training sessions to more than 10 to 15 minutes to stay within your dogs’ attention span. Give plenty of rewards. When your dog does a good job, shower him with praise. If you make training fun, he will enjoy listening, too.
Although it can be very difficult at times, patience should always be used with your dog. Keep in mind that your dog doesn’t know English like we do. Furthermore, it’s not a human being. They just pick up on body language and tone without understanding why you might be acting that way. Stay calm and take breaks during training to ensure it stays positive.
Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. If you give the dog a chew toy and put him in the safety of a dog crate, he can occupy himself while you’re not at the house.
Dog agility is not suited for all breeds, so research a bit beforehand. Some breeds are just naturally more agile than others.
Consistency is key when training a dog. Consistency must apply in terms of your commands, your tone of voice and the different rewards you offer for good behavior.
If you are in the initial stages of training your pet, never take it for granted that he will not act out aggressively. If your dog is not trained, they might think they are the Alpha. Knowing the alpha behaviors you must demonstrate to the dog is a good way to signal your leadership status. Dogs that don’t understand human behavior can bite even if not provoked.
Whenever you train your dog to play fetch, make sure you show them that you are in charge by having him bring you the ball. Suppose the animal simply picks up the ball and then drops it into the grass. If you take the initiative to walk to the ball and retrieve it, you will appear subservient. By making it clear that you expect your dog to return the ball, you are showing that you are the natural leader and that you have clear expectations for him.
Once you’ve figured out how this is done, then it is only a matter of time in which you will be able to teach your dog these tricks. As much as the owner will be pleased with what the dog has learned, the dog will also be happy.