Training your dog well will lead to happiness for the both of you. A well-trained dog means that you both know what to expect from each other. You will not have to worry about leaving him home along or taking him to public places. Although it may not be easy, the time you devote to teaching your dog manners, tricks, and the proper way to do things will be well spent.
If you want a well-trained dog, you must be willing to offer generous and appropriate rewards. Knowing when to give him a treat, and how much, is paramount. Make sure to give your dog the treats at the proper time, to encourage good behavior.
Dogs have a short attention span and you will have to attract his attention. If you get your dog to focus on you, it will help his behavior.
Consistency is key in crate training a puppy. If you remove the pup from the crate, see to it that he has the means to go potty. As he gets older, he will gain greater control of his bodily functions, making it easier to control himself.
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 example, don’t rub your dog’s head when they jump up at you and when you come in the door if you don’t want them to jump.
Every time you speak a command, it should be with the same tone and loudness level. Your voice tone lets your dog know that you are serious and that you expect their obedience. Doing this also ensures that your dog will know the difference between your “you’re in trouble” voice and your “do as I say” voice.
Most of all, training a dog lays out the dog/owner relationship rules. You enjoy each other much more once those guidelines are outlined. Remember that reinforcement is important if you want your dog to retain his new skills. Keep his memory crisp, and do not let any deviations from acceptable behavior slide through. As soon as your dog gets used to training, there’s no end to what you can accomplish.
