Your dog will have a happier life if you put it through canine training, and you will be happier too. If your dog is trained well, then you should both know what is to be expected of the other. After training your dog, you will feel more comfortable when you have visitors, take him out for walks, or leave him alone at home. Training isn’t always easy, but it is well worth the effort. Follow these ideas to help get you started.
Crates should feel like a safe place to puppies. So, you should never use them as a way to discipline your dog. Dogs may need to be familiarized with the crate to feel comfortable and secure in it. There are many tricks that you can try to make it easier for both of you. If the dog doesn’t want to get in the crate try putting a chew toy in it and close the gate when they’re not there. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. Upon entering the crate, praise your puppy to make sure it knows it did a good job.
Select an appropriately sized crate to foster solid crate training results. Puppies will grow up quite quickly. Choose a crate that your puppy can grow in, but won’t grow out of. There should be enough space to move around without feeling cramped.
Your dog must respect you in order for training to work. Your dog must understand that you’re in control, so that he knows to obey and respect you. When walking with your dog, always walk first, never let your dog lead, as this is the leadership position.
As you train your dog, be sure to create verbal cues to make your pet know that he is doing what you want it to do. Words like “yes” could be an effective way of communicating to your dog that he has done something you are pleased about.
If you want your do to be house trained, you must make sure that he follows a regular elimination and feeding schedule. Once you’ve established a schedule, it will be easier to predict when your dog needs to go to the bathroom. This helps your puppy learn to “hold it” for a bit, until he knows it’s time to go out and will help save you money on carpet cleaning.
Above all, the goal of a training program is to set well-defined expectations for your pet. Your relationship with other people is strengthened by shared respect and mutual understanding; a relationship with your pet is no different. Always reinforce everything you have taught your dog. Keep his knowledge sharp and stay on top of any deviations in his behavior. Once your dog is trained properly, your dog can do so much more.