Teaching a puppy can be trying. However, puppy training is important not only for your pet’s safety, but for other people’s safety as well as your property’s safety. It is important that you use only positive training methods. It is imperative that you are very patient and practice consistency. Make the time to train your dog each day. About a half hour each day is the ideal amount of time. Longer than that causes boredom.
When you correct your dog verbally, those corrections should be short and focused on the behavior. Avoid going on a rant about the dog’s “badness”. Just say “no” and show them what to do instead. It is also important to have good volume to your commands so that your dog understands that you are serious.
A main focus of training is timing your sessions appropriately. Start small and build up a bit daily. Know when your dog does not pay attention when you are training it.
When you are trying to house train your puppy, keep in mind that everything that you put in, will come out. To ensure that your dog’s bowel movements remain regular, feed him or her some high-quality food a minimum of twice per day during the same times daily. If you know when the puppy eats, you will be able to better predict when to take him out. This means fewer accidents!
The first thing your dog must learn is who the boss is. It is important for your dog to know that you are the one who is in control, so that he respects and obeys you. For example, when you walk your dog you must be in front and you should insist your dog follows behind you.
Maintain consistent volume and voice tone over time when giving your dog commands. Maintaining the same tone lets your dog know that you are serious and they should obey your commands. In time, your dog will understand what you want regardless of which words you use.
If your dog wants to jump you should squeeze their paws when they do so, they will know that they shouldn’t do that. Although it may be uncomfortable, it does not hurt them when done lightly. They should learn to stop jumping because they don’t like the reaction they get.
Teach your dog that no response is required when you say ‘no’. Use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. When you tell your dog “no” during training, he has no idea what you want him to do instead of the behavior you reprimand. Not only is each situation different, every breed of dog is also different. Therefore, you should adjust your training based off your dog’s breed and the specific situation at hand.
Be consistent when training your dog. When many members of a family are working to train a dog, be certain that each person uses identical commands, rewards and discipline. Your dog will be more willing to be trained if he knows what to expect.
If you want to keep your dog trim and healthy, keep an eye on how many reward snacks you give him while training him. Many people don’t take these into account with their diet, but they can add up during active training.
To keep dogs from scratching at doors or jumping on people and furniture, try spraying them with a water-filled spray bottle. Your dog will quickly learn that bad behaviors cause bad outcomes. As your dog learns the behavior is unwanted, he will begin to avoid doing the bad behavior.
Dog’s must learn “down.” You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills. The down command can have a dog drop down at any given second, which is great for safety reasons.
Be certain you are giving the right signals when your dog exhibits unacceptable behavior. Laughing at bad behavior, even if it is funny, will encourage your dog to repeat it. Sending these mixed signals will undo some of the time that you have already invested in training, making things even harder on you. You must stay consistent, no matter how cute the misbehavior is.
When you begin training a dog, never assume they will not bite you just because you are a human and you think you are the leader. When a dog thinks he is the boss, you could be trouble. Knowing the alpha behaviors you must demonstrate to the dog is a good way to signal your leadership status. Keep in mind that even the nicest dogs can bite if they become startled or feel threatened.
Some tricks may be beyond the capability of an older pet. Always consult your veterinarian before beginning a new training program. A dog with arthritis won’t be able to stand for very long, for example. You can make your dog’s cognitive functions better with training, which helps fight age related decline in older canines. But you want to be sure that the dog does not experience discomfort or pain.
You should not take your problems out on your pet. Keep your interactions with your dog positive, especially if the dog has done nothing wrong.
A dog with separation anxiety should have ties to other people. This will help it be less focused on the fact that you are not home.
Focus on the things your dog is telling you in order to know what things that he doesn’t want. When a dog expresses discomfort around strangers, do not force the issue. Your dog is letting you know that he is uncomfortable for good reason, and it is important to honor that. If you take them around new people and they do not like it, they may bite them or growl.
If you utilize the advice provided above, you are certain to succeed in puppy training. Consequently, your home, property, your pet and other people are safer. Combined with patience and diligence, the advice presented in this article can go a long way in training your pet successfully for life.