Dogs are trained for all sorts of reasons. Dogs can be trained to be hunters, helpers, or just pleasant pets. Dogs are usually very eager to please their masters. This is one of the reasons that they are such great pets. Help your dog reach its full potential by applying the following training advice.
When you are going to be training your dog, it is important that you limit the length of the training sessions. Begin with a training session that lasts a few minutes, and do it for a bit longer every day. Know when your dog does not pay attention when you are training it.
Dogs can concentrate on one thing intensely and you will have to learn to break his attention. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.
You must begin your relationship with the dog as the boss for any training to be effective. Your dog will neither obey nor respect you if he believes he is the leader of your household. Your dog should not walk ahead of you, because that indicates a position of leadership.
Give your dog a word that tells them they’re doing the right thing. The word “yes” may serve as a good gap-filler in between the dog’s good behavior and the giving of the reward.
When giving commands to your body, your tone and volume level should remain the same. The dog will know you’re telling them what to do that way. The dog will also know the difference when you give them discipline as opposed to a command.
Begin your dog training session with something that your dog will be able to learn easily. This will be great for immediate gratification, and your dog will begin to understand what you expect along the way. This will give you positive results from the onset.
Dogs need to be taught the right habits as soon as they are brought to your home. Trying to change bad behaviors after the fact is far more difficult than teaching them the good ones right away. If you do not want your pet to beg for food, you should never encourage it by feeding it table scraps.
Be aware of the other dogs when taking yours for a walk. Sometimes, other dogs can get aggressive, as you want to keep your dog out of harms way. If you happen upon an aggressive dog, walk away from the aggressive dog.
Try to keep your leash loose when you take your dog outside to train. When they’re on a walk, they are anxious to check things out. This makes them excited and want to pull on the leash. Some owners do not encourage this behavior and instead, allow some slack on the leash.
As part of good training, you should learn if your dog’s breed requires special grooming. Some breeds of dogs need little or no grooming, whereas other breeds need meticulous grooming weekly. Grooming keeps your dog happy and clean, and greatly reduces the risk of disease.
Destructive chewing is often a result of anxiety. 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.
If your puppy is caught chewing on something unacceptable, stop him immediately. Since this action teaches him what he can and cannot chew on, it will help prevent him from chewing on your things when you are distracted or just not around.
Never let your dog drag you. You are the one in charge. Therefore, make sure you use a short leash and a solid training collar. Always walk ahead and pass through gates first so that you stay in control. Do not forget you are the master.
Crib Mattress
Make sure that your dog has enough sleeping space, especially when the dog is a big one that likes to sprawl. You can find an extra large bed for large dogs at any pet store. An interesting alternative could be a crib mattress. A crib mattress is also an easy to care for alternative to a dog bed because the sheets can be changed regularly with little fuss. They’re waterproof, too!
Sometimes dogs do bite, regardless of who you are. Dogs that aren’t trained may regard you as part of the pack that they lead. Demonstrating the proper behavior will show your dog who is the leader. Keep in mind that even the nicest dogs can bite if they become startled or feel threatened.
A fight with your boyfriend or the cat dragging in a dead mouse, should not result in a stern, cold voice with your dog. Remember this: if your puppy has not mis-behaved immediately beforehand, every interaction you have with him should be a positive one.
Dogs are trained for a variety of reasons. Since dogs are eager to please, most breeds are easy to train. By now you should have some great ideas to make training your dog an easy and rewarding experience.
