Owning a dog can really enhance your life. However, dogs also require lots of hard work and dedication. You will have to do lots of training. The following advice will teach you how to train your dog and be consistent for ultimate success.
Timing is everything in canine training. While you want to devote a good amount of time to it, you do not want to go too far. Begin with a short session training and increase the time daily. Once your dog is distracted, it is time for a break.
Your dog will perform best on a healthy diet. There are many reasons why bad diets are bad news for your pet. Without proper nutrition, your dog’s general health will suffer and there may also be direct effects on behavior. By making small changes to your dog’s diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.
Monitor your own behavior to ensure you aren’t reinforcing your dog’s negative behaviors by mistake. Do not pay attention to your dog or pet it if he does something you are not happy about. You should not pet your dog when it jumps on you or acknowledge its barking.
As your dog progresses in training, you can provide more freedom. This balance between obedience and freedom will provide your dog with a very satisfying life. Just make sure your dog is properly trained before giving him so much slack.
Primary Reinforcement
When you are training your doggy friend, use what is known as primary reinforcement. Primary reinforcement makes use of something that is already inherent for a dog to love getting as a reward when they behave. Some examples of primary reinforcements are food and rubbing the dog’s belly. This helps them to make positive associations with the desired behaviors.
Your dog should learn he doesn’t need to respond when you say ‘no’. If you are training a pet, find a positive way to reward them. Using the word “no” will not help your dog learn that a behavior is unacceptable. Each dog has their own quirks.
Work on recall with your dog. Your dog must always return when called. Build this behavior in steps and your dog will obey you despite many distractions. Recall can be lifesaving, so make sure your dog learns this skill above all else.
Do not allow your dog to pull you around when on a walk. It is easy to appease this issue if it is becoming a problem. Go to the pet store in your town and get a harness so that you can walk with greater ease.
Whenever your dog follows a command correctly, give them a treat as a reward. Slowly reduce the number of treats as time progresses and watch as they continue to follow instructions.
If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldn’t be, stop him as soon as you catch him. Redirecting your puppy towards a chew toy teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. This can prevent further damage to your possessions.
It’s important that you are aware of any signals that your dog has to use the restroom. Most dogs do the same things when they need to urinate. Discovering the pattern can allow you to get the dog outside in a timely fashion, thus reinforcing desired behaviors. Familiarize yourself with the dog’s routines and habits to make the process easier.
Don’t let a dog drag you around. You are the one to be leading. You need to purchase a collar that is made for training your dog, and always get your dog to walk with you when you are out exercising. Keep in mind that you are the one who is the leader in the relationship.
After you have brought your new furry friend home, its time to begin training him. Be patient with your animal and make sure, above all, that you show your dog when he is doing the right thing. You cannot do it all in a few days, so give it time.