An effective training program translates to a happy pet and an equally happy pet owner. An obedient dog will be easier to live with and you will know what can be expected. Training your dog makes life less stressful as you will be able to leave him alone and know he will behave well with visitors or in public. Training isn’t always easy, but it is well worth the effort. Follow these ideas to help get you started.
When your dog behaves well in a training session, reward him in a calm manner. You and the dog should both remain calm. If you are overly excited, the dog will become that way too. Act calmly, expect calmness, and then appropriately reward the dog.
Be consistent with your training your dog to make sure your animal stays obedient to the rules it has been learning. Some dog owners make the mistake of thinking that once training has ended, no further action is required. However, pets are creatures of habit. You must remain strict with your dog.
Give your dog a regular elimination and feeding schedule, so you can house train them. This can train your dog to whine or come get you when he feels the urge, so you can let him out and prevent him from doing his business inside. A regular schedule will also give your dog a chance to learn how to exercise self-control, as he will know that a trip outside is eminent.
Try to get your dog’s attention when you are training him or her. Start all commands with the dog’s name. Get is attention by using its name and make it follow what you want it to do. Dogs will respond instantly when their name is called if they know they are going to be rewarded.
When you are in the initial stages of training your puppy, teach him his name first to help create a bond. Call him by name frequently, and teach him to come when called. These should be the primary words your dog needs to learn. It’s important to spend a lot of time playing with your puppy, this will help your puppy get to know you and learn to trust you. This will make him more receptive in receiving advanced training in the future.
You do not want to over-stress your new pup by trying to teach him too much too quickly. A puppy’s attention span is short and it has a limited amount of energy, so sessions should remain short and positive. When you put too much training on the animal at one time, it can stress the animal and work against what you are trying to accomplish. So keep it short, intense, and create a great bonding and training routine for your new puppy.
In order to encourage good behavior during training, praise is critical. Acting super excited can help your dog to understand that you are happy with their behavior. Negative behavior should never be rewarded because then, your dog will associate this bad thing with a positive reward, which will cause your dog to only continue this bad thing.
A good training trick is to know the grooming needs that your dog needs. Dogs coats vary from very short to coats that have to be regularly groomed. Grooming accomplishes many things for your dog, including happiness, cleanliness and protection from diseases.
Bringing dogs on a trip means bringing all their supplies, too. You should take their bed, bowls, and things to clean up after them. Do not worry about taking a bag of their dog food with you; it is much easier to pick some up when you get to your destination.
It is important that your dog return to you on command. The dog needs to come back to you whenever it is called, regardless of the situation. Work on this skill daily. It could even save his life, so make sure it is ingrained in his mind!
Dogs will always be dogs, so expect his wild side to emerge if you do not give him proper care. Dogs need a healthy diet, a place where they can run, and items to keep them occupied.
Before you correct your dog for barking, find out why he/she is barking in the first place. You can address the behavior better once you realize what the triggers are. Your dog might be barking at other dogs or people when they come to the door.
Understand limitations of older dogs. When you adopt a dog who is already an adult, you won’t be able to train them as fully as a puppy. Also, an older dog may be set in their own routine. Although you may be able to teach it some new things, sometimes the best thing to do is focus on the negatives that you want to modify and live with the rest.
Most of all, canine training is about establishing the rules of the relationship, and, just as with a person, you will enjoy each other so much more now that these rules have been established. The most important thing is to use positive reinforcement to remind your dog what he has learned. Constantly review what you have taught him and correct any issues. Once your dog has the basics of training under his belt, there is no limit to what the two of you can achieve.