Are you inexperienced in training your dog? If so, you may not know the best approaches to take to make your training sessions the most productive. Training a dog is not that hard once you learn a few pointers. These are a few tips for starting out.
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 they are hesitant about the crate, you can put a nice chew bone inside and shut the gate while they are not in it. Your dog will want to get into the crate in order to eat the treat. When he finally goes into the crate to retrieve the toy, shower the dog with praise.
It takes small steps to crate train your puppy; they must become accustomed to it. When your dog appears to be at ease while inside the crate with the door ajar, you can help him adjust to the crate even further by slowly latching the door and rewarding him with treats fed to him through the spaces between the wires. At first, leave the dog enclosed in the crate for only short periods of time, such as 10 seconds, and then gradually increase the duration. If the dog doesn’t like it, slow the process.
In dog training, use the same volume and tone of voice when you state a command. This lets the dog know you are serious. They will also know when you are being positive.
When training your dog, use discretion and regard for your dog’s attention span. Spending too long on training exercises will start to bore the dog. Limit the amount of time you train at first to less than 10 minutes.
Your dog requires at least one hour of exercise every day. Being sure they have enough exercise time can ease training efforts and encourage proper behavior from them. An exercised dog leads to having a responsive and happy dog.
When implementing discipline with your dog, monitor your tone of voice. Dogs are very good at responding to perceived emotions of their trainers. Use a stern voice when you are correcting your dog.
You need to know if there are other dogs around when you are out walking your dog. Some dogs tend to be aggressive, and it’s not safe to assume that every dog owner is responsible. Try to keep your dog distant from any dogs that seem aggressive or antisocial.
One bit of advice to remember when you are training your pet is to make an effort to socialize it early on and often. Your dog has to learn how to behave around other animals and people. The best way to develop good behavior in these situations is to put your dog in the environment as much as possible. Being familiar with all the types of beings it might encounter will help your dog exhibit consistent, confident behavior.
A good training tip is to be aware of the special grooming needs of your dog’s breed. Certain breeds require minimal upkeep, whereas other breeds need lots of grooming attention week in and week out. A groomed dog is happier, cleaner, and healthier.
Teach your dog the “down” command. This command can be used in an emergency, or used as the basis for teaching other behaviors. Dogs trained in the “down” command will get to the ground within a moment of the command in tense situations, making this command a great safety tool.
If you are using your dog’s name to scold him, make sure to repeat it again soon after in a warm and affectionate manner. Your pet needs to understand that his name can represent something good. He should not be afraid to come to you when he is called.
Know your dog’s body language to know when they have go out. Many dogs show signs before they go to the bathroom. By understanding these signs, you will be able to bring your dog outside right away. Stay tuned in to your dog’s habits.
A great way to keep your dog from rummaging through the garbage is to make sure he has lots of toys and is well fed. You can also curb such behavior by emptying the trash often and putting savory leftovers in a separate, sealed bag. Put your dog in its crate or empty your trash before you leave your dog alone.
Positive Reinforcement
Always reinforce and reward your dog for demonstrating the desired behavior. With positive reinforcement, you do not have to punish your dog if he does something that you do not want him to do. You should just avoid reinforcing any negative behaviors. Negative reinforcement does not encourage trust between you and your dog. Positive reinforcement will work wonders to instill good behavior in your dog.
As you’ve read, dog training may be a great way to get your dog to learn new tricks and behave better. Once you apply these concepts, you will have started the process of turning into a training expert.
