All dogs need training, both to teach them useful behaviors and to discourage them from unwanted ones. You will find helpful advice about canine training in this article.
If you plan on using a crate as part of your puppy’s training routine, introduce the apparatus and its’ functions very gradually. Once your dog seems to have acclimated to the crate itself, close the gate and feeding him through it. Begin with small intervals, and work your way up to longer times. If the dog becomes upset, then you need to take a step back and slow down the training.
Try to walk in your dogs shoes before you criticize them. A lot of owners get frustrated when their dog is not understanding a basic command. Instead of completely giving up, consider looking at it from their perspective. Try to see the world through their eyes.
You should have a specific feeding pattern for your dog. Your dog should be fed at the same time everyday and they should only have a certain amount of time to eat. This will set a quality schedule for your dog so that they are ready for all meals.
Repetition is the key to success when teaching a dog a new command. You might have to repeat the same exercise up to fifty times before your dog remembers it. Keep teaching it and be patient. The dog will learn in time.
Right at the moment they do the behavior you are trying to reinforce, give the verbal command of approval. The word “yes” may serve as a good gap-filler in between the dog’s good behavior and the giving of the reward.
Training lessons should be kept short. Since dogs do not have a long attention span, short lessons will prevent them from getting bored. If you want a long session, make sure that your dog has a break in between.
Primary Reinforcement
Use primary reinforcement to train your dog. With primary reinforcement, you use something that your dog loves when it needs to be rewarded for positive behavior. Rewards can be rubbing a dog’s belly or giving it a treat. By doing this method of training, your dog will learn that in order to get what they want, they must do what you want.
You can rest assured that when you train your puppy, they may have an accident in the house. Make certain the accidents are cleaned up immediately, so your training efforts cans stay on course. Urine and feces scents can attack to the fibers of your carpet, which will lead to your dog repeatedly using the bathroom in that spot. Many pet stores or big box stores sell products that help to eliminate the odors from pet accidents.
Regular challenges will keep your dog from losing his chops. Test the dog occasionally to check his memory, even though both of you know that he remembers his commands.
Do you have a problem with your dog pulling on his or her leash? Pulling is very common and very easy to cure. Most pet stores carry affordable harnesses, which prevent behaviors like pulling or straining during walks.
Stay consistent when you are trying to train your dog. The commands that you use should be used by others as well. Make a list, and make sure other people who deal with your dog know the commands. Ensure everyone understands the importance of consistency in only rewarding good behavior, not bad behavior. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.
Don’t automatically assume that your dog will not bite you due to the fact that you are human and you are therefore the leader. A dog that is not trained may see you as part of the pack and believe he is the one in charge. Understanding the alpha behavior you’ll need to exhibit will allow your dog to learn that you are indeed the leader. Dogs that don’t understand human behavior can bite even if not provoked.
When training your dog to fetch a ball, show him you are the leader by making him bring the ball to you at all times. If your dog just lays the ball down, they will think they are in control. By doing this, your dog starts to learn what you want from him.
Train your dog by reinforcing positive behavior. This doesn’t mean punishing them when they misbehave; it means just simply not reinforcing poor behavior. Enforcing negatively may cause your dog to fear you. Positive reinforcement will work wonders to instill good behavior in your dog.
Use coins and a can to help you train. Drop some coins into a an empty can and cap it off. Whenever the dog acts badly, shake the can. This will startle your dog, causing him or her to stop the bad behavior. If you do this every time the dog exhibits a negative behavior, he will soon learn that these behaviors are not acceptable. Only shake the can once, if you do it multiple times your dog will desensitize.
Untrained dogs, as mentioned above, will destroy your home and your sanity. Apply the advice this article has given to you, and you will have the skills that you need to train your dog correctly.