Shelters are filled with dogs that didn’t live up to owners’ expectations. Proper training can make any dog a valuable and loving asset for any family. It isn’t that hard to have this kind of dog.
Be patient when teaching your dog, it will take some time. You might have to keep repeating something to a dog as much as fifty times for it to ‘click’. Keep trying, your dog will pick it up.
Pick the proper size crate for your dog if you want to be able to effectively use the crate to train it. Puppies will grow up quite quickly. Choose a crate which will be the right size for the dog when he grows up. Dogs need room to move about and lie down, and they should not be cramped.
Monitor your own behavior to ensure you aren’t reinforcing your dog’s negative behaviors by mistake. Avoid giving them any rewards they haven’t earned. If your dog leaps on you when you return home and you wish to discourage this behavior, you must ignore him and go about your business. Even negative attention from you can cause the behavior to continue.
If you encounter a dog with whom you are not acquainted, you should do so slowly and with the back of a hand outstretched. This helps the dog become familiar with your scent and engenders trust. After he knows you and your scent, it is easier to command him.
When house training your pup, you should adhere to a regular schedule of feeding and elimination. This will give you an idea of when the dog is likely to have to go, so you can take it outdoors to take care of this matter before an accident occurs on your rug. Being consistent will teach the dog to hold it until it is time to go outside.
Desensitize your dog to the cause of their barking in order to reduce the behavior. This can be things like sounds, smells, or proximity to other creatures. They’ll learn quickly barking isn’t their best option.
If your pet is a problematic barker, try this training tip. Choose a simple word or directive you can use to quiet him down and discourage barking. For instance, whenever your dog is barking, hold a treat in front of them and continue to repeat “be quiet” until they quit barking. Then, you can award your dog with a treat. When you repeat this action multiple times, your dog will eventually learn that the order means to be quiet.
Do not give your dog too many treats; you could make him gain some weight when you offer an excessive number as rewards. Many people overlook treats when considering the animal’s diet, but they certainly add up, especially during active training.
Socialization with other people and pets is an important part of your dog’s training. Your dog must learn how to behave when other people or dogs are present, and there is no other way to teach this skill. Being familiar with all the types of beings it might encounter will help your dog exhibit consistent, confident behavior.
It might be hard, but you must be patient when it comes to your dog. Sometimes we forget that our pets don’t understand our language, much less our thoughts. They only understand some commands, gestures and tone. Be cool and take breaks when you get frustrated in certain training sessions.
You should use the name of your dog as a positive reinforcement more often than you use it as a reprimand. He should know his name isn’t associated with something bad.
Understand that more mature dogs do have some basic limitations. It’s impossible to perfectly train older dogs because of the quirks already ingrained into them. There may be strongly entrenched habits and attitudes in an older dog. You can often alter really bad habits, but some things may just be idiosyncrasies you have to live with.
Training your dog will take some time out of your day, so plan accordingly. Dogs learn best from consistency and repetition. Spending time with your pet daily will make him feel like you are someone to rely on. Both of these characteristics are highly desirable as the alpha in the relationship.
Your dog will not dig in the trash if you feed it and give it enough toys. Empty your trash frequently and don’t put things they like, such as bones, in it. Crate the dog when going out or empty the trash when you’re gone.
When you train ball-fetching to your dog, prove yourself the leader in the relationship by forcing your dog to return to you with the ball always. If your dog drops the ball nearby and you walk to pick the ball up, your dog assumes he is the leader. Your dog will understand his expectations if he must always bring the ball directly to you.
Older Dog
You can always train an older dog, but you should always be wary of how they are feeling. You cannot require an arthritic older dog to crawl or do other stunts a younger dog could do, for example. Training stimulates your dog’s cognitive functions. This is especially helpful if your dog is getting old. You also need to be looking out for any pain your dog may be in if they are older.
Any type of introduction to unfamiliar animals needs to be attempted very slowly. Weighs the pros and the cons before adopting another pet. Getting compatible pets is the key to a healthy home.
If you want to potty-train your dog, do not use wee-wee pads. These pads can leak, leaving behind invisible areas with the scent and enzymes from feces and urine that will attract your puppy back to the spot. Dogs also believe that anything shaped like a pad is acceptable to use as a potty. For the sake of consistency, train your dog to always use the bathroom outside.
Challenging though it may be, you can have a dog who is obedient, loving and healthy. Love, attention and training are the key components for a well-rounded dog. If you just use the tips here your dog will be a regular member of the family.