Responsible dog owners understand that a trained dog is a good dog. Teaching your dog basic obedience skills, how to follow instructions and proper socialization will assure your pet is both happy and safe. These tips can help you reinforce good behavior.
Make sure that you use control to reward your dog’s good training behavior. Give your dog a treat after they properly respond to your commands, but only if they are nice and calm. Although you may feel very pleased, control your response to avoid having your training situation become uncontrolled. Be calm, expect calm, then reward appropriately.
Do not tie a dog up near another dog, or dogs. They could tangle the chains in such a way so that one or both of the dogs are stuck or injured. If a large dog becomes tangled with a smaller one they could wrap up to the point the airway of the latter is closed off and the dog would die.
Choose one phrase to use every time you want your dog to do his business. When it’s time for him to go outside to do his business, say “Elimination Device…Activate!” or whatever phrase you chose to call his attention to the task at hand.
Avoid accidents when toilet training your puppy. Learn to know the things your pet does when it needs to go. Some of the most common and obvious displays include whining, sniffing and pacing. Do not wait more than a couple of minutes. Get his leash as you take him out. Good toilet behavior is worthy of praise. Before long, he will be able to ask you to take him out.
Changing your vocal tone depending on what you want to communicate will help train your dog. Each type of command should use a different type of tone. You need to talk to them in a firm tone of voice if you are correcting them.
If you’re leash-training a puppy, the initial step needs to be putting a collar on them when you play with them. Your puppy should feel comfortable in it for walks but also for identification.
Let your dog socialize, which can really help to develop their skills. Your dog must learn how to behave in the company of other dogs as well as humans. This will help reduce any sporadic behavior within new environments, too.
Keep your training sessions short so your dog retains what they have learned. Fifteen minutes is a good amount of time since more will only frustrate your dog. Following training, be sure to praise your dog liberally and have a nice play session.
Is your pooch eating a well-balanced diet? Just like kids, dogs can get hyperactive, distracted and irritable if they aren’t getting the proper nutrition. Your dog will be more energetic if you give it food suited for dogs. Your vet should be able to provide advice.
Your dog has to have a consistent set of rules in order to learn the difference between right and wrong. Your dog needs consistency from all members in a household. One family member breaking the rules for the dog can lead to your dog feeling confused when he is reprimanded. This will make your efforts worthless.
Regular challenges will keep your dog from losing his chops. Quiz him on what he knows, even if you know he’s still got it.
Consistency is the key to training your dog. Have a strict list of command words that you always use, and make sure that anybody that associates with your dog knows the command words as well. Everyone must be commanding and responding to the dog in the same way for training to be successful. If different people are responding differently with the dog, it will make training difficult and confuse the dog.
Your dog is relying on you to signal when he is right and wrong. If you think it is funny when your dog misbehaves and laugh, your dog will get the wrong idea. This can lead to more bad behavior and make it much more difficult to train your dog. No matter whether or not your dog is entertaining, you need to consistently correct them.
Think about what triggers your dog’s barking. Once you understand what triggers the barking, you’ll know how to stop it. If your pup barks when visitors arrive, enlist the help of a friend.
During the training your dog process, it is a good idea to use various treats as rewards for your dog’s good behavior. Your dog will soon come to realize that training treats will not be run-of-the-mill fare, but special treats he will want to work hard to earn.
In most cases, it is possible to instill new behaviors in even the oldest dogs, but be mindful of any physical limitations. For example, a health condition or physical malady might impair the ability to learn. A dog with arthritis won’t be able to stand for very long, for example. Older dogs benefit from training in many ways, though. The concentration and mental challenge of training can keep an aging dog’s mind sharp. That said, don’t overdo it and cause them any discomfort as you exercise them.
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. If you rely solely on negative reinforcement, it is possible that your pet may become frightened and resentful of you. When you praise your dog because he has done something good, he’ll be more apt to keep doing it.
With these tips, you will get the most enjoyment out of your new, well-behaved dog. Your family and friends will be proud. You will enjoy the time you spend with your dog more if he is properly trained. Whether you get help from a professional or not, training your dog is one of the best ways to ensure the best possible life for your dog.