One of the best animals to have as a pet is a dog. Dogs are affectionate animals that provide great companionship for people of all ages. Dogs have many great qualities, but owners often find them hard to train. If you are having trouble training your dog, then read this article.
Small steps, gentle ways and patience are all a part of getting your puppy used to their crate. Once your dog is accustomed to being in the crate, try closing the door and giving your pet a treat through the wire. At first, only close the gate for a short time, then gradually extend the time as your dog becomes more comfortable. If the puppy becomes upset, you may be progressing too quickly.
Sometimes it may be necessary to physically establish yourself as the Alpha in the pack. If your animal is being aggressive to another animal or a person, hold them by the scruff of the neck and put them in a prone position on the ground firmly, not violently. This lets your dog know you are in charge and exhibits behavior they would expect from another dog.
Make sure to get everyone involved in training. If you are the only member of the family working with Fido’s behavior, then the other members of the family are giving him mixed signals. Consistency is extremely important in dog training. Also make sure that everyone is using the same key words and rewards so that the behavior will be reinforced correctly. Off and down are two different things to a dog, so make sure you aren’t confusing him.
Your body language is an important tool that will help you as you begin training your dog. Even more than words, the way you act tells your dog a lot about what you want. Stop talking as much and start showing your animal what behaviors are important to you.
When interacting with other dogs, expect a calm, sedate attitude from your pet before letting them go loose. By establishing a calm demeanor in your pet, you will cause a ripple effect through the other animals as well as teaching your dog that you control the environment. This will make it easier to withdraw your dog when it is time to go as well.
When you first get your puppy don’t expect him to learn a large number of commands in a short amount of time. Your puppy needs time to acclimate to his new environment. During this time, it is possible to teach him two or three simple commands. Do not move on to other commands until your puppy has mastered these.
It is very easy to teach a pooch to roll over as long as you have some tasty treats on hand. The first step is a simple “lay” command. Then hold the treat at the side of the dog’s head and move it around it’s face to the other side. They’ll follow your treat with their nose which will cause them to roll over. Upon seeing him roll over, issue the command. You can then repeat the command to the point where he rolls over without the added incentive of a treat. It will take some work, but keep on trying!
Setup a solid plan for what you want to accomplish with your dog training. If you have goals marked on your calendar it can give you a way to measure your progress with the dog training, and offer you hints about whether or not you would need to change anything in your routine.
The key to potty training a new puppy is consistency. Remember that when he is with his mother, he can relieve himself whenever he needs to, so it will take some time for him to learn that he must wait for someone to take him outside to go to the bathroom.
When you are trying to train your dog to follow a command, repetition is key. Practice the command multiple times a day and be sure to offer your dog praise and a treat when he or she successfully follows your command. Repetition will ensure that your dog will remember and follow the command in the future.
If you are trying to prevent your dog from begging, the best thing to do is ignore the begging completely. Don’t respond either positively, with a treat or petting, or negatively, by shouting. Your dog will learn quickly and remember for a long time that the begging ended up with you paying attention to the dog.
When training your dog, be competent! Your dog wants to know that you are in charge and that you know what you are doing. If you are inconsistent, anxious, irritable, angry, or in any way unstable while training your dog, you will not succeed. You must be calm, consistent, and competent. If you don’t know about dog training, it is a very good idea to learn from books, videos and people who know before you ever get a dog!
If you aren’t having success training your dog on your own, hiring a trainer can help. Trainers are specially qualified to work with difficult dogs, and find easy ways to modify troublesome behavior. Many a dog has been able to remain with his family because of the help of competent trainers.
In conclusion, dogs are among the best animals to have as pets due to their lovable and affectionate nature. This makes them a good companion for anyone no matter how old they are. Though dogs are great, they can be difficult to train. However, if you use the tips from this article, you can make dog training easier.