Many people enjoy having pets, and dogs are especially popular. Young puppies are infamous for being destructive and mischievous. Review this article to find advice on training your dog.
Throwing out your dog’s food bowl can assist you with your training program. Studies have shown that animals respond well to working for their meals. Incorporate food as a reward in your training and also, use it for entertainment purposes. You can do this by putting the food in a toy or a puzzle.
Before crating your dog always allow them the opportunity to eliminate. Young dogs, in particular, have to relieve themselves quite frequently. You can’t expect them to not urinate or even defecate in the crate if they haven’t been given the opportunity to do so before they are crated.
Make sure your dog’s diet is appropriate for him. If your dog is a lazy dog who likes to lounge around all day, you don’t want to give him the high protein food a dog who herds sheep would receive. This can cause problems and high vet bills down the road.
Pick a consistent phrase to use with your puppy while house training. Each time you venture out for a bathroom trip, use this phrase to keep your dog focused on the task he came outside to accomplish.
End each training session positively. Even if your dog has not mastered the skill you are working on, end each training session with a skill they know and praise him profusely. This ensures that each training session ends on a positive note and is a positive memory for your dog.
Get in the habit of only giving your dog a direct command one time. It will seem easy to just repeat it over and over until he responds, but don’t do that. Instead, revisit the training until your dog understands that you expect him to react the first time you say something.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is that there is a difference between discipline and anger. This is important because your dog only understands right or wrong commands. Your anger will only scare and confuse the dog if it isn’t directly related to a behavior you wish to modify.
Shy dogs benefit from re-socializing. Oftentimes, dogs have behavioral incidents with certain situations, certain people or other dogs, that go unnoticed by us. We might not realize, but these interactions have given our dogs a sour taste about these circumstances. Re-socializing your dog to the stimuli he’s upset by, can help him overcome his anxiety.
Dogs with separation anxiety will benefit from affection from places other than their favorite person. In other words, their favorite person should diminish attention. You should only greet the pooch when she is calm and quiet. Other people in the home should take her out and help with training sessions so she builds a relationship and comfort with others as well.
Try to command dogs with one word or a small phrase rather than a lengthy phrase. Smaller commands are easier to remember and recognize from other people, whereas longer phrases can be confusing to a dog. Make sure everyone uses the same phrase to command a dog to avoid confusion.
When you take your dog out to public places, make sure that you remain in control of him at all times. It is good etiquette to assure that he does not run up to other dogs or people without their permission. Not all people are comfortable around dogs and not all dogs get along.
If your dog is a big bruiser, be easy on your hands and certain of having a good strong leash by using a horse lead rope as a leash. These come in a standard 6′ length in soft cotton or synthetic rope with a very sturdy snap attached. They come in lots of pretty colors and are durable and strong.
It is important to understand your dog’s temperament, and what type of training fits for your dog. Not all dogs are alike, just like not all humans are alike either. One training trick that may work for one dog, may not work effectively when training a completely different dog.
Dog-proof your home if you know that your dog is prone to chewing and biting everything in sight when the family is out. If you don’t want to crate your dog, you will have to act as if there is a baby in the house and remove access to those things that your dog may get into when you’re gone.
As soon as your dog is bad, discourage the behavior right away. Start by saying “No” in an authoritative voice. Don’t raise your voice or strike your dog. Discourage bad behavior when it occurs or soon after. Dogs memories do not last that long. If your reaction takes too long, your dog will not understand what it is you are trying to say.
Your dog is the product of many generations of domestication and breeding. If you have a purebred or mixed dog, tailor your training efforts to your dog’s personality. For example, herding dogs may need more work to release energy that would otherwise go to herding efforts to make something like taking leashed walks easier.
You should be able to have a clean home and a loving dog. A rambunctious and destructive pet can quickly ruin the appearance of your home indoors and from the outside, but an effective training program can solve the problem. Use the advice in this article for a peaceful coexistence with your dog.