Having the perfect and obedient pooch doesn’t happen overnight. You must engage in teaching your dog everything he/she must know, just like a real child. Don’t crack under the pressure; instead read some of the dog-training tips below for some insightful ideas. You may not end up using all of the ideas, but they can help point you in the right direction.
Taking a dog on a daily walk, or even two, is an essential part of obedience training. a dog without exercise is not a calm dog, and it’s very hard to train a dog in an excited state. It is best to take them out before any rigorous training exercise so that they are tired and in a submissive state when you begin to teach them.
Play with your dog often. In order to train your dog efficiently, it is important to develop and nurture a bond between the two of you. Make sure you are taking the time out of your day to play with your dog. It will be fun and stress-reducing for both of you.
Always be kind and patient with your dog. Understand that training dogs can be frustrating since some dogs have a more difficult time learning obedience than others. Always try not to lose your temper and resist the urge to scream or shout at your dog. Also, never hit your dog as this will only serve to confuse it and will actually make training more difficult.
Don’t interact with your dog when you are frustrated or angry. Simply put your dog up and take a break. Training will proceed much more efficiently when you return. Each of you will be rested, have a fresh outlook, and be ready to tackle that seemingly elusive training task once again.
Watch what sort of activities you are encouraging your dog to do. Sometimes we may perform actions with our dog without realizing that they are training them to do something we dislike. If every time your dog chews something up you send him outside, you are teaching him that chewing something up is the key to getting outdoor time. Be careful with the actions you take, especially ones that tend to be consistent practices.
Training your puppy should start as early as 6 weeks old. The earlier you can start training your new pup, the better the results will be. Studies have found that dogs are the most receptive to training from 6 to 14 weeks old so use that time wisely.
To help potty train puppies, consider using a crate. Crate training may sound unpleasant, but it’s actually one of the most natural ways to train puppies. A crate is considered their home or den, and puppies have an instinct not to soil in this space. Just be sure to limit the time spent in the crate, so your pup can spend time with you too.
Are you house training your dog? If so, then understand that the food and water they consume must come out at some point. If you want your puppy to relieve himself with regularity, keep the diet regular too, like feeding him good food two or three times daily at consistent intervals. This schedule will let you figure out when to let your dog relieve himself, cutting back on your chances of incidents.
Do not allow your pet to become complacent in his training. Establish a clear set of rules and stick with it at all times. Pet owners often believe that once their dog completes a training program, the process is over. Pets are just like humans, in that they follow habitual routines. For this reason, you need to reinforce what your dog has learned in training or better still, teach him a new trick every now and then.
The best way to prevent your dog from barking excessively, is to make him more comfortable with whatever it is he barks at so frequently. Dogs bark at anything that scares of threatens them, so if you show your dog that the object of their fear is nothing to be afraid of, he’ll stop barking.
If you have a dog that is driving you crazy with barking, the first step in stopping the barking is to determine the cause. For example, a territorial bark at 2 PM every day, might be related to the mailman’s arrival. If you know the cause of the barking, you can intercept it and help deal with the problem.
Limit the time of your training sessions with your dog so he doesn’t lose focus. Remember that a dog has a short attention span and cannot focus on one thing for too long. Early on, your training sessions should be limited to less than 10 minutes.
To house train your dog, you should establish a regular schedule for their meals. Take away their water at night. If your dog eats on schedule, you should be able to tell when it need to go outside. If you feed your dog right before you go to bed, chances are you will not be able to take it outside on time.
Use appropriate rewards and punishments when training your dog. For example, many dogs respond favorably when rewarded with a favorite treat for good behavior. At the same time, be aware that excessive punishment can backfire. Instead, use a consistent tone of voice or command word to indicate to your dog when a behavior is unacceptable.
Your dog will not be trained overnight, but you can read some valuable advice overnight. Admitting that you need help is always the first step, and reading about the subject matter increases your insight into dog-training methods. The above advice is tried and true; so take a friendly approach to dog training and do it yourself.