Dog training is a topic of critical importance to anyone with a domestic canine companion. The most efficient way to help your pet attain an appropriate level of obedience is to thoroughly educate yourself on which methods work and which offer little help. By following the tips in this article, you will be well on your way to a peaceful, loving relationship with your pet.
Just as reinforcement of good behavior when training a dog should be immediate, so too should punishment for bad behavior be immediate. Saying “no” in a harsh voice tells the dog he has acted inappropriately but he only connects the message with the targeted behavior if that message is delivered immediately after that act.
When tying up your dog, make sure it is not close to another chained dog. It is just too easy for dogs in such a situation to tangle their leads together, and this can lead to serious injuries for both of them. If dogs get tangled up too severely, one can get wrapped up so badly it could close off the airway, and he could die.
Feed your dog consistent amounts at approximately the same time every day. This is particularly important during the house training phase of pet ownership. This allows the dog to establish a regular elimination pattern and the discerning owner can use that pattern to their advantage in speedily training their pet.
Take everything that your friends and family members say about your training program with a grain of salt. Everyone will have their own opinions about how you should help your pet learn to follow directions. Ignore most of it and do what you know is best for you and your pet.
When training your dog, do it in short sessions, no more than fifteen to twenty minutes each session. This keeps your dog from becoming bored and uninterested in the training. More importantly, it ensures that your focus is entirely on training, which is vital to ensuring your dog’s success.
You don’t want to make your training sessions go on for too long. In the beginning try not to go over fifteen minutes. Even for dogs who are accustomed to training, you don’t want to go over about twenty minutes for basic training. If you notice your dog starting to lose interest, stop the session for the day. If you try and push it. you’ll get to get irritated and things will go down hill. It’s better to quite while you’re ahead.
Dogs can get bored during training. Doing the same thing over and over for endless time periods, will assure your dog will not be a good student. Try to vary your routine and put time limits on the amount of time you practice different behaviors. When your dog feels like an experience is new, he will respond quicker.
Make sure you are feeding your dog high-quality food. Behavior problems are often caused by a poor diet. High-quality dog food has human-grade ingredients and an expiration date. Making sure your dog eats plenty of protein and avoid giving him “junk” food from the table. A well-fed dog is a happy, obedient 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!
Consistently train your dog. Everyone that works with your dog should use the same commands, as well as the same techniques. It will make it easier for the dog if it only has a simple set of commands and knows what to expect when it obeys.
When training a dog that is not housebroken it is important to limit the dogs time to roam around the house. By keeping the dog always by the owner it reduces the time it has to go to the bathroom in the house. The dog will not want to go by the owner and must hold it until let outside.
A great way to train your dog to stop chewing items when you’re away from home is to catch them in the act. When you see your dog picking up an item, ready to take a bite, slowly take the item away from them and firmly, but in a gentle way tell them “no”.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is that your timing and the expected timing of your dog’s actions are essential. This is important because this is one learning aspect that is common to all dogs. While different dogs require different teaching methods, timing is a communication method that will help you find success no matter what you try.
When training your dog, do not ever neglect good behavior. Regardless of the situation, if your dog performs according to your expectations it should be rewarded. Even if your pet’s overall behavior is unsatisfactory, you should praise and reward it whenever it does what you want it to. Unambiguous rewards are the best way to encourage the behavior you want.
Nobody who has ever owned a dog will dispute the essential nature of proper training. By gaining an understanding of effective training techniques, it is possible to nurture a loving, well-behaved companion. Take these tips to heart, and you will greatly increase the likelihood that your pet will become the happy, well-adjusted dog you always wanted.