Any pet owner will agree that proper dog training techniques are critical to a happy, fun-filled home life. The best way to embark on the process is to thoroughly educate yourself about effective methods that have stood the test of time. By taking these tips to heart, you and your pet will be well on your way to a cooperative, symbiotic relationship.
Tips for Training A Dog:
Look for triggers that may cause bad behavior from your dog. If your dog is suddenly exhibiting unwanted behaviors, maybe something has changed that day: Has he been able to go on a walk or has he been cooped up? Were you gone all day when normally someone is at home? Dogs are creatures of consistency and when things change their behavior can change as well.
Feed your dog:
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.
Medical problems:
If your otherwise well-behaved and housebroken dog starts exhibiting poor behaviors, such as urinating indoors, take it to a vet to rule out any medical problems. Many medical issues can cause a dog to act out. Don’t punish your sick dog for showing you that it is sick; help it.
Hand gestures:
Associate hand gestures with individual commands to help your dog remember what to do. While the command words themselves can be enough of a clue to tell the dog what to do – using a visual cue – provides a way for the dog to remember more easily how to perform.
Training your dog:
Be consistent when training your dog. Always give commands using the same words, in the same tone of voice. Realize that your dog will not learn commands instantly. You have to show him what you want. For example, if you want him to learn to turn left and right on command when walking, you must say, “left” or “right” each time you make a turn. Eventually, your dog will get you drift!One thing you should remember when you are training your pet is that you should not give in to bad things your dog does. This only tells your dog that it has the choice to do whatever he wants and that you are under his power. An example of this would be to give the dog treats every time it barks.
Quiet:
“Quiet” is a command you will probably want to teach your dog. Each time your dog barks, wave a treat in front of him and voice your command. At this time, give the treat to your dog. If this is done with sufficient frequency, the dog is sure to associate treats with the command to be silent.
Pet’s persistence:
Be mindful of exactly what behavior you are reinforcing, so stand your ground and don’t give into your pet’s persistence. A dog will generally repeat whatever action has previously earned him a reward. Thus, if you give a dog food so that it will stop begging at the table one night, you’re only making the dog more inclined to beg for food again, the next night.
Misbehaving:
A great dog training tip is to let your dog know when they’re doing something right. It’s very easy to yell at your dog and tell them no when they’re misbehaving. It’s important to let your dog know when they’re doing what you want because that reinforces good behaviorBe consistent when training a dog. A dog does not understand why sometimes hanging out on the couch is allowed, but other times results in a scolding. Decide what the rules are, and stick to them every time. Soon your dog will know what to expect and want to please you by doing the right thing (and receiving the occasional praise and even a treat or two for getting caught doing well.)
Teach Command to Dogs:
Do not issue a command to your dog that involves two words that do not go together. For example, telling your pet to “sit down” does not make sense; either tell him to “sit” or ask him to get “down.” Using contrary phrases delays the training process because your dog does not understand what to do.If you happen to be concerned with the dog’s agility, take some time to research various breeds and find the one you prefer. Almost all dogs are capable of participating. The most competitive dogs include border collies and sheepdogs.
Teach Your Dog:
Leaders should always go first, and you should teach that to your dog. If you walk through doors and your dog rushes past you through the opening, it means you do not have control and your dog believes he is the leader. Blocking the door so he can’t get through first, or teaching him to sit or stay while you walk ahead, helps him understand he needs to stop and follow your lead.
Do not blame:
When you are training your dog, do not blame it for bad behavior if it is sick. You should never force a dog to do obedience training when it is not feeling well. Take your dog to the vet to see what is making it sick, and put off the training until it is doing better.
Obedient and well behaved:
To help you train your dog so it is obedient and well behaved, it is important to show the dog that you, and you only, are the pack leader. This means showing a dominant presence so the dog understands that he is not the leader and he must follow your commands. If you follow this key step, you will be on your way to training your dog effectively.
Conclusion:
. Making sure that a pet exhibits the proper level of obedience is something that requires a comprehensive understanding of sound training methodology. Put these tips to work today, and you will soon have the well-behaved companion you desire.
