You have read all of the books and heard all of the advice that dog owners and trainers have provided, but you would like to break away from the tired old ways of dog training. This article provides a list of new and exciting ways to train your dog that you may not have seen before.
Teaching your dog a fun trick, such as “play dead” can be a fun way of distracting him. When your dogs behavior is bad, simply use the command you have established for his trick instead of using negative punishment. This provides for a fun activity for your dog and creates a positive environment for you as well.
Reward your dog for obeying you, but only occasionally. Rewards like treats and excessive praise can be useful tools when training your dog. Just be careful that you do not condition them to expect this every time they do as they are are told. Reward them for following instruction, but do so randomly.
A good plan when training your dog is to keep your sessions short. When you have multiple, short sessions of training, as opposed to one long set, your dog will stay interested and will anticipate more. Keeping your pet motivated by short interval sessions will be effective and have a stronger impact.
Housebreaking a dog takes time. The key is to be consistent when teaching him where it’s not acceptable for him to relieve himself and consistent in the message that you send as to where you expect him to go. This may be on a pad inside the house, on a lead when you take him outside or running free in a fenced yard.
Always end a training session with your dog on a positive note, even if you have to manipulate the scenario to make your dog successful. Ending a training session immediately after a disciplinary action will mean that your dog will remember the session as being about punishment, not about training.
When you are working on dog training, make sure that you are providing him or her with the right balance of food. Imagine if you were eating foods such as turkey or sugar while you are trying to learn, as you can see it would definitely have an influence on your attention factor. The same principles apply to dog training. Stick with foods that will compliment your dog’s natural ability to learn.
While dog training with a leash, make sure that you are keeping the collar snug, yet a little bit loose. When the collar is too tight, it can actually make the dog want to pull you. A little slack can go a long way when you are dog training with a leash.
One of the first things most people teach their dogs is the sit command. This is very basic but is handy for your dog to know, especially when you want to get his attention. One way to teach your dog to sit is to take a piece of dog treat and hold it about six inches from his nose. Slowly raise the treat straight up and say “Fido, sit”. You may have to use your hand to help him into the position until he realizes what you want.
Before you ever get a dog, be sure that you have everything you need. You should have: sturdy food and water bowls; a good quality of dry dog food; a comfortable bed; a crate/kennel in the right size for the dog you plan to get; and an appropriate leash and collar or harness. By having everything in place, you will avoid a lot of rushing around and uncertainty with a new dog or puppy. This will help everybody settle in better.
When your dog does not do what you want, tell him “No!” then redirect him. Be patient and calm. Your dog wants to please you, but sometimes dogs just don’t understand what is expected of them. Never hit or yell at your dog. If you yell and hit, your dog will just think you are out of control. You want your dog to trust you and respect you as the pack leader, so stay calm and consistent.
The type of leash, collar, and harness are very important to take into consideration when training a dog. The bigger the dog the more secure these items will need to be. Also if one has a dog that pulls on the leash a harness should be used to control the animal opposed to a choke chain or collar. The right equipment is essential to dog training.
One-on-one training sessions can be the way to go for some dog owners. One-on-one training can be extremely flexible for your schedule. It is also often priced per session. This means that for a dog that only needs a few sessions, individual training might be less expensive than group.
A tip for small dog owners: make treats small to ensure your dog doesn’t become full during training sessions. Believe it or not, a dog will work just as hard for a treat the size of a pin-head as he will for a treat the size of your thumbnail. This way, training sessions can last longer and be more interesting.
Dogs tend to chew as a reaction to feeling anxious. To keep her safe and occupied while you are away, give your dog an appropriate chew toy and put her in a safe enclosed space.
Dogs can be spoiled just like children. While rewards are definitely necessary to keep your dog on the right path, too many rewards can lead your dog to expect them! Your dog should be treated for challenging tasks, or performing tasks he knows under exceptional circumstances. Making him work for his grub encourages him to stay on his toes.
In conclusion, you are looking for new methods to train your dog,, in an effort to break away from the traditional methods that everyone uses. Your dog is unique and so are you. As long as you follow these new methods as suggested, you may find that these ideas will bring you success in a whole new way.
