Training a dog may be one of the most rewarding experiences a pet owner can have. To see their dog sit, stay, and roll over on command is a thing of wonder. However, this sort of obedience and training doesn’t happen overnight. Here are some tips to help you get your dog doing tricks.
Be consistent in your role as pack leader with your dog. Without proper leadership from you, your dog will see this as an opportunity to establish themselves as the pack leader. Everything you do in respect to training your dog should follow this rule. Being the pack leader with your dog is a lifestyle change that will be rewarding for your pet.
Learn to understand what your dog is saying through facial expression. Many people fail to see that a dog says even though his he communicates non-verbally with his face, just as we do. When you are training your dog, take some time to see how he responds to commands, rewards and your behavior. Watching his facial expressions will be useful as training progresses and give you a better understanding of your dog.
When training your dog, it is imperative that you remain patient at all times. Moving too quickly or losing your temper can confuse your dog and cause him to mistrust you. Without proper trust, your dog will never fully submit to your training and your relationship with your dog will surely suffer.
When interacting with other dogs, expect a calm, sedate attitude from your pet before letting them go loose. By establishing a calm demeanor in your pet, you will cause a ripple effect through the other animals as well as teaching your dog that you control the environment. This will make it easier to withdraw your dog when it is time to go as well.
Refrain from using extreme devices for training your dog, such as a shock collar. They almost never work as advertised and they are expensive to boot. This is also a negative way to train your dog and might cause them to be aggressive. You will usually get negative results with these techniques.
Next time your dog jumps up on you in excitement, tell them “Off” in a firm (but not angry) voice, gently push them off, and turn your back. The verbal command and action of moving them reinforces what the command means, and turning restricts their access to you. This accomplishes two things: a) your dog can’t jump on you anymore, b) your dog feels he loses your attention, which is the exact opposite of what he wants. This teaches him quickly not to jump on you.
When choosing a new dog for your household, it is a good idea to do some research on different breeds of dogs. This will help you find some that are suited for you and your lifestyle so the dog can be a part of your family for many years to come.
You should only leave your dog’s food out for around fifteen minutes each day after you put it out. This helps get your dog used to a regular routine. Your dog will quickly learn to begin eating his or her food immediately, and as a result, your dog will eat fresher food and not beg for food at other times of the day.
To keep your dog from barking, you need to stop rewarding this behavior by giving him what he wants. This means paying attention to your dog, letting him inside the house or comforting him. Your dog will associate your behavior with the barking and will think that you want him to bark.
Start your dog off on the right foot by installing good habits early on. It is easier to teach a dog good habits right from the start, rather than trying to break bad habits that have already been learned. To avoid begging at the table, avoid giving the dog food off the table to begin with.
Your own mood has a great deal to do with your success in training your dog. You must control your emotions, so that your dog gets the right idea from your training. Regardless of your dog’s overall performance, be free and unreserved with praise, when your dog does what you want. Conflicted emotions on your part will have a negative effect on your dog’s overall training regimen.
Food is one of the best positive reinforcement tools available to the owner in the dog training process. Feeding a dog after it has behaved acceptably is a powerful message that any dog will understand. Of course, dogs should not be starved! But associating feeding time with success will encourage a dog to work harder to live up to its owner’s expectations.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is to stop your dog during the behavior you want to change. This is important to ensure that your dog knows when to stop a certain action and what to replace it with. An example would be to never allow it to jump on anyone, and always discipline and correct the dog mid-action.
A good dog training tip is to have your dogs meet at a park if you plan on bringing a new dog into your home. By having the dogs meet at the park, the dogs will be more friendly with each other, and it’ll take dominance out of the equation.
Your rewards should suit your dog’s personality. You wouldn’t work for free, so why would your dog? Make rewards match the difficulty of the task. Regular treats are great for behaviors your dog already knows, but don’t be afraid to pull out something truly stinky and tempting to teach new challenges.
By way of conclusion, the rewarding feeling of teaching a dog to obey your commands is blissful. To watch them do what you say can bring a smile to your face. If you practice, and have the right advice, it actually can be rather simple to train them. This article offered plenty of advice to help.
