Training a dog really first requires the owner be trained as well. This can be said because before an owner can effectively train a dog, they must first train themselves on how. Dog training is not an innate skill people are born with, so do they need to do the research to train the dog properly. There is some solid advice in this article about how to do that.
To have success in dog training, you need to be able to control it with commands. Put yourself in an authoritative position, so that your dog knows to obey you. For example, when you walk your dog you must be in front and you should insist your dog follows behind you.
Give your puppy his own toys that he can chew to remove pain due to teething, and keep him away from chewing other items. You need to replace that with a designated chew toy. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.
The whole family should be involved with your dog's training. Having everyone participate in your dog's training will make sure he obeys the house rules.
You always want to make certain your dog has good leash manners. This helps keep both you and your dog safe when going on walks.
Don't use doggy treats as your sole positive reinforcement mechanism. Giving treats to dogs in order to teach them new behavior is quite effective. Having said that, carrying treats on you 24/7 is not very likely. Try patting your dog on the back and giving him an "enthusiastic, that a boy."
Whenever you are teaching a dog a multi-step task, reduce it to a series of smaller tasks. For instance, maybe you are training your dog to fetch the morning paper. You first need to teach him exactly what a newspaper is and then how to hold it. He needs to associate the object with a name. From there, proceed to teach him how to pick the paper up without damaging it. Finally, he should learn to bring the object to you. Splitting a complex task into individual tasks is a good strategy, because the smaller tasks are easier to learn. Afterwards, the dog simply needs to learn to do them in the correct order.
Teach your pet the proper way to walk on a leash. When they walk properly, it makes both of you safer when you both go walking.
Get your dog the proper nutrition required for canine health. Too many table scraps can unbalance your dog's diet. A poor diet can affect their behavior as well as their health. Improving your dog's diet can make training him easier.
Include plenty of physical activity in your dog's training routine. Dogs can easily get bored. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. Keeping your dog exercised and happy will help them pay attention more due to releasing all excess energy that often distracts them from your commands. Go for long walks and runs with your dog.
Train your dog in little steps if what you want him to do is a bit more complicated. Take fetching the morning paper, for example. The first step is to teach your dog to hold the newspaper. Next, he must learn to follow a command to approach the object by name. You need to teach him then how to pick the object up. Finally, show him that you want the object brought to you. As you break the behavior down into simple steps, your dog will soon grow to master the entire task you want him to complete.
Do not quit when you are training your dog. If your dog doesn't get reinforcement for his current level of training, he's likely to slide back into how he acted before he was trained. Much like providing your pet with food, training is a continuous process that is never truly finished.
Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. What your dog likes, doesn't like, and what types of training work for him are all things that you are learning during this process. Regardless of the reason that you have decided to train your dog, provide him with various training exercises and copious amounts of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.
If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. The chain of one dog could become wrapped around the other and, as the dogs struggle to free themselves, one or both could be injured. Particularly in the case of a large dog and a small dog, the animals may get so tangled that the smaller dog has his airway cut off and dies.
Be consistent with your cues when training a dog. Your dog can learn to associate a command with a particular behavior, but if you keep changing the command associated with a behavior, you'll confuse him and he won't do what you want him to do. It is absolutely critical to remain consistent throughout. If you strive for this, you and your pet will get more out of the training.
Teach everyone in your family to use the same commands to train your dog. Avoid confusion when it comes to disciplining your dog; keep command words consistent throughout the household. Using consistent commands all the time from every person who trains the dog will make training much less confusing for the dog.
A dog needs to be trained from the outset. The sooner you start training the dog the better, because they have not learned bad habits that you will have to correct. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.
Use dog treats that are tasty for your dog, and are of high value in order to obtain great results. Since these treats will be handed out sparingly, it should not matter too much if they are usually off limit items.
Try not to use wee-wee pads as a tool in potty training your day. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. The pads may also confuse the dog because of their shape. It could cause the dog to think that a bathroom mat or welcome mat is a place to go potty. The best option is to toilet train your dog outdoors.
You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isn't possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.
Dog owners should now realize how easy the battle to train a dog can be when approached correctly. If the owner has the right mindset and good knowledge, they should be able to train a dog with no problem. It is possible for any dog to fulfill its potential and flourish under the tutelage of its master.