Aggressive behaviors, excessive barking and general disobedience are annoying to a dog owner. These bad habits can be changed. While it might not be possible to completely eliminate these behaviors, applying the advice in this article will still train the dog to a large degree. With dedicated effort, it is possible to transform any dog into a perfect pet.
If there are certain things that set your dog off causing bad behavior, then keep his mind focused on other things as you pass by what provokes this bad behavior. For instance, do something distracting to entertain and stimulate your dog when you are walking him and you approach another dog that your pet does not deal with well. By doing this, he will start to see that good things can happen even when he sees that stimuli.
It is important to leash-train your dog. This will help keep your dog and you safe when going for walks.
Consider using a clicker to help your dog learn great behavior. If you give your dog an award when you used the clicker, it will be easier to train. Making the sound and giving a treat is a good way to build this association. Eventually, your dog will learn that the noise means "good," and this will help shape their behavior by using this tool.
To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The instructors at these schools are trained to deal with a variety of different dogs, even the impossible cases. They can teach a dog to follow commands, heel on a leash and to stop any unnecessary barking.
Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldn't be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. Even more so, an inappropriately-chewing dog needs to be protected. Some household items can be harmful to your dog if they are chewed upon.
Call your pooch by his name to keep his attention focused on you. You puppy will develop the association between his name being called, and him needing to pay attention to what you are telling him. Pick a name that is distinguished and no longer than two syllables.
Big dogs need a bed that can accommodate them, especially if they like to stretch and sleep on their back. There are big, long dog beds around for larger dogs, or you could look for a mattress taken from a crib. A crib mattress is also an easy to care for alternative to a dog bed because the sheets can be changed regularly with little fuss. They're waterproof, too!
Limit the time of your training sessions with your dog so he doesn't lose focus. Dogs can only handle a short amount of training at a time, so don't overdo it. Try limiting training sessions to 10 minutes or less.
Depending on the personalities of your dogs, it may not be possible to train them at the same time. If your dogs fight or goof off instead of paying attention, it may be wise to do a bit of one-on-one training before training them together.
Teach your dog the difference between right and wrong. You will need help from everyone in the family to teach this. It can quickly undermine your efforts.
It's a good idea to keep in mind the number of treats you are giving your dog throughout the day. Giving him too many will add unneeded calories to his diet and cause him to become overweight. Many people overlook treats when considering the animal's diet, but they certainly add up, especially during active training.
Dogs generally focus on one thing while ignoring everything around them, unless something interrupts that intense focus. If you keep up with his training, your dog will look to you more often for direction rather than looking to the environment.
Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. Dog training can be a learning experience, especially with it comes to determining what motivates your pet. It doesn't matter the reason you want to train your dog, you need to offer a variety of exercises along with positive reinforcement. Any time your dog is happy, you will find they have a better performance.
Training your dog can be much easier if you use a crate. Use a consistent schedule for proper crate training of your dog. Over time, a dog that is properly crated trained is less prone to having accidents inside the home.
You can rest assured that when you train your puppy, they may have an accident in the house. Immediately clean up every accident for training purposes. Carpets are known to trap the smell of urine and encourage the dog to return to that spot for further marking. Buy a product specially designed to neutralize odors.
Use your dog's name when you can, as it will help to get your dog to pay attention. By using it as much as possible during the first weeks you own him, your puppy will learn that this sound is in reference to him. Choose a short name that is easily recognizable from other words.
If it's possible, start training your dog when it is a puppy. It's not absolutely necessary, but young dogs do better with training. If you train your dog when he is a puppy, then he will continue to be a good dog for the remainder of his life.
Although a harness is more comfortable for dogs, it does not offer as much control as a cinch-type collar. Keep your dog on his harness, but also use your cinching collar. Tug on his collar when it's absolutely necessary, and your dog will soon learn how to obey wearing the harness alone.
A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.
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.