When you decide it's time to train your dog, it's very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.
Big dogs will need a large bed or sleeping area. Plenty of pet brands make dog beds sized for larger breeds. A crib mattress is also a viable alternative. 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!
When you know that you need to be gone for a few hours, take your dog for a long walk before you depart. If you tire them out, they will be better able to handle feelings of anxiety when they are alone and separated from you.
As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, don't ever give up. Your dog will not remember his training if you are not there to constantly remind him of what you expect. In the same way that nourishing your dog with food and a safe place to live is a daily commitment, so is teaching and encouraging good behavior.
To ensure your training sticks, everyone in your household needs to treat your dog the same way you do and use the same training methods. Consistent methods is your best bet to get your dog to remember something. If teaching methods between people differs, it is easy for your dog to get confused.
Positively encourage your dog without using treats. Offering treats as rewards for learning new tricks or behavior can be effective. However, it's unlikely that you will carry treats around every single day for the rest of your dog's life. Petting and hugging dogs as positive reinforcement while training is better than giving them treats.
If you are training more than one dog, remember that some breeds of dogs can be trained together, but some breeds cannot. If your dogs cannot focus during training, you may need to start with one-on-one before training them together.
Get your dog used to the things they will encounter when going for a vet visit. Practice gently moving your hands all over your dog's body and reward him for staying calm. You also need to get him ready to have his paws held and looked at, as well as his teeth examined. Ask your friends to help out, as well.
Destructive chewing is often a result of anxiety. Putting your dog in his crate with a chew toy will reduce the chance of destructive events and give him something to do while he waits for you.
While training your puppy or dog to use a crate, introduce him to new concepts slowly and gradually, so he is able to adjust to the changes without feeling stressed. As soon as they start to feel comfortable in the crate when the door is open, try closing the gate and have them eat inside. Start off with small periods, for example 10 seconds or so, and gradually increase crate time. If your puppy gets upset, then you may need to slow down and have more patience with them.
Use good treats that are irresistible to your dog. This is one time you can use something you would not usually give them, like meat.
Don't bog your puppy down with more information than he can process. You need to keep your training sessions short so that your puppy pays attention. If training sessions are too long, the puppy won't remember the specifics of the training session, just that is was grueling and exhausting. This will make it harder to train him next time.
Although a harness is more comfortable for dogs, it does not offer as much control as a cinch-type collar. Using a collar and harness combo and only tugging on his collar when needed can teach your canine that he has to listen while harnessed, too.
When your dog reaches six months, make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. This should coincide with the beginning of obedience classes. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.
Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Dogs can be very perceptive and can pick up cues from their owners about how the owner is feeling. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.
Be sure to feed your dog healthy foods and treats. If the dog's diet is poor, it is not good for their health. If your dog isn't getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. Training may very well go easier when dogs are given the proper nutrients in a healthful diet.
Providing your dog with food that it likes while training him or her will help give them incentive to do good. Offering your dog a truly special reward is an easy way to encourage them. Really pay attention to his reaction when he is given the treat and adjust your reward foods accordingly.
Do not let your dog decide when to listen and when not to listen. If the patience to follow through with any command you give is not there, simply choose to not give it instead.
When looking at dog trainers, do a lot of research. Check user reviews on the Internet and learn their training methods. Make sure that the specialist has ideas in line with yours.
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.
You should be able to have a clean home and a loving dog. While a dog can cause quite a bit of destruction, and make a mess in your home, proper dog training will alleviate most of these issues. Take advantage of the tips mentioned here, and you will be rewarded with a peaceful environment and a loving dog.