All dogs, no matter how big or small, have the same kind of mindset to them. If you get this mindset, it shouldn’t be tough for you to train a dog. If someone doesn’t know this already, they’re in luck as this article will give them a little insight.
There are several techniques to make crate training your dog easier. A dog is naturally hesitant about a crate at first. A way to get them interested is to put their favorite toy in the crate, then shut the door. They will see the toy inside the crate and will want in the crate to get it. Once in the crate, let them know they did a good job by praising them.
Crate training requires crates of the correct size. Don’t forget that puppies get bigger. Pick a crate that will be of suitable size for the adult when the puppy matures. Dogs need room to move about and lie down, and they should not be cramped.
The first thing to do when training a dog is to establish that you are in control. Put yourself in an authoritative position, so that your dog knows to obey you. Your dog should not walk ahead of you, because that indicates a position of leadership.
If you need to approach a dog that you are not familiar with, approach it slowly and allow it to sniff your hand. As you do this, you give the dog an opportunity to acclimate to your scent and become used to your presence. After the dog knows your scent, he is unlikely to fear you and may be more willing to heed your command.
Be patient when training a dog. Using patience helps prevent frustration for both you and the dog. Remember that dogs really want to please their owners, but they got confused because we speak a different language that they do not understand.
Be cognitive of the duration of time you and your dog devote to training sessions. Remember that a dog has a short attention span and cannot focus on one thing for too long. Aim for less than 10 minutes per session.
Primary Reinforcement
When you’re training your dog, it is important that you understand primary reinforcement. This method involves eliciting the desired behavior by giving the pet a treat or reward upon completion. Primary reinforcement could be treats or giving your dog a belly rub. This is how you teach your dog to be good to get what he wants.
When you are trying to house train a puppy, it is not going to learn overnight, so be prepared. Your training will go more smoothly if you always clean up accidents right away. Urine and feces smells will stay in the carpet if you don’t clean them up straight away, causing your dog to go back to the same place to do his business. There are a number of products that will get rid if the smell. Look for them at your favorite pet store.
Split treats into bite-sized pieces to keep rewards from affecting your dog’s daily diet, weight or overall health. It’s easy to overlook the treats, but the do add up, especially when you’re doing a lot of training.
Be aware of the other dogs when taking yours for a walk. There are some dogs that are aggressive for reasons that have nothing to do with their owners. Try to keep your dog distant from any dogs that seem aggressive or antisocial.
You can use a spray bottle filled with water as a mild aversive to prevent inappropriate chewing. This will teach your dog that there are certain behaviors that are unacceptable. Eventually, they won’t do these behaviors anymore and your dog will be obedient and playful.
Does your dog like to tug on his leash? This issue is often faced by dog owners, but is quite easy to fix. Purchase a harness, which can reduce the pull on your dog.
When training a pet, it’s best to start out by giving them a treat every time they do what you want them to. Once they become more familiar with the order, you do not have to give a treat every time and can gradually reduce the amount of treats you give.
Dogs who have medical issues will have to have tailored training strategies. For instance, if your dog is experiencing arthritis, making it crawl long distances is not very practical. Older dogs benefit from training in many ways, though. The concentration and mental challenge of training can keep an aging dog’s mind sharp. But do not overdo it and make them work to hard!
Your dog’s mental and emotion health is dependent on it having something to keep it occupied. Your job lies in providing the right stimulation. Taking your dog for long walks outside of your property, or fun chewy toys are fun activities your pet can participate in. Stimulate your dog, or he will become bored and do destructive things.
Of all the stressful dog issues, chewing is the most destructive. In addition to destroying your property, chewing the wrong thing can prove fatal to your pet. Keep any items that may tempt the dog out of its reach. For things you cannot move, spray some bitter spray on them.
Never use treats as the only reward for good behavior. Food is something dogs need to have to survive, so you must use other types of rewards as well. In addition to rewarding with treats, you should praise your dog with petting.
To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The trained instructors can help your pup with any issues he may have, including unnecessary barking, chewing, house training and normal obedience issues.
Training a dog is a lot easier if the trainer can work from a solid understanding of canine behavior. By gaining this knowledge, a person will be able to train their dog effectively. Once an individual understands how a dog thinks, training the dog will be much simpler.