There are a number of different reasons to train dogs. Dogs can be trained for pleasure, hunting, work, or protection. It is well know that dogs love to please their humans. This is one of reasons they are known as man’s best friend. Here are some tips that can make training your dog a snap.
If you are attempting to crate train your dog, remember that it is a multi-step process. After they become used to each individual step and do not mind going inside the crate, try shutting the door and giving them treats with the door closed. Start off small, like 10 seconds at a time, and slowly move up the times. If the dog becomes overwhelmed, it means that you are moving too quickly for them.
Try not to reinforce bad behaviors from your dog. You should avoid using strips of food or attention to train when you are trying to discourage behaviors. If you wish to keep your dog from begging for table scraps, don’t encourage him by slipping him a morsel one night or allowing others to do so.
Patience is definitely a virtue when training your pet. This will prevent both you and your dog from getting angry and frustrated with the training process. Understand that the proper training will come with time, so cut your dog some slack and let them learn.
“Leave it” is an important command to teach, starting when you bring your dog home. This can help get your dog to stop chomping on your belongings and help keep them safe from hazardous materials.
If your dog jumps up, quickly bring your knee up to encounter his chest and say OFF! This will not hurt if done lightly, but it will be an uncomfortable feeling. After some time, they won’t jump on anyone because they’ll associate it with being made to feel uncomfortable.
When you discipline your dog, your tone is an important factor. Dogs are in tune with human emotions and pick much of that up from your voice. A dog will realize that a stern tone means that he is being disciplined.
Use a spray bottle filled with water to prevent your dog from doing things it should not do, such as scratching the furniture or biting. Getting sprayed is a little unpleasant, and will give your dog the idea the the behavior is unacceptable. Eventually, your furry companion will quit these annoying traits, and you can enjoy your time with them more often without having to worry about them biting.
A useful tip for training your dog is to avoid rewarding the dog for bad behavior. When this happens, you are teaching your dog that he is boss. When a dog barks, never reward it, for example.
Teach dogs a “down” command. You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills. Teaching your dog the down command can be extremely useful.
Does your dog pull on the leash? A lot of owners have to deal with this problem, but the solution is quite simple. Purchase a harness, which can reduce the pull on your dog.
Stay consistent when you are trying to train your dog. Make a list of the commands that you are teaching your dog, and be sure that everyone in your household knows them. Anyone needing to handle your dog should follow the same program, using reward for good behavior and taking care to never reward bad behavior. Your dog will understand what is required if everyone involved uses the same approach.
Consider using a crate when house training your dog. Always take your dog out consistently if you want to be effective at crate training. Dogs who are crate trained are often the best trained, having less accidents.
If you wish to succeed when training your dog, you should commit yourself to a particular length of time consistently. Consistency and repetition are the keys to successful training. Spending time with your pet daily will make him feel like you are someone to rely on. Your dog will see you as the pack leader.
Your dog will not dig in the trash if you feed it and give it enough toys. Empty the garbage can often and do not put things inside that appeal to dogs. You may need to put your dog in a crate if you are going out or place the trash in an area he can’t get to.
Clicking Noise
Try introducing a clicker to reinforce great behavior. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Work on making the click and the reward happen in close succession, and do so frequently during a multiple-day span. Soon, your dog will associate the clicking noise with a treat, which can help to reinforce desirable behaviors.
Your dog’s brain must be exercised as well. Dogs who do not over-chew can greatly benefit from canine puzzle toys, as they help with problem solving and senses. There are puzzle toys of all different types, so choose one that will appeal to your dog’s individual strengths.
As you can see, pets are trained for many different reasons. The natural willingness of dogs in general makes most easy to train. This article, hopefully, has helped you with some ideas that can make it less of a hassle to train your dog.