Dogs may be man's best friend, but some days will leave you frustrated and feeling like your dog is against you. The good news is that, with just a bit of basic training, your dog can become better behaved within just a short amount of time.
To teach or reinforce good behavior, you might try to introduce them to clicker training. To start using a clicker, all you need to do is make a positive association between the noise the clicker makes and great things happening. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Very soon, the animal will understand that the noise is synonymous with good things. This makes the clicker a valuable tool.
When considering the possibility of hiring a professional to work with your dog, look into their background, reputation and conduct an in depth interview with them. Many behavior specialists will have different opinions on how to correctly train a dog, and you want to make sure that the professional is on the same page that you are.
Never tie two or more dogs in close vicinity to one another. It is possible for the chains to become intertwined, and the animals can be hurt as they try to get free. If two dogs' chains become entangled, it is possible that one or both dogs could experience difficulty breathing or even strangulation.
Walking on a leash is a big step in your dog's training. This will help to keep both of you safe while taking walks.
Something you could do is put a toy in the dog's mouth and keep it there. Whenever he accepts the toy, you can feed him a treat. Wait until the dog has the toy in his mouth. After he picks up the toy you will want to click the clicker and give him a treat. Now, reserve the reward for only those times he completely holds the toy inside his mouth.
When guests come into your home, do not hesitate to instruct them on how to approach your dog. This can get your dog overly excited and confused. He may start to jump on the guest or assert his dominance.
Tell your family to make use of the same commands in training your dog. It's confusing to the dog when one person uses the phrase "get off" and someone else says "down boy" to mean the same thing. By having every single family member use the same commands, better success will be achieved for training your dog.
The most important part of dog training is to ensure that dog know its name. You will not be able to control your dog if you do not get his attention first. Be sure to call your dog a dozen times a day until you are sure s/he knows his or her name, and will respond. Avoid confusion by not calling your dog to you for punishment.
Introductions to any new animals must be done very slowly. Think about the pet you have at home, before considering a new addition. To make introductions go as smooth as possible, when you are choosing the new addition, try to find a personality that will complement that of your current pet.
For a dog to become house trained you should always have them on the same feeding schedule everyday, so their elimination time is always the same. This way, you are aware of when your dog will need to do his business, and you can take him outside before an accident occurs. A schedule is a great way to train a dog how to hold in their needs till they can go out.
Before leaving your dog for an extended period, make sure your dog gets some good exercise like a walk. If you make them tired, they will have much less separation anxiety.
It's important your dog always has an understanding of right from wrong. Your dog needs consistency from all members in a household. One family member breaking the rules for the dog can lead to your dog feeling confused when he is reprimanded. You must be consistent with dog training.
You should always give your dog a challenge. Make sure you quiz him on the stuff he knows, so he stays on his toes.
Before you train your puppy, teach him his name and bond with him. Use his name frequently, and train him to come to you when called. These are the commands your dog should learn before anything else. Spend a lot of time with him or her so that trust can be established. If the puppy trusts you, he will be easier to train later.
Your dog should always be able to identify which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. This will require firm boundaries from everybody in your house. It undermines your efforts quickly!
Do not let your own mood influence how you treat your dog. Don't chastise your dog for something that is out of their control.
When dog training, assign a particular word or action to each behavior. This causes a strong association between a word and an action in your dog's mind. In all aspects of dog training, consistency is crucial. You will be more successful this way.
Dog training may end up being a bit of a chore if you're training more than one dog at a time because often, when dogs are together they won't be able to stay concentrated. If your dogs are having difficulty focusing on their training when together, train them each separately. After they have received a bit of training they can be taught together.
If you are training your dog, it is best to use a variety of treats to reward your dog. But, keep these reward treats separate from the every day treats you give him, so he understands he only gets these special treats when he does his training properly.
As soon as you get your puppy, the first thing to teach him/her is their name; this will help build a bond between animal and human. You will want to use his name quite frequently, so he learns it and will come to you when you use it. It is a good idea to have your puppy learn these words first. Be around your puppy a lot, so he knows to trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.
You will be amazed at the results once you start applying these tips. So if your relationship with your pooch is feeling a bit strained, try out some of these tips.