If you have a dog that is poorly behaved, learning more about training your dog can really help your dog become more obedient. The following advice can help start you and your dog get on the right path.
When training a puppy to use a crate it is important to take your time and start with only a few steps at a time. If they are uncomfortable with the door closed then try to feed them snacks to reassure them that they are okay. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If the dog becomes agitated, slow down a little more to make them more comfortable.
Be careful not to reinforce negative behaviors. Don’t give your dog any attention or treats when he is being bad. You should not pet your dog when it jumps on you or acknowledge its barking.
Refrain from using extreme devices for training your dog, such as a shock collar. They might not work like they say they do and they cost too much. Using shock collars can actually end up having a negative impact on your training. This kind of approach often ends in disaster.
When your pet jumps on you, squeeze its paws lightly. This will make it know jumping is not something that you want it to do. As long as you gently squeeze their paws, you won’t cause harm to your dog. Instead, you’ll just give them an comfortable feeling. After some time, they won’t jump on anyone because they’ll associate it with being made to feel uncomfortable.
Primary reinforcement is the method commonly used to train dogs. You need to give your dog a treat if they are good. This includes treats and rubbing their belly. Using this technique will train your dog what you expect from him.
As you train your dog, have an eye on other dogs when walking yours. Some dogs may be aggressive regardless of how responsible the owner is. If you are aware of an antisocial or aggressive dog, steer your dog away.
Remember that all of your training will mold the personality of your dog. This is something you need to know since you might undo desired behaviors with horse-playing or teasing them. Always work towards desired behaviors to mold them properly.
Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. In order to keep your dog as safe as possible while you are away, he should be kept in a dog crate. Giving him a chew toy while in the crate is also a good idea to keep him busy.
When your dog exhibits undesirable behavior, do not send the wrong signals. If your dog does something wrong and you laugh at him or pet him, then he is likely to repeat this bad behavior indefinitely in the future. Any amusement will shortly be diminished as you struggle to consistently grow together and learn new things. It doesn’t matter just how cute your dog may be whenever he is misbehaving. You have to remain firm and correct his bad behaviors.
When thinking about barking, stay aware of activities or the environment when the dog is barking too much. You can address the behavior better once you realize what the triggers are. For instance, if the dog tends only to bark when visitors arrive, ask someone to come by to assist you in solving the problem.
You need to know if your dog is old and has limits to training. It’s impossible to perfectly train older dogs because of the quirks already ingrained into them. If you decide to adopt an older pooch, you may end up with a dog who is pretty set in his ways. Try to change the things that are negative, to make your older dog a better pet.
Do not permit your dog to pull you around. You have to lead them, nothing else will do. Make use of a quality training collar as well as a short leash when you start training, be sure you keep the dog at a heel position as you walk and always enter doorways or gates ahead of the dog. Don’t forget that you are the boss.
While it is definitely possible to teach an older dog new tricks, you want to be mindful of medical issues or conditions that may limit his ability to engage in some behaviors. Dogs with arthritis, for example, shouldn’t be asked to crawl all over. Training can help stimulate a dog’s cognitive functioning, which is beneficial for older dogs. But do not overdo it and make them work to hard!
Do not let the pressures of your day or life influence how you speak to your dog when you are training. Start the training session with good feelings and expectations. Only correct your dog after he has done something you don’t want him to.
Barking dogs should not be shouted at! Yelling at your dog to stop barking is like hitting your kid to stop fighting. It reinforces the behavior rather than correcting it. You instead create a feedback loop where your dog starts thinking whatever is causing them to bark is making you shout. So instead keep your cool and distract your dog’s attention.
Tell your family to make use of the same commands in training your dog. For example, if your dog were to jump on the table and you say “off!” but another family member says “get down!”, these conflicting commands will just confuse the dog. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.
Good dog training can teach your dog everything from basic behavior modification to advanced trick mastery. Apply what you’ve learned here, and you’ll be an expert dog trainer in no time.