A dog can mean a companion waiting for you when you get home, a walking buddy, and a pal you can always play with. However, it can also mean torn-up shoes, incessant barking, and a general lack of obedience. Training your dog can alleviate these problems, but it sometimes feels like your dog just won’t learn. This article will provide some advice that will help make your dog a friend, not a foe.
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. Once your dog is accustomed to being in the crate, try closing the door and giving your pet a treat through the wire. Only keep the gate closed for short periods of time at first and increase time slowly. If the dog becomes agitated, slow down a little more to make them more comfortable.
Always ensure your dog is getting enough exercise. Almost all dogs have short attention spans. When a dog is bored, he will be hard to train. Keeping your dog exercised and happy will help them pay attention more due to releasing all excess energy that often distracts them from your commands. Go on runs or long walks together.
Dogs often become destructive because they are bored and lonely. Consider a house dog that destroys the sofa while you are away from the house. Consider the larger outside dog that chews up the shrubbery. The answer to alleviating their destructive behavior might be as simple as spending more time with them or buying them a new toy.
Look for triggers that may cause bad behavior from your dog. If your dog is suddenly exhibiting unwanted behaviors, maybe something has changed that day: Has he been able to go on a walk or has he been cooped up? Were you gone all day when normally someone is at home? Dogs are creatures of consistency and when things change their behavior can change as well.
Crate training is a good skill for a dog of any age to have. Teaching your dog to stay in their crate quietly takes time and patience but can be a valuable tool while potty training or a safe place for him to stay while you are away from the house.
Next time your dog jumps up on you in excitement, tell them “Off” in a firm (but not angry) voice, gently push them off, and turn your back. The verbal command and action of moving them reinforces what the command means, and turning restricts their access to you. This accomplishes two things: a) your dog can’t jump on you anymore, b) your dog feels he loses your attention, which is the exact opposite of what he wants. This teaches him quickly not to jump on you.
When you are trying to train your dog to follow a command, repetition is key. Practice the command multiple times a day and be sure to offer your dog praise and a treat when he or she successfully follows your command. Repetition will ensure that your dog will remember and follow the command in the future.
Spend time each day training your dog, even if for only a few minutes a day. Dogs respond well when they get to practice what they are learning and what they have learned. Practicing at least 15 minutes a day on commands your dog already knows keeps the dog in practice.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is that there is no one way to train your dog because your dog is unique. This is important because you need to understand your dogs needs, and what the best way is to approach training and discipline. You definitely do not want to stick to a method if it is the wrong way to teach your dog.
To train young dogs to walk with a leash, you must first have the dog wear a collar during playtime. Helping your dog feel comfortable with a collar on is critical because it helps ease the adjustment to a leash, and it also facilitates identification of the dog should he become lost.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is to be sure that you introduce it to social environments early and frequently. Your dog must learn how to behave when other people or dogs are present, and there is no other way to teach this skill. This helps reduce unacceptable behavior in social environments.
One of the first things to teach your dog is to come to you when called. Your dog needs to learn to return to you when he is called, under any circumstances. Work on this behavior the most and make sure your dog follows your command. Having your dog come back to you might help you, or them, when in a life-threatening spot one day.
Allow your puppy to interact with other dogs. Puppies are often taken away from their siblings when they are quite young, before they have had the chance to learn how to naturally interact with other dogs. The majority of what a dog initially learns is through its family members. Once your puppy has all the appropriate shots, allow him to spend time with other dogs.
Remember that your dog training is going on 24 hours a day. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you are only training your dog during your obedience classes and practice sessions. Your dog is watching and learning from you during every interaction you have with it, so be sure you are always reinforcing good behavior.
A dog is man’s best friend, but many times it can feel as if it’s the greatest rival. Properly training a dog is a necessity for getting the dog you want. The tips here will hopefully make sure that your dog is indeed a good friend and not a rival. It may take a lot of work, but heeding the advice will get rid of the bad aspects of the dog, keeping only the good ones.