Dogs are lovable animals. They are playful, obedient, and there for you on any occasion. Dogs make excellent pets as they are wonderful companions for anyone of any age. While dogs are great, they do require a bit of training. The tips in this article should help you with dog training.
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.
Crate training your dog should be approached gradually and patiently. By slowly accustoming the dog to the crate, you allow him to see it as his den. Once the dog views the crate as a safe space, not a place of punishment, he will gladly relax in his crate while you are away from home.
Use your dogs name whenever possible but try to make sure it is only used in a positive and rewarding tone. For example “good boy Zeuss” instead of “bad dog Zeuss”. This will ensure that your pet realize that it has done well and will continue to want to please its owner.
As you progress in training your dog, only give rewards for obedience the first time you give a command such as “come” or “sit”. The dog will quickly learn that it is better to get the reward by obeying the first command than having you repeat it and not give the reward. Do praise the dog when it finally obeys, but save the treats for quick obedience.
Train you small furry friend to get along with other dogs! Small dogs need socializing too! Many small dog owners forget that their dogs need exercise and social time just like large dogs. Small breed puppies should be socialized early, so they become comfortable with many sizes and temperaments of dogs. Furthermore, they should become comfortable with walking outdoors at an early age.
When training your dog, be competent! Your dog wants to know that you are in charge and that you know what you are doing. If you are inconsistent, anxious, irritable, angry, or in any way unstable while training your dog, you will not succeed. You must be calm, consistent, and competent. If you don’t know about dog training, it is a very good idea to learn from books, videos and people who know before you ever get a dog!
Chewing is something that all puppies do when teething, and you need to let them know exactly what they can and can’t chew. Provide your puppy with his own chew toys to alleviate the pain of teething, and try to keep other items out of reach. If you catch your puppy chewing on something unacceptable, firmly say ‘no’, and take the item away from him. Immediately replace it with one of his designated chew toys. If your puppy is in a lot of pain due to teething, a frozen wet washcloth is ideal for him to chew on.
When you give your dog a command, state it once. If your dog does not respond, do not repeat the command. If you do this he may learn that he can ignore you. If the command is ignored, say the command one more time and gently reinforce it. If after you say the command for a third time and your dog does not obey, it is probably time for a break.
Young puppies can be quickly potty trained by keeping them with you all the time and carefully observing their actions. When very young they might need to be taken outside as frequently as every hour! By carefully watching them you’ll quickly learn how they act when they need to relieve themselves.
Yelling at your dog to stop him from barking can be very ineffective. Instead, try talking calmly to him, and teach him a word that he will associate with quiet. Yelling, to your dog, sounds like you are barking right along with him and so, it can further encourage him to bark.
A great dog training tip is to make sure your dog gets a little bit of exercise every day. Exercise is not only good for your dog’s health, it also keeps them social with other people and other dogs. Taking your dog for a daily walk is key for socialization.
One of the first things most people teach their dogs is the sit command. This is very basic but is handy for your dog to know, especially when you want to get his attention. One way to teach your dog to sit is to take a piece of dog treat and hold it about six inches from his nose. Slowly raise the treat straight up and say “Fido, sit”. You may have to use your hand to help him into the position until he realizes what you want.
Good training sessions are those in which your dog has expended some of their energy and have a calm demeanor. Find ways to exercise your dog, whether indoors or out so you can deplete some of the energy that makes training erratic. Take a walk with your dog and use the time to plan a small training session when you are finished.
If you want to train a new puppy to walk on a leash, the first step is to put a collar on the young puppy while you are playing with him. Having the puppy get comfortable wearing the collar is important not only so that you can properly use a leash but also that your puppy has the proper identification tags in case he or she takes off.
As stated before, dogs are lovable animals due to their playfulness and obedient nature. Dogs are always there for you and make excellent companions. With all the great qualities that dogs have, they will require training. Using the tips from this article, you can train any dog into the perfect companion.