Training a dog really first requires the owner be trained as well. Before an owner is able to train their dog, they need to know what they are doing themselves. There is no basic, dog training instinct bred in humans. It is a task that must be learned. Read on to learn more about the methods to dog training.
Just because your dog is obeying you, do not assume that they are done learning. Your dog is always learning. Never stop reinforcing good behavior. This is especially important if you move. A new surrounding can be very distracting for a dog. You might have to reteach them a great deal.
You need to establish regular feeding routines for your dog. Feed your dog at the same times every day, so that he knows what to expect. Remove the bowl when he is done eating.
Dogs learn through reinforcement. When your dog does something you approve of and you would like to train them to do that on command, reward them with your voice. Consider, for example, the dog that unpredictably brings his owner his slippers. The owner should excitedly say the word “slippers” or whatever word they chose as a command for that behavior.
Create a bridge between the dog’s response to a command and the reward for success. By saying a bridge word such as “yes” or “good”, you will reinforce that the behavior is acceptable and the reward will follow. Keep using this bridge word even after training is complete to be consistent with your pet.
Housebreaking a dog takes time. The key is to be consistent when teaching him where it’s not acceptable for him to relieve himself and consistent in the message that you send as to where you expect him to go. This may be on a pad inside the house, on a lead when you take him outside or running free in a fenced yard.
Establish a verbal cue to let your dog know when a command has been carried out to your satisfaction. Words like “yes” could be an effective way of communicating to your dog that he has done something you are pleased about.
Start training your dog as early in its life as possible, but not younger than about seven weeks. This helps build an early bond between you as the owner and trainer and the dog. However, starting too early will simply overstress the dog; a very young puppy won’t learn anything from training sessions.
If you have a dog that begs, the easiest way to train them from this behavior might be to simply remove the dog from the situation. Shutting the dog out of the room at mealtimes keeps them from pestering you while you eat, and removes the temptation for you to give in to that cute face.
Never punish positive behavior
Physical punishment does not work, and can hinder training. Never ever hit your dog, especially when training. While it may appear to work because the dog stops the behavior, in reality they have only learned to fear you and not do that behavior in your presence. So toss out that rolled up newspaper and break out some tasty treats instead.
Use the same hand signal or voice command to get your dog’s attention. Always start your commands with his name. Get is attention by using its name and make it follow what you want it to do. Dogs listen for their name because they know it means you will say something else.
Ignoring your dogs barking can be an effective way to get him to stop. When your dog barks, he is looking for attention of some sort. If you give it to him, this will encourage him to continue. Instead try looking away and pretending he isn’t there. When he quiets down, reward him with a pat on the head.
Participating in a group class can be a very effective way to train your dog. Group classes are almost always less expensive than individual training sessions. They also offer your dog the opportunity to socialize with other pets. Look for a smaller group though, so that you still have plenty of one on one interaction with the trainer.
A great dog training tip is to get everyone on the same page. If you’re trying to correct certain behavior, you don’t want a family member enabling that bad behavior. By having everyone on the same page, your dog will be much more likely to respond to training.
Never punish positive behavior. If your dog successfully goes to the bathroom outside, and then you leave him, it is as if you are punishing him after he has achieved the results that you desire. Instead, reward him by playing ball with him for a while or rubbing his belly.
Make sure not to accidentally reward a dog for bad behavior. For example, if you let your dog into the yard when he barks, you’re rewarding him by letting him outside for doing something you’d rather he didn’t. Instead make sure only to let the dog outside when he quietly waits by the door, reinforcing good behavior.
Dog-proof your home if you know that your dog is prone to chewing and biting everything in sight when the family is out. If you don’t want to crate your dog, you will have to act as if there is a baby in the house and remove access to those things that your dog may get into when you’re gone.
The first step in successful dog training is successful dog owner training. There are proven techniques and methods to dog training. It is important that the owner learns and sticks to one method. Switching methods can confuse an animal. It is important that the owner understands how to train, as lack of authority can also confuse the animal in training.
Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for man’s best friend
