Part of the responsibility of pet ownership includes making sure your dog is well-trained. Not only will a solid foundation in obedience make your dog a good citizen, it also ensures that he remains safe and happy. Ahead you will find some tips for getting the most from your training your dog efforts.
Crates need to be treated as the dog's second home. Leave the crate door open and place food inside of it when it's time to eat. They will think of their crate as a happy place.
Dogs have a short attention span and you will have to attract his attention. When a command is reinforced properly and often enough, your dog will begin to shift his focus from the distractions around to you in order to wait for your signal.
The rule of thumb with puppies and house training is to remember: what is eaten will pass. To keep your puppies toiletry habits regular, feed him a high quality food 2-3 times a day at the same time each day. This will help you figure out when the best time is to take your dog out and avoid accidents.
If you intend to use a crate in training your dog, make sure the crate is an appropriate size for your dog. Keep in mind, puppies do not stay small forever. Find a crate big enough for your adult dog. At full size your dog should be able to move around without feeling too constricted.
Establish a verbal cue to let your dog know when a command has been carried out to your satisfaction. The word “yes” can be the bridge between rewards and good behavior.
Continuously maintain all training that you have done with your dog, and consider adding new behaviors as you go. A lot of times owners thing training is a one time event. Like their human owners, pets truly are creatures of habit. For this reason, you need to reinforce what your dog has learned in training or better still, teach him a new trick every now and then.
When training your dog, one of the first commands they should be aware of is the “drop” command, which lets them know they should drop any items they have in their mouth. This simple command is beneficial in making him stop on chewing furniture inside the house.
Primary Reinforcement
Use primary reinforcement to train your dog. Primary reinforcement involves utilizing something that the dog loves to reward good behavior. Some examples of primary reinforcements are food and rubbing the dog's belly. This is how you teach your dog to be good to get what he wants.
Prior to training your puppy, make a bond with your dog by teaching him what his name is. Always use his name, and expect him to come to you when he is called. Your puppy's name should be one of its first words learned. It's important that the time spent with your puppy is quality time. Spend your time playing with your puppy. This way he will get to know you quicker and will begin to trust you faster. This way, you will find future training to be infinitely easier.
Hopefully these tips gave you the information you can use to have a more enjoyable relationship with your dog. Owning a properly trained dog takes the stress out of dog ownership and allows you to enjoy your pooch's company. Whether you get help from a professional or not, training your dog is one of the best ways to ensure the best possible life for your dog.