When thinking about canine training, think of your dog as a remote that has to be programmed in order for it to work properly. The potential is there, but it's your job to suss it out. The potential is already within your dog, you just have to use the tips below to bring it out.
When training, find a verbal clue your pet can understand so they will know exactly when to do as you say. One good word can act as an appreciated segue from the good behavior to the ultimate reward.
Keep training sessions with your puppy short. A puppy has a short attention span and limited energy to focus, so keep your sessions brief and as positive as possible. If your training sessions stress your puppy, he will grow increasingly less attentive in future sessions.
A spray bottle filled with water is a great deterrent when your dog is misbehaving. This will help your dog understand that certain behaviors will not be tolerated. Your dog will instead focus on good behaviors with more positive outcomes.
As with most things, and this goes with puppy training as well, don't ever give up. If your dog doesn't get reinforcement for his current level of training, he's likely to slide back into how he acted before he was trained. Training never ends. It is an important part of taking care of your dog.
Ensure that your dog knows the rules to follow, and be consistent; this will teach it right from wrong. You will need to have these rules enforced by everyone in your home. It confuses the dog and sabotages your efforts.
Regular challenges will keep your dog from losing his chops. Try giving them “quizzes” to see what they know, even if you know they will succeed.
Never punish your dog while trying to train him. Try to prevent bad behavior, but if it does happen, show your dog what he should have done. Training sessions are a time to bond with your pet, and instead of instilling fear in your dog, the process should result in a positive and loving relationship.
If your puppy is caught chewing on something unacceptable, stop him immediately. By doing this, you are teaching him what is okay to chew on.
Offer only your dog's most favored treats when rewarding exceptionally good behavior, or when he accomplishes particularly difficult feats. This is one time you can use something you would not usually give them, like meat.
Now that you are armed with some great advice, you are all set to begin the task of training your dog. Your dog will take pleasure in learning commands and will love to see you happy when he does something right.