Dog owners buy their pet expecting things to turn out well. Yet, all too often things don't go as expected and the dog is given to an animal shelter. This doesn't need to be the cause, though. If trained correctly, your dog can be a pleasant addition to your family. Use the information below to help your dog become well mannered and an obedient family member.
Positive reinforcement is important when training your dog. Treats, toys and praise have to be given in the right doses and at the correct times. If you do not give the treat right away, your dog is not going to understand why you are rewarding it.
If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. It is possible for the chains to become intertwined, and the animals can be hurt as they try to get free. In the case that a large dog and small dog become entangled, the large dog's rope or chain could cut off air circulation to the small dog, and it could be severely injured or die.
When you are house training your puppy, remember, what goes in, must come out. Feed your dog a high-quality diet three times a day. This way, you will have a good idea of when your pup needs to go out, so that there is less of a chance that an accident will occur.
Choosing the correct crate size is extremely important. Remember, puppies grow up. Choose a crate which will be the right size for the dog when he grows up. There should be ample room for the dog to lie down and turn comfortably.
Don't reinforce your dog's negative behavior by accident. Do not pay attention to your dog or pet it if he does something you are not happy about. For example, don't rub your dog's head when they jump up at you and when you come in the door if you don't want them to jump.
You need to teach your dog how to walk when on a leash. Not only is this safer for the dog and easier on your body, such a frequent activity mandates good self-control and reinforcement of the chain of command from training.
Use the same hand signal or voice command to get your dog's attention. Always start your commands with his name. Then, say the command. Dogs listen for their name because they know it means you will say something else.
In order to prevent barking, teach your dog to obey orders to be quiet. When he barks, show him his favorite treat, and repeat the command. “Quiet” works well. Only give the treat when you dog has done as you have asked. If you do this a lot of times your dog will know if they are not barking they will get a treat.
Be certain to maintain consistency in training. When everyone is participating in the training progress, you should be sure that each member of the family is applying the same rules and commands. The dog is sure to have a simpler time learning, as long as he is asked to obey just one group of commands and is given consistent responses.
Challenging though it may be, you can have a dog who is obedient, loving and healthy. It is imperative that you give your pet a lot of your time and attention. Apply the tips you've just read so your dog remains well-behaved at all times.