Good dog owners know that a good dog is one that is trained. If you get your dog out there to be social, and he is trained well, you will ensure that he will behave and be happier and healthier. Here are some useful tips on finding a proper trainer, or becoming a good one yourself.
Try to think about what it would be like to be your dog. Canine training can get extremely frustrating at times, especially when your dog isn't learning commands that you think are very simple. Do not give up! Switch things up by thinking like a dog. Your dog might not be making the connection between the order and the behavior you expect from them because you have not repeated the exercise enough times.
Make sure to give your puppy plenty of toys that are okay to chew, so that he isn't tempted to chew other things that aren't okay to chew. Offer your puppy a variety of acceptable items to chew on. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.
Teaching a new puppy to “leave it” is very important and one of the first commands that you should work on. “Leave it” can prevent furniture chewing, save valuable objects from being destroyed and save your dog from consuming dangerous and/or poisonous substances.
Training Sessions
Your daily schedule should consist of regular potty breaks, regular training sessions and an hour of good exercise. Ensuring your dog gets thorough exercise will cause your training sessions to be much more effective, which will encourage your dog to behave better. A dog who has proper training and enough play time will be a happy dog.
Positive reinforcement is the preferred training method for dogs. You can use treats, toys, positive speech and even belly rubs. Never hit or shout at your dog. Your dog will not respond well to these methods and will not understand what you want them to do. Instead, make sure you are firm, patient, consistent and positive so that you can achieve the best possible results.
When training a dog, watch that you do not overdo giving the dog treats. Too many treats can really plump a dog up. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dog's diet plan.
Try to keep your leash loose when you take your dog outside to train. Dogs like to sniff far and wide when going for a walk, and a too-tight leash will cause them strain. Their eagerness and energy may cause them to pull on the leash. Informed owners avoid this behavior by leaving a bit of slack when walking.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is to never, ever reward bad behavior in an effort to quickly end a behavior. This just teaches the dog what it can do and what power it has over you. When a dog barks, never reward it, for example.
Hopefully these tips will have helped you along your way to enjoy your pet. Training your dog well makes your dog more fun to have around and cause less stress. Whether you train your dog yourself, or hire a professional, the fact that your dog is being trained is of the utmost importance.