A well trained dog is a pleasure to have around. Training sessions not only improve the behavior of your pet, but also build a stronger bond between a dog and his master. However, simply showing your dog how to behave one time only is ineffective. Training takes time and patience – repetition is one of the most important aspects of training any pet. Reinforcing ideas is essential, and your dog will eventually be much more responsive. The following dog training tips will ensure success in your dog training endeavors.
Basic Commands
A very important command that any dog should know is ‘stay’. Not only can this command stop him from doing something dangerous like running into the street, it can calm him down in a strange place. Firstly, tell him to ‘sit’. Hold him in the sitting position, repeating the word ‘stay’. Praise him with a treat, all the time ensuring that he stays seated.
Consistency is Key
Training doesn’t only happen during designated training sessions. Every time you interact with your pup, you are training him. Make sure to stay consistent in your commands and requests and to continue to reinforce those good behaviors. If you are training him to stay off the couch, don’t let him jump up there while you are watching a show. Stay consistent at all times with what you want him to do and you will see the rewards.
Patience, Patience, Patience…
Dog training should be viewed as a form of self control. If you’re not able to control yourself, you’ll never control your dog. Walk away from your dog, rather than letting him see an angry outburst, and remain calm even when his behavior is not stellar. Your dog will respond in a positive light if he watches you do the same.
When training your dog, it is imperative that you remain patient at all times. Moving too quickly or losing your temper can confuse your dog and cause him to mistrust you. Without proper trust, your dog will never fully submit to your training and your relationship with your dog will surely suffer.
House Training
Don’t feed your dog food they aren’t accustomed to when house training them. Very rich foods, in particular, make it hard for a dog to control their bowels. Stick to the tried and true in terms of types of food and the quantity you feed and the house breaking experience will proceed much more smoothly.
Socializing Your Dog
Not all dogs are comfortable around other dogs or people. The best way to train your dog to be more comfortable around other animals or people is to expose them to as many people, other dogs, cats and other animals as often as possible, preferably earlier in their life. This will make them accustomed to being around others and well socialized.
Set a Regular Training Schedule
When you first start training your dog, try to schedule the training sessions to take place at around the same time every day. If you are making the training sessions a positive experience and doing them on a schedule, your dog will start to look forward to the sessions and enjoy them more.
Positive Reinforcement
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.
Don’t Overdo It
Timing is essential when you are training your dog — you want to spend enough time training them, but do not want go overboard. Start out with a small training session and extend the time every day. When your dog’s attention starts wandering, it’s time to end the training session.
