Dog Training Tips

Having a well-trained dog means that you will be able to take him everywhere that you go, without fear of embarrassment. There also won’t be any safety issues that will arise if your dog is well-behaved. Chewing, jumping, barking, and running away, are all habits that can be truly trying and keep you from exposing your dog to all the marvelous wonders about the world. Dog obedience training should be performed on dogs when they are puppies, but it’s never too late to start. This type of training will teach you and your dog how to work together as a team, instead of struggling against each other all the time. Dogs are pack animals and should understand that you are the leader of your pack. It is important for your dog to also know that he is loved, but you are still in charge. When dogs learn the proper commands; “sit”, “stay”, “come”, “stop”, and so on, this will ensure your role as the leader. Dogs need to know boundaries between what is right and what is wrong. If you tell a dog “no” when he jumps on you and then the next time you don’t, this can be very confusing. You need to maintain consistency; a confused dog is harder to train. The lack of training will then force both of you into a power struggle with both fighting for dominance. This can sometimes form into aggression, which is a whole other issue that can get out of hand. A dog that knows his commands is generally a more well-rounded pet. Some ways that obedience training can be made more effective is by using positive reinforcement when he does something right. If an action isn’t favorable, use a firm tone of voice and hand gestures when appropriate, but never use your hands to hit him. Don’t ignore either kind of behavior, acknowledge both so that he knows which are desired and which aren’t. Only correct him when he is in the middle of doing something he shouldn’t be doing. If you wait too long, the moment has passed and is forgotten. Being repetitious is key, the more an act is performed, the quicker and more concrete it will set in. Keep the training sessions short, so that it isn’t too much to remember all at once. If you try too many dog obedience training techniques at one time, your dog will become confused and frustrated. Stick with whatever you are teaching and make it part of your daily happenings, this will make it easier for the dog to learn how to behave properly.