With A Bit Of Training And Attention, Your Pup Can Be It’s Best

A dog is a man’s (or woman’s) best friend!

Dogs are wonderful pets to come home to at the end of a long day or take for a run around your favorite park. If you want to make your relationship with your dog better, having your dog trained is very important. Below you’ll find tips and hints to help you with the dog training process so you and your dog can have a mess free, relaxing and fun time together.

Dogs quickly learn whether or not you really expect them to respond to your commands every time or if they might be able to get away with not obeying on occasion. Don’t send false messages! Don’t give your dog a command unless you are prepared to follow through and insure your dog obeys that command.

Training your dog to walk on lead takes time. The idea is to have your dog walk obediently beside you without straining, tugging, and pulling from side to side. Correct your dog’s movement with short snaps of the lead that pull sharply and abruptly back against his momentum. He will stop pulling and walk complacently for a time beside you. During this time loosen the lead but when he pulls again snap the lead again.

A dog has an inquiring mind and will look at one thing for quite a while until its attention is broken. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.

If you are trying to train a dog that seems unresponsive and even aggressive, check to see that the dog’s basic needs have been met. A dog that doesn’t get enough attention, for example, will be grumpy and not respond well to training. And of course a hungry dog will be unlikely to respond as well.

Make sure you and your family are consistent with your commands.

If one person uses “down” to tell the dog to get off the couch while another says “off” and a third is letting him lay there, the dog is going to get mixed signals. It makes it much more difficult for him to learn the commands.

Repetition is one of the most important aspects of training any pet. Simply showing your dog how to behave one time only is ineffective. Reinforcing ideas is essential, and your dog will eventually be much more responsive.

All dogs should be taught the basics of obedience training not only to keep them safe but to protect people and other animals to which they are exposed. Start teaching your dog how to sit, stay, heel, come, and understand the word “no” as soon as he is old enough to be trained. Even the calmest dog may unexpectedly start to chase a car, a bike, a cat or a squirrel. Giving the command “no” or “come” should stop the dog in his tracks and prevent him from getting hit by a car or endangering the person or animal he is chasing. Some dogs tend to jump on people as a means of welcoming them, but this could be dangerous to small children or elderly people who aren’t steady on their feet. Telling your dog to “sit” and “stay” eliminates this concern. A well-trained dog not only makes a pleasant companion but also reduces the risk of accidental injury to himself or others.

Practice patience when you are training your dog. This will reduce anger, stress and tension when you train your dog. Your dog’s goal is to make you happy, but since he does not speak like a human does, it is harder for him to communicate.

To teach your dog to sit, gently push down on his behind as you give the verbal command “Sit!” and make a hand gesture with your palm facing down. Each time your dog sits successfully, even if you have to help him out, give him a treat and praise him. It is important that your dog know how to sit so that you can build on this command and eventually teach him to “Stay!”

Primary reinforcement is something that you can implement in your training sessions. Primary reinforcement uses something that is inherent for the dog to love as a reward for good behavior. Primary reinforcements include using food as treats and rubbing your dog’s belly. Doing this will show your dog alternatives for obtaining what he wants appropriately.

If you don’t want your new puppy to chew on your belongings, take ownership of them and keep them out of his reach. A new puppy is naturally inclined to chew, and a fresh shoe or purse can look very inviting. If you only keep items that the puppy is allowed to have within his reach, your valuables will remain safe.

Having your dog trained can make all the difference in your relationship. By following the above tips, you’ll be able to have a better time with your dog with less hassle and mess. If your dog wasn’t your best friend before, he or she will be after some simple dog training!