Teaching your dog a fun trick, such as “play dead” can be a fun way of distracting him. When your dogs behavior is bad, simply use the command you have established for his trick instead of using negative punishment. This provides for a fun activity for your dog and creates a positive environment for you as well.
Always be kind and patient with your dog. Understand that training dogs can be frustrating since some dogs have a more difficult time learning obedience than others. Always try not to lose your temper and resist the urge to scream or shout at your dog. Also, never hit your dog as this will only serve to confuse it and will actually make training more difficult.
When training, be specific about what you want your dog to do. Using vague commands like “no” tend to be ineffective. No only tells him that you didn’t like what he did, but not why. If you say “no” when he jumps on the couch, he may think you wanted him to jump higher. Use specific commands like stay and sit for better results.
If you want to help your dog succeed in his training program, take a moment to try and think like he does. Understanding how your pet views the world can help you make better training decisions for him. The better suited your program is to your dog’s personality, the more success you will have while training.
Your friends and family, in most cases, are not dog trainers. While those around you may have advice and opinions on how you should handle your dog’s training, it does not mean they are correct. This input may be well-meaning, however, you can ignore most of it if you have taken the time to do your homework.
When training your dog, be sure to enforce every command you give. This helps your dog understand that they must listen to you when you give a command. If your dog learns to think that he can can ignore you when you give a command, it can be very difficult to correct this.
When training your dog to walk on a leash, remember that your dog should follow where you lead, not the other way around. Dogs are pack animals, and the leader of the pack always travels in front. You want your dog to see you as the leader, so they need to learn to walk behind you.
Don’t waste your money on cruel, ineffective gadgets such as shock collars. Often times, they do not work and are over priced. Plus, using shock collars could discourage your dog in having good behavior. Using these techniques can have poor results.
When you are training your dog, focus on what your dog does right during the training sessions, not what they do wrong. This will make training more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Enjoyable training sessions will ensure that your dog remembers what you taught and is ready to come back for more at the next session.
The best way to train your dog is to use different tones of voices. Giving a command or correcting a negative behavior requires an authoritative tone, while praise can be softer. Always be firm when issuing a command. Corrections should be even sharper. Praise should be offered in your natural tone.
Correct bad behavior immediately. The common mistake many people make in the care for their dog is allowing bad behavior to go unchecked until it becomes a problem. Proper training of a dog involves recognizing bad behavior right away and correcting it. It is harder to correct a problem once it has grown out of proportion.
Now one is ready to go out and teach their dog the right way to behave. That crazy monster can be transformed into a calm animal that won’t slobber all over one’s guests. With the proper information learned an individual can correct their pet dog’s wild behavior with the right behavior.
