It is widely acknowledged that the better trained your dog is, the higher quality of a relationship the two of you will enjoy. Well-trained, social dogs are lots of fun to be around. Keep reading to build a better pet-owner relationship.
Make sure you feed your dog healthy food. A bad diet can cause your dog many problems. This is not just bad for the dog’s health; it may also play a role in their negative behavior. A proper diet can affect how well they react to training.
Ensure that your dog gets enough activity. Almost all dogs have short attention spans. Bored dogs are difficult to train. When your dog is happy and well-exercised, he will be more willing to pay attention to his training. Go for a long walk with your dog.
Dogs will focus on something and ignore all else unless something breaks that attention. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.
Shock Collars
Avoid costly training tools such as shock collars. They are often scams and, in any case, are completely unnecessary to proper dog training. Also, using devices such as shock collars can restrain your dog while discouraging good behavior. Generally speaking, these techniques often produce undesirable results.
When you meet an unfamiliar dog, you should go up to him slowly and allow him to sniff your hand. This gives the dog the opportunity to recognize your scent and start to trust you. Dogs are more likely to be friendly and obedient if they recognize you.
When it’s time to introduce house training to your dog, put him on a consistent schedule of eating and elimination. This gives you important forehand knowledge to prevent accidents and your dog an association of cause and effect to follow. Adhering to a schedule also helps the dog learn to wait until the proper time comes to go outside.
You always want to make certain your dog has good leash manners. The safety of both of you while out walking is paramount, and the proper training will ensure this.
Continue training your dog using the same techniques over time. When others are involved in the training, everyone should be on the same page and use the same commands. Use the same phrases and commands in every training session with your dog to avoid confusion.
Keep track of the number of treats you give your dog. Your dog needs to watch his weight, too. Many people don’t take these into account with their diet, but they can add up during active training.
Consistency is key when housebreaking your dog. When you start housebreaking a puppy, you will want to take it outside as often as possible. When he does his toilet outside, remember to praise him. Don’t scold a dog after an accident. He is not yet aware that this is wrong and he is going to learn if you just yell at him. Have the dog outside around 15 minutes post-meal or drink to ensure he can empty himself.
It is important that your dog return to you on command. You dog should know to go back to you every time that you call him. Break a complicated behavior down into several steps so it is easier for your dog to learn. This crucial skill can save your pooch’s life, so be willing to commit some time to it.
When you are using your dog’s name negatively while scolding him, be sure to repeat it several times lovingly as well. He must not think that his name is a negative word. If he does, then he won’t come when called.
Older Dogs
Understand limitations of older dogs. Older dogs are harder to train because of developed quirks, so it is best to learn to live with those that are manageable. Keep in mind that adopting an older dog means the chance of getting a dog already set in how they do things. Although you may be able to teach an older dog new habits, there may be some habits that cannot be changed.
It’s possible to teach older dogs newer tricks, but consider conditions or medical issues that might limit some behavioral training. For instance, if your dog is experiencing arthritis, making it crawl long distances is not very practical. You can keep your senior dog sharp and alert by providing regular training. Do make sure that your dog is not in pain when engaging in exercise and training sessions.
Make sure your dog’s check ups are current. If you have a hard time training your dog, you should take them to the vet. Dogs are good at hiding their pain. Sometimes changes in behavior are the only indication that there may be a health problem. For instance, aggression can be caused by pain, and a sudden increase in bathrooming accidents can be a sign of a UTI.
One good training method is known as “shake-can”. Take an old can, throw some bolts or coins in it, and seal it up tight. Shake the can whenever your dog does something wrong. This will get the dog’s attention and take his mind off of what he was doing. After doing this for a while, your dog will recognize he is acting badly. Just shake it one time though, shaking it too much will desensitize your dog.
Never raise your voice to your dog during training. Shouting in response to barking can actually reinforce the barking, as the dog may see you as taking part in the fun noise-making. This feedback makes the dog know that they are not supposed to be barking at what it is they are barking at.
Animal Specialist
Always research and interview a behavior specialist for animals before hiring them. Opinions and techniques can vary from animal specialist to animal specialist. Make sure that the trainer you hire has a mentality similar to yours when it comes to working with pets.
Often people are pleasantly surprised at how easily and quickly they can train their dog. A bit of change on our part along with dedication to the training session will always bring about great rewards.
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