Improve Your Dog’s Temperament With These Training Tips

by | Jul 25, 2023 | Dog Training

TIP! Timing is essential when you are training your dog, so you want to spend enough time training them but do not want go overboard. Start small and build up a bit daily.

When training your dog, do not treat your dog like he is a person with a great intellectual capacity. You will be disappointed if you expect too much from your dog. This article will help you understand how your dog thinks and improve your communication and training skills.

TIP! Set a schedule and routine for feeding your dog from the very beginning of your relationship. You can set a firm schedule by teaching the dog to anticipate that the food will be removed within 10 to 15 minutes of the start of mealtime.

Make sure that you use a gradual process when training your dog. Start with a quick session initially, adding time with successive training periods. Know when your dog does not pay attention when you are training it.

TIP! Shock collars are not a good idea. They are often scams and, in any case, are completely unnecessary to proper dog training.

Stay in control as you reward your dog’s good behavior. Giving a reward for an appropriate behavior is correct, but do it quickly and move on. If you are overly excited, the dog will become that way too. Remain calm, expect them to be calm, and then award them when appropriate.

TIP! Choose an easily teachable action to train your dog with in the beginning. Aside from being rewarded instantly for your success, this will also give your dog the important basis of what is an acceptable behavior or trick.

When crate training a young puppy you must be consistent. Give the puppy consistent opportunities to relieve himself every time you let him out. Eventually, the puppy will learn to wait to pee until given the opportunity.

TIP! When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Use their name often, and then teach them how to come to you when called.

During the canine training process, take care not to inadvertently reinforce bad behavior. You should avoid using strips of food or attention to train when you are trying to discourage behaviors. If your dog leaps on you when you return home and you wish to discourage this behavior, you must ignore him and go about your business. Even negative attention from you can cause the behavior to continue.

TIP! To train young dogs to walk with a leash, you must first have the dog wear a collar during playtime. When he is comfortable in the collar, he’ll be ready to learn how to walk on a leash, too.

Stay away from training devices such as shock collars. They might not work like they say they do and they cost too much. These devices can stifle your dog’s natural reactions and have negative effects on even good or acceptable behaviors. Using these techniques can have poor results.

TIP! A spray bottle filled with water is a great deterrent when your dog is misbehaving. Your dog will quickly learn that bad behaviors cause bad outcomes.

When training dogs, use a similar tone and volume when you give commands. The tone should be firm, so your dog understands that you are issuing a command, not a suggestion. It also helps the dog to understand the difference between a sharp tone for discipline and a sharp but non-punishing command.

Training Sessions

TIP! During the dog training process, it is a good idea to use various treats as rewards for your dog’s good behavior. Your dog can’t think that the treats you are giving out are just ordinary and not associated with his actions.

Maintain brief training sessions. Dogs can’t pay attention for a long time, so keep sessions short and dynamic. If you do have long training sessions, break it up so your dog can rest a little bit.

TIP! When training your dog, use many resources, such as books on dog training, dog magazines and books about the particular breed of dog that you wish to train. Ask other people who own the same breed of dog what training techniques worked for them.

Teach your dog that no response is required when you say ‘no’. Use positive reinforcement to encourage good behavior. Telling them “no” does not help them know how to react to you. Make sure that your training regimen is unique to your specific dog.

TIP! When you begin dog training, do not assume you will not be bitten merely because you believe being human makes you the leader. Until you have established yourself as the pack leader, you dog may think that the position is his.

Expect mistakes and setbacks when housebreaking a puppy. Clean accidents up immediately to assist in your training efforts. If you don’t clean accidents up quickly, your pet may smell the mess and eliminate in the same spot again. Look into different cleaners, especially enzyme cleaners, available at any pet store.

TIP! Like people, different type of dogs may respond to different types of training. Easygoing dogs respond well to positive reinforcement, while more aggressive breeds need a stronger hand.

Don’t give your dog too many treats as rewards, or he might start adding too many pounds. Many people do not factor in treats when they are tabulating a pet’s diet, but they do add up, particularly while you are training.

TIP! Your dog’s brain also needs some exercise. There are many puzzle toys for dogs which can be a huge help.

Water spray bottles can be used to avert bad behavior. Getting sprayed is a little unpleasant, and will give your dog the idea the the behavior is unacceptable. Before you know it, your dog will cease the biting behavior and just be playful.

TIP! Some dogs can get so frightened during a thunderstorm that they can actually harm themselves. Talk to your vet about any phobias your dog has.

Don’t reward or ignore bad behavior because you want to put a stop to it. This will teach your pet that it could do whatever it is that it wants and that it has control over you. For instance, avoid giving treats to calm a barking dog.

TIP! Learning how to incorporate positive reinforcement when training your dog can be a very effective strategy. Using food is an effective and popular way to train dogs.

It is possible to teach your pup to wait to eliminate, if you are consistent in your training. When at home, keep your dog close and let him outside each hour. Praise him immediately as soon as he goes to the bathroom outside. If your dog has an accident in the home, do not scold him. He can’t understand why you are yelling. Your dog should be taken outside when he emerges from his crate, and within 15 minutes of eating or drinking.

TIP! It is possible to designate a specific indoor area for elimination, as well. Potty pads or papers must be set around the house, and gradually moved to the single place you have designated.

If you want your dog to be more agile, make sure you have chosen a breed suited for it. Just about any dog can participate in agility sports, though Border Collies, Shetland sheepdogs, Labs and Australian shepherds are particularly good candidates.

TIP! Giving your dog mental stimulation is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Among some of the best things for your dog are plenty of strolls in the neighborhood, chew toys and rawhide bones.

Your dog will not dig in the trash if you feed it and give it enough toys. Keep your trash emptied and use a can with a tight fitting lid. If you’re using crate training, put your dog in the crate before you go out. If you don’t use a crate, make sure to empty your trash before leaving.

TIP! Try to use the same words or actions when you are training your dog. This makes dogs easier to train because there is no ambiguity in which command goes with which behavior.

Some tricks may be beyond the capability of an older pet. Always consult your veterinarian before beginning a new training program. For instance, it may be impractical to ask your dog to crawl for long distances if he has arthritis. Older dogs benefit from training in many ways, though. The concentration and mental challenge of training can keep an aging dog’s mind sharp. You also need to be looking out for any pain your dog may be in if they are older.

TIP! Though you want to train your dog well, sometimes obedience classes are necessary. Obedience class instructors know how to solve a variety of issues, like constant barking and general disobedience.

After learning some helpful hints on how to get through to your dog and train it to behave to your expectations you simply need to follow what you have learned. After changing your dogs behavior to fit with the tips suggested you can properly train your dog.