Dog Training 101 – What You Need To Know

by | Sep 30, 2023 | Dog Training

TIP! A dog will obsess about one thing until you divert its attention. After you repeat these cues enough, your dog will learn to focus on you, primarily, as he or she waits for signals.

Canine training often ends up looking more akin to human training. You will not be able to train your dog efficiently if you are not properly trained yourself. Canine training isn’t an instinctive ability in humans, and it’s important to know whether you actually want to invest the time to train your dog. The tips in this article can help you get started.

TIP! When approaching a dog you’ve never met, approach them slowly and offer them the back of a hand to smell. He’ll learn your scent and begin to have trust.

When training a puppy to use a crate it is important to take your time and start with only a few steps at a time. When they are comfy with the open door, try closing it and feeding them treats via the wires. Keep them in the crate for a small duration and slowly increase that duration. If they get upset, it’s too fast.

TIP! Effective dog training requires a level firmness. Don’t just yell at your pooch.

Rewarding your dog properly and generously is important when it comes to training them. You must always provide treats in a wise and timely fashion. Your dog does not know why they are getting the reward unless you do it right after the positive behavior.

TIP! Training needs to continue during the dog’s life. Dogs do not cease learning after puppyhood.

Ensure that your dog gets enough activity. Dogs can easily become bored. Dogs that are bored are not easy to train. Your dog will be more relaxed and willing to listen if he is exercised frequently. Before every training session, prepare your dog by taking them for a walk.

TIP! A squirt of water in your dog’s face can discourage biting and scratching behaviors. This technique will show your dog that the behavior is unacceptable.

Give your puppy something it can chew to help it lessen teething pains, like a toy or a piece of rope. Keep any items you treasure out of reach of your puppy while it is teething. Put the chew toy in front of it immediately so it learns that this toy is what it should be chewing. In cases where your puppy is suffering a great deal of pain, try soaking a washcloth in water and freezing it as a numbing chew toy.

TIP! Inform yourself on any specific grooming issues with your breed. Some dog breeds require little to no grooming, while other breeds require meticulous grooming almost every week.

Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The dogs chains could get tangled up and cause harm to the dogs as they struggle to get free. If one dog happens to be much larger than the other, the small dog could get tangled to the point that it could choke to death.

TIP! You must correct you dog each and every time he misbehaves, as well as reward the dog for correct behavior. You have to have consistent boundaries from everyone in contact with the animal.

As you are working to house train your pet, select a single term or phrase that you will use. When it’s time for him to go outside to do his business, say “Elimination Device…Activate!” or whatever phrase you chose to call his attention to the task at hand.

TIP! You need to practice having your dog come to you. Your dog should return to your side at all times under all conditions.

Always be patient when you train your dog. Patience is the best way to keep your dog from becoming confused and for you to remain calm. Keep in mind that they wish to please you; however, they get confused because they can’t understand your language.

TIP! Challenge your dog on a regular basis. Try giving them “quizzes” to see what they know, even if you know they will succeed.

Overworking a new puppy with new information will only lead to trouble. A puppy’s attention span is short and their energy is limited, so your sessions should be short and positive. If you overdo it, he is likely to forget everything he learned and simply remember the experience in an unfavorable light, making it that much harder for you the next time you attempt the training.

TIP! If you want your dog to be agile, find a breed that is naturally this way. Most dogs can do the sport, but competitions call for certain breeds most of the time.

Treats are great incentives when training a dog; however, treats can cause a dog to become overweight, so limit the number offered. When trying to feed their dogs a healthy diet, many people do not count the calories in the treats. These can add up fast.

TIP! Scold your puppy for chewing your belongings right away. That way your puppy will learn what it is allowed to chew on, and it will not be as likely to chew on the wrong things when you cannot keep a close eye on him.

If you’re leash-training a puppy, the initial step needs to be putting a collar on them when you play with them. Your puppy should feel comfortable in it for walks but also for identification.

TIP! Consistency is key for dog training. Use the same words or phrases for commands and speak them in the same tone each time.

In canine training, socialization is of the utmost importance and must begin early. He has to understand what is okay when it comes to being around dogs and people, too. Your dog will be better able to handle new situations.

TIP! When looking for information on training your dog, there are many great resources: magazines, books, and specific breed books. Chat with others who own the same breed you have in order to gain new ideas.

It’s important to remember that all of the things you do with your dog are building its behavior and personality. Remember this if you are teasing your pet or playing with him since that can undo certain behaviors you have worked on. Take care to only reward positive behavior.

TIP! Reinforce positive behavior when training your dog. You have to praise good behavior while not focusing on the bad behavior.

One vital piece of canine training advice is to be resilient and never give up. Your dog will need constant reinforcement, otherwise the behaviors and actions you have taught it may be lost. Food and shelter are lifelong needs for your dog, and training is no different.

TIP! Address the situation if your dog is barking due to boredom. When your dog does this, you have to accept some of the blame on yourself.

If you are consistent, your puppy can learn to “hold it.” When you are home with your dog, remember to take him out every hour. Praise him immediately as soon as he goes to the bathroom outside. Never react harshly to your dog going potty inside. He can’t understand why you are yelling. Make a habit of walking him around fifteen minutes after eating or drinking anything, and after coming out of his dog crate.

TIP! Try several different training techniques to discover which one your dog responds to best. For example, a laid back and loving dog will likely thrive on positive reinforcement, whereas a more aggressive dog may need negative reinforcement in order to respect your alpha position.

Is your dog getting the food he needs? A dog who is not eating a healthy diet is much more prone to hyperactivity, bad behavior and aggressiveness. Your dog will have better and more consistent energy if you are feeding him a species-appropriate diet. Check with your vet about any specific nutritional needs he might need attending to!

TIP! Reinforce your dog’s good behavior by using a clicker. You can create a positive association with the clicker so that the dog learns it will receive a reward when it hears the sound.

Consider using a crate when house training your dog. It is important to put your dog out on a regular schedule for the crate method to work. Over time, dogs that are house trained with the use of a crate tend to have less accidents inside the home.

TIP! Every person in your family should know the same commands you use when training your dog. For example, one person correcting your dog from jumping by saying “get off” and another using “down boy” will confuse the dog and be counterproductive to your training efforts.

Use all the resources out there, like magazines books and television when you are training your dog. Learn from others who have trained the same breed. Take the information you have gathered and use it to construct a training program developed specifically for your dog.

TIP! Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated just like a human does. Chew toys with a treat inside and walks in new areas will excite your dog by providing novelty and challenge.

Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for man’s best friend.