TIP! Trying to understand how your dog is feeling. Frustration is easy during dog training.

For a beginner, canine training can sometimes be intimidating. You can become overwhelmed because there is so much information out there. Follow these tips to gain a better understanding of puppy training.

TIP! Try to mistakenly avoid reinforcing any behaviors that are unwanted when doing dog training. Withhold treats and attention when your dog exhibits any undesirable behaviors.

Be sure to keep your dog active and engaged a great deal of the time. Dogs require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. When a dog’s mind begins to wander, the training process loses its effectiveness. Your dogs will obey more quickly if you keep them well exercised. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.

TIP! Stay away from training devices such as shock collars. These devices are expensive and do not always work as well as you would expect them to.

Dogs have a tendency to zone in on one particular thing until something else grabs their attention. When a command is reinforced properly and often enough, your dog will begin to shift his focus from the distractions around to you in order to wait for your signal.

TIP! As the dog improves, greater freedom can be granted. It is important that you reach a balance between freedom and obedience in order to establish a satisfying relationship.

Teaching your dog to not tug and pull when on his leash is an important part of his training. When they walk properly, it makes both of you safer when you both go walking.

TIP! Putting your dog on a regular schedule of feeding and walks will help to regulate his system, so he will be easier to house train. This gives both you and the dog a heads up as to when they need to go outside, and you can make sure that happens before they make a mess indoors.

Be patient when training a dog. This ensures that you both do not get frustrated. Remember that your pet desires to please you but he gets confused due to him not understanding what you want him to do.

TIP! Make sure to give your dog a good hour of exercise each and every day. Being sure they have enough exercise time can ease training efforts and encourage proper behavior from them.

You need to teach your dog right away that they should drop or back away from something when you say “leave it.” Teaching them to “leave it” will stop them from destructive chewing and coming in contact with something that could potentially hurt them.

Training Sessions

TIP! Training needs to continue during the dog’s life. Training should not stop because he is not a puppy anymore.

During your training sessions, you should keep a close eye on the time. If you spend too much time doing one training exercise, your dog will become bored. Training sessions should be limited to about 10 minutes of time or less.

TIP! All of the things you teach your dog are going to be a part of their behavior and personality. This is something you need to know since you might undo desired behaviors with horse-playing or teasing them.

The first step in training a puppy is to make sure he knows his name. Call him by name frequently, and teach him to come when called. These are the first words your puppy should learn. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. Once your puppy trusts you, it will be easier to train him.

TIP! When dogs bite, it is usually from fear. This can happen if the dog feels backed into a corner or otherwise unable to escape a bad situation.

Keep track of the number of treats you give your dog. Your dog needs to watch his weight, too. The calories in treats are often overlooked, but they should also be taken into consideration when planning your dog’s diet.

TIP! Do not let your dog drag you. You are the one in control.

You should never spend more than a few minutes training your dog. The ideal time to spend on a task is about fifteen minutes. When you exceed this amount of time, your dog can become frustrated and set your progress back. Always reward your dog with praise and attention after a training session.

TIP! Dogs should be spayed or neutered around the age of six months. After the dog is neutered or spayed, you should begin obedience classes with your dog.

Training should be disciplined but also fun for the dog. Training sessions need only be 10 to 15 minutes, so the dog reaps the benefits within his attention span. Give out different kinds of rewards. Your dog should enjoy lots of praise for a job well-done. If you make training fun, he will enjoy listening, too.

TIP! Use treats that your dog really wants if you want to get the best results from your training sessions. You may even opt to give them they would not usually have, such as hotdogs or ice cream.

It is important to improve your dog’s recall ability. Your dog should come back to you regardless of the environment they’re in. Always reinforce this behavior and introduce it in all kinds of new environments. Recall may save your dog’s life one day, so don’t skip out on this training, even though it can be time-consuming and challenging.

TIP! When you are training your dog, bad behavior needs to be discouraged. Always use a firm voice when telling your dog no.

Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. Putting your dog in his crate with a chew toy will reduce the chance of destructive events and give him something to do while he waits for you.

TIP! If specific things trigger bad behavior in your pup, distract him while you are passing the temptation. If your dog is antisocial around other dogs, distract him with something interesting if you get near other neighborhood dogs.

For each time you use your pets name in a negative way, such as a reprimand, make an effort to use it positively 2 or 3 times. This helps your dog figure out that his name also can mean something good and that he should not fear you when you call his name.

TIP! If your dog has separation anxiety, it’s important that it learns to connect with more than one person. Your dog must begin relationships with other people in order to help solve its improper fixation with you.

Avoid punishing your puppy when you first begin obedience training. Try to prevent bad behavior, but if it does happen, show your dog what he should have done. Training sessions help build communication with your pet, and help you build a good relationship.

TIP! Avoid using those nasty wee-wee pads when potty training your new puppy. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind.

Be sure to avoid giving dogs improper signals when they behave poorly. If you act amused when you dog misbehaves, it is likely to repeat that behavior. This is sure to hinder your training and cause great frustration. Consistency is the key to accomplishing your goals when training your dog.

TIP! Your dog needs to exercise its brain too. Dog puzzles are a great way to stimulate brain development in dogs.

When you begin training your dog, 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. You have to display alpha behavior in order to show your pet you are the boss. Dogs that don’t understand human behavior can bite even if not provoked.

Positive Reinforcement

TIP! Keep your dog outside while you are away from home to prevent it from chewing on your items. You could also put valuable objects out of your dog’s reach and make sure you leave toys for your dog to play with.

When training, it’s important to reinforce positive behaviors. Positive reinforcement training focuses on rewarding desired behaviors, not on punishing undesirable behaviors. Negative reinforcement does not encourage trust between you and your dog. When you give positive reinforcement, your dog will crave it.

TIP! If you want a dog that is a good pet you need to give them slack on tehir leash. This will cause your dog to pull on impulse.

Some dogs are so scared of thunderstorms that they are literally a danger to themselves. If your pooch is overly afraid of thunder, talk to your vet. Your vet might give you a sedative for your dog to take before thunderstorms. Medication is usually only prescribed when behavioral modification is not enough to address the anxiety, but it does have its place.

This article should have given you some valuable information for training your dog. You will find that you’re a happier dog owner when you use these tips.