From Misbehaved To Trained: Tips For Training Your Dog

by | Feb 13, 2024 | Dog Training

If you are a new dog owner, then you are surely curious about the best tips for canine training. These are a few tips for starting out.

TIP! A healthy diet is important to the health and well-being of your dog. A dog with an unhealthy diet may manifest several symptoms, including sluggishness and poor behavior.

Make sure your dog is eating a healthy diet. A bad diet can cause your dog many problems. This can influence their behavior and harm their health. Training may very well go easier when dogs are given the proper nutrients in a healthful diet.

TIP! Ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and stimulation. Dogs can easily become bored.

If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. The restraints for each dog can become tangled and in an effort to free themselves, they can be injured. In the worst case, a large dog might be able to strangle or crush a smaller one, entirely by accident, while trying to free itself.

TIP! You must be willing to invest the time required for practice if you want your training to be successful. It will take up to 50 repetitions to learn a new command.

The first rule to remember when you begin to house train your puppy is that what you feed them will eventually come out the other end. Feed your pooch several times daily at the same hour. This schedule will let you figure out when to let your dog relieve himself, cutting back on your chances of incidents.

TIP! To ensure success, you must ensure that the crate you are using is appropriate for the size and breed of your pet. Puppies will get bigger.

Never reinforce your dog’s bad behaviors. Don’t give praise or treats to your dog if it does something wrong. If you wish to keep your dog from begging for table scraps, don’t encourage him by slipping him a morsel one night or allowing others to do so.

TIP! Keep your dog up to date with dog training, in order to keep him or her compliant with an established set of rules. Dog training must be practiced to maintain obedience behavior, and that is one thing that many owners neglect to remember.

Stay away from training devices such as shock collars. They almost never work as advertised and they are expensive to boot. They can also discourage good behaviors as they inhibit your dog’s behavior too much. Generally speaking, these techniques often produce undesirable results.

TIP! Refrain from using extreme devices for training your dog, such as a shock collar. They are both expensive and unlikely to work properly.

Make sure training periods are short in duration. The attention span of a dog is pretty short, so it is important to keep them interested in training by keeping the training short. If you want to continue, then give dogs a quick free play break.

TIP! Have fun with your dog each day when training. It builds a strong bond between the two of you and encourages them to want to please you.

Firm, direct commands are the best approach to take when training your dog. That said, love should prevail and yelling should never occur. This approach helps to reinforce your relationship with the animal.

TIP! Make sure you use your dog’s name often, so that he learns to associate it with paying attention to you. Early in your dog ownership, you should use your dog’s name several times a day, so he starts to understand that you want his attention.

Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. A lot of pet owners don’t think about how much weight their dogs can put on with treats.

TIP! Training your dog can be challenging, but never give up. Constant reinforcement and praise are essential when maintaining the training your dog learned in how to behave.

Keep notice of dogs that are nearby when you are outside with your pet. You have no idea how well trained the other dog is. If you see a dog acting aggressively or fearfully, avoid that dog.

TIP! If you’re bringing your dog on a trip, don’t forget all it’s supplies. Pack his feeding bowls, potty bags, toys, blankets and everything else needed for his care and comfort.

Praising your pooch is an absolute must during training sessions. Give treats, smile, and get excited so your dog will associate good behavior with a positive result. Don’t even give praise or treats when the dog doesn’t follow your commands or you will destroy what you’re trying to achieve.

TIP! Teach your dog the “down” command. You can use this command in emergency situations and to build on other training commands.

Make sure that you let your dog get used to people regularly. Your dog will only learn how to behave around people, dogs, cats and so on by experience. This reduces troublesome behavior in new places, too.

TIP! There really isn’t room for error when teaching your dog right from wrong. This means to set firm rules for everyone to follow regarding your pet.

By being consistent in your methods, it is possible to teach your dog to “hold it.” Spend plenty of time with him, and go outside with him once an hour. Every time your dog potties outside, be quick to praise him. Never yell at your dog for relieving itself in the house. Screaming at your dog only frightens him, and is not going to make him understand that the behavior was wrong. Have the dog outside around 15 minutes post-meal or drink to ensure he can empty himself.

TIP! Challenge your dog on a regular basis. Test what he knows by giving commands, even if you are sure that he has the skill mastered.

One of the first commands you should teach your dog is “down”. This will be particularly helpful in emergency situations. By teaching your dog the command “down,” you can ensure his safety in the event of an emergency.

Bad Behavior

TIP! Keep your dog invested in its training by improving the treats as you go. But, keep these reward treats separate from the every day treats you give him, so he understands he only gets these special treats when he does his training properly.

It is best to guide your dog to the correct behavior, rather than punish bad behavior. Try to prevent bad behavior, but if it does happen, show your dog what he should have done. Training a pet should allow you to teach your pet and connect with him; the process should focus on positive communication.

TIP! To teach your pooch the “sit” command, approach him with a treat while he is standing. Put the biscuit in the air over them and move the biscuit backwards.

Dog agility is not suited for all breeds, so research a bit beforehand. It’s true that most breeds are capable of competing in this area, but some breeds are more gifted than others. These include border collies, labs, Australian shepherds and sheepdogs.

TIP! During training sessions, don’t hesitate to discourage your pet from performing unwanted actions. When you say no, say it like you mean it.

Vary the treats you use as rewards for your dog during training sessions. Do not use the treats that you would give your dog day to day. They should be specific to training and ensuring the feeling of being rewarded for something specific. The dog will also be more likely to obey if they know they will receive something special.

TIP! Some dogs can get so frightened during a thunderstorm that they can actually harm themselves. Consult your vet for advice on how to help your pet cope with these fears.

Hopefully you have a new-found confidence about training your first dog. After following these tips, you will no longer be new to canine training, instead you will be on your way to becoming a canine training expert.