Having Difficulty With Your Dog? Try These Suggestions For Helping Your Pet Change Their Behavior Now

by | Apr 27, 2023 | Dog Training

Training a new dog can be discouraging at first. This advice will get you started on improving your relationship and your pet’s confidence.

TIP! Make sure you aren’t enforcing bad behavior without meaning to. Don’t give praise or treats to your dog if it does something wrong.

It takes a while for a dog to get comfortable in a crate. Don’t take it too fast; introduce the dog at his own pace. Eventually they will become comfortable with the crate and you can then try to shut the door to the crate. When they allow the door to shut you can give them a treat through the wiring. Only keep the gate closed for short periods of time at first and increase time slowly. If the dog becomes agitated, slow down a little more to make them more comfortable.

TIP! Don’t waste your money on expensive training products, such as shock collars. They often do not function well as they say they do and are a lot more expensive as opposed to conventional methods of training.

You must begin your relationship with the dog as the boss for any training to be effective. It is important for your dog to know that you are the one who is in control, so that he respects and obeys you. Always walk ahead of your dog when you go on walks, as this establishes that you hold a position of leadership.

TIP! Pick a phrase you will say to your new puppy the whole time you are working on house training him. Every single time you take your pup to do his business, say something like “need to go out?”.

Teaching a dog how to roll over isn’t too hard with a few treats in your hand. First, have your pet to lay down. Then hold one treat near his head and near the floor. Pull the treat over the dog until your hand is on the other side. Your dog is probably going to follow the treat in your hand with his nose, which means he will rollover his whole body. When he rolls over, you should say “roll over,” and repeat the process until the command is all he needs to do so. Don’t get frustrated if it takes a few tries, once he learns this trick he’ll be the star of the dog park!

You need to train the dog to walk the right way using his leash. When they walk properly, it makes both of you safer when you both go walking.

TIP! To limit your dog’s barking, see if you can acclimate them to whatever triggers their barking. Some dogs bark in response to a specific sound, whereas others become excited in the presence of other people or dogs.

Choose an easily teachable action to train your dog with in the beginning. This ensures that success comes quickly and your dog learns to love training sessions. This gives you awesome results during the training process.

TIP! Do you feed your dog a well-balanced diet? Dogs are like children in the sense that bad diets lead to them acting bratty and hyperactive. Think about altering the dog’s diet to give him extra energy that lasts the entire day.

“Leave it” is a command that should be taught and reinforced early on. “Leave it” can prevent furniture chewing, save valuable objects from being destroyed and save your dog from consuming dangerous and/or poisonous substances.

TIP! Teach dogs a “down” command. You can use this in emergencies, but also as a stepping stone to many other training skills.

Your daily schedule should consist of regular potty breaks, regular training sessions and an hour of good exercise. Being sure they have enough exercise time can ease training efforts and encourage proper behavior from them. When your dog is exercised, he is also happy.

TIP! Learn to recognize your dog’s signals. Dogs will behave in a certain way when they start to ‘feel the need’.

You should always call your dog in the same way. Use your dog’s name when giving a command. First, call his name then give him a verbal or gesture command. A dog will immediately respond to their name. After grabbing their attention, they will be prepared for their instructions.

TIP! While it is possible to train older dogs, be aware that they may have some physical limitations due to medical conditions. For instance, if your dog is experiencing arthritis, making it crawl long distances is not very practical.

Dogs need to understand exactly what your “no” means. When training your dog, you need to find positive ways to enforce your training. Saying ‘no’ doesn’t help your dog understand how he should react to you. Every dog and situation is unique and you should adapt your strategies accordingly.

TIP! Introductions to any new animals must be done very slowly. Think of the pet you already have at home, before considering the adoption of a new one.

Changing your tone to reflect emotions is useful in getting the point across to your pet. A command should have a different tone than praise so that your dog can better understand how his behavior causes your reaction. The best advice is to use a firm voice for commands, a louder voice when correcting your dog and a higher voice when praising your dog.

TIP! Discourage unwanted behavior when you see it. Make sure to use a firm voice when telling your dog “No”.

If you’re bringing your dog on a trip, don’t forget all it’s supplies. You need to bring bowls, his leash and bathroom supplies to ensure you can travel comfortably. Don’t hesitate on taking a handful of your dog’s favorite food with you. This is much easier than buying at your destination.

TIP! Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety should always be in the company of other people. The dog needs to learn that there are other people in the world besides you.

Is your pet dog eating healthy? A bad diet can really change the behavior of even the best dogs. Your dog will be more energetic if you give it food suited for dogs. Ask your vet for recommendations.

Challenge your dog frequently. Try giving them “quizzes” to see what they know, even if you know they will succeed.

TIP! Your dog’s brain also needs some exercise. For dogs that don’t chew excessively, canine puzzle toys can appeal to your dog’s senses and stimulate his problem-solving skills.

When training your dog, it is important to always be consistent. This applies to words used as commands, your tone and the rewards you use. If you find something that works, stick with it.

TIP! Pay attention to your dog’s cues. If your dog shows you that it is uncomfortable when it meets new animals or people, don’t push him.

Never let your dog drag you when walking. You’re supposed to be the leader, not him. Be sure the training collar you use is good quality and have them on a short leash. When entering a door, heel your dog. The dog should always remember that you’re the captain!

TIP! If your dog chews things when you leave him in the house alone, consider building a doghouse and leaving him outside when you go out. If you have an indoor dog that is not kennel trained, then close them out of the rooms in which they like to chew.

Reinforce positive behaviors as you train your pet. Do not reinforce any negative behavior through punishment or reward. Your dog can become skittish and frightened around you. Reinforcing good behaviors will cause the dog to work harder to please you and receive praise.

TIP! Your dog must feel secure and confident to be able to absorb training correctly. When the dog feels insecure, they will be more likely to exhibit bad behavior.

Different dogs respond to different things. For instance, a loving and calm dog will probably succeed with positive reinforcement, while a dog that is more aggressive may require negative reinforcement to honor your position of alpha. Try using a different method if your current method presents little success.

TIP! When training your dog, do not use food solely the source of control when it comes to its behavior. Dogs need food for survival, so reward them another way.

When a behavioral problem suddenly occurs you should take the dog to the vet to eliminate health problems. An animal that is in pain is liable to act out in ways they would normally never behave. Dogs can’t tell you what is bothering them so acting out is their way to say, hey, something’s wrong.

By learning these tips, your dog will end up more confident and more calm. Implement this information right away to find out how simple canine training can be.