The loveable dog you brought home from the pound seems to be more troublesome than you could have imagined. Don’t worry, with proper techniques even the worst dog can learn to be well behaved.
Your dog needs to learn good feeding habits, and this is best accomplished with a clear routine. Feed your dog at the same time everyday and giving your dog fifteen minutes to eat will help your dog remember when it is time to eat. This will set a quality schedule for your dog so that they are ready for all meals.
Reward good behavior during training with control. Giving a reward for an appropriate behavior is correct, but do it quickly and move on. While you may be overjoyed with headway you are making, showing excitement causes the dog to become excited and makes you lose control. Be calm, expect calm, then reward appropriately.
Ensure that your dog gets enough activity. Dogs get bored just as easily as children. Dogs with no enthusiasm will be harder to train than active dogs. A dog that is happy, and gets the attention that they crave, will be a better behaved and attentive dog. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.
A dog has an inquiring mind and will look at one thing for quite a while until its attention is broken. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.
Do not reinforce any negative behaviors accidentally. 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.
Your dog must respect you in order for training to work. Your dog will neither obey nor respect you if he believes he is the leader of your household. For example, when you walk your dog you must be in front and you should insist your dog follows behind you.
Treats are necessary when teaching a dog fancy tricks like rolling over. Initially, try to get your dog to lay on the floor. Hold a treat between your forefingers near the left side of your dog’s head, and then slowly pass the treat in front of his face and to the opposite side. His nose will track that treat and his body will roll over. As he is rolling over say, “roll over” and praise them immediately when they do. Make sure you are patient because this is likely to take several attempts. However, your dog will eventually learn this command.
Start training with something simple. Smaller, more easily learned behaviors are more likely to produce timely successes and a solid foundation for future training efforts. Your training will become more productive.
Maintain short training sessions. Dogs can’t pay attention for a long time, so keep sessions short and dynamic. If more training is desired, work in some break times so your dog can play before continuing with training.
Changing your vocal tone depending on what you want to communicate will help train your dog. Your commands, praise, and scoldings should have different tones so that your dog can distinguish between them. Commands must be sharp and firm, corrections should be loud and praise should be given in a natural tone.
Dog owners are usually thrilled at the almost immediate results they obtain by implementing some basic training techniques into their lives. Try out these tips if you are having problems with your dog.
