Training a dog can seem hard, confusing or overwhelming for a person that has never gone through it. While there are some things you need to know, there are plenty of resources for a beginner at canine training. Use the following tips to train your dog.
You need to establish regular feeding routines for your dog. Train your dog to understand that you are going to remove their food bowl upon fifteen minutes of feeding them. This will establish a feeding schedule for your dog. Your dog will eat their food in the time that you have alloted.
Keep your dog on a healthy diet. Your dog will not benefit from a poor diet. Poor nutrition adversely affects your dog’s health and can cause uncharacteristic behavior. By making small changes to your dog’s diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.
Make sure your dog is up and active often. Dogs get bored just as easily as children. When a dog’s mind begins to wander, the training process loses its effectiveness. If your dog is fit and content, he will be much more likely to heed your instructions. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dog’s excess energy.
Don’t reinforce your dog’s negative behavior by accident. You should avoid using strips of food or attention to train when you are trying to discourage behaviors. For instance, if your dog does not sit when commanded, do not rub his head affectionately unless he actually sits.
Verbal cues are very important to make sure that your dog is under your command. Words like “yes” could be an effective way of communicating to your dog that he has done something you are pleased about.
When training dogs, use a similar tone and volume when you give commands. This lets them know you’re serious and that they must obey. The dog will also know the difference when you give them discipline as opposed to a command.
You need to give your dog some exercise every day. Keeping a dog healthy with exercise allows for more efficient training sessions in the future. Keep in mind that a dog that’s been exercised regularly is happier and more responsive to your commands.
Desensitize your dog to the cause of their barking in order to reduce the behavior. It can be a sound, or being face to face with other people or other animals. Your goal is to show your pet that barking is not an appropriate response to these common stimuli.
Use your dog’s name as much as you can to make sure he is paying attention. Do this consistently during the first several weeks to get your dog to pay attention to you. Pick a name that is distinguished and no longer than two syllables.
Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Your pet is very in tune with your emotions. Try using a stern tone to really convey your message to your dog.
Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. When trying to feed their dogs a healthy diet, many people do not count the calories in the treats. These can add up fast.
When you are walking your dog, a good tip in training him is to be alert for other dogs. It’s true that certain breeds or animals are more aggressive than others, and you must also take into account that not all pet owners take responsibility for their dogs. If you see a dog that seems to be that way you should always steer clear, especially if you have your pet.
These tips probably got you brainstorming about how you will train your dog. Remember these tips as a guide to helping you train your dog, so both you and your dog will be very happy.