Dog training is a misnomer; it should actually be referred to as human training. This is true because, a person needs to learn how to train a dog effectively before they can actually do it. There is no basic, dog training instinct bred in humans. It is a task that must be learned. This article provides excellent dog training tips that can help develop a better understanding of the process.
If your dog is sick or injured, don’t punish it for doing something outside of it’s control. If it vomits in the house, that would normally be considered a bad action, but in the case of sickness they may not be able to control it. Instead take your pet to the vet to see if or what is wrong.
Dogs mimic their owner’s behavior. Don’t be shocked if they decide they want to sleep in your bed and sit in your recliner. Don’t be shocked if they attempt to eat from your plate. Most of all, don’t be angry. Your dog has to be trained that this behavior is unacceptable. They need to be taught the acceptable options.
As you plan out your dog training sessions, focus on only teaching your pet one new skill at a time. Too many instructions and expectations can cause your dog to become confused and frustrated. You will achieve much better results if you work on one skill, achieve mastery and then move on.
When you are training your dog, make sure you are very patient. Different dog breeds learn at different rates. One dog can learn quickly while another dog will take a long time. If you are impatient you will stress your dog and he will be resistant to your best training efforts.
If your dog seems depressed or gets anxious when you are about to leave the house, your dog might suffer from separation anxiety. To help your dog go through the day, leave something that has your smell on it, such as an old piece of clothing. This could mean that your dog will not miss you so much.
Some dogs have enormous reserves of energy that can cause the dog to act crazy through out the day. For dogs like this a fenced in yard or electric collar fence can be a useful tool to allow the dog to run around in a contained area. The dog will have more exercise and be more relaxed when it comes inside.
Participating in a group class can be a very effective way to train your dog. Group classes are almost always less expensive than individual training sessions. They also offer your dog the opportunity to socialize with other pets. Look for a smaller group though, so that you still have plenty of one on one interaction with the trainer.
Keep some of your dog’s favorite treats with you when you are training him to obey a new command. Dogs thrive on positive reinforcement. When you have his treat on hand, you can reward him as soon as he successfully obeys this new command. Before long, he will be able to respond to this command efficiently.
One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is that it is important to ensure that your dog has all of his needs fulfilled. Your dog will not respond well to praise or punishment and will not be able to focus on learning skills, if he is not being well taken care of. Be sure to feed him well, shelter him comfortably and spend time playing with him.
Housebreaking a dog takes time. Make sure that you take the dog out first thing in the morning and keep taking him out throughout the day. Always take him to the same spot when taking him out to potty. The dog will learn to associate this spot with his business. If an accident happens clean it up and ignore the dog. This will let him know that you are unhappy with him. Do not physically discipline the dog or rub his nose in it, doing so just intimidates the dog and makes accidents more likely to occur.
Make sure you dog proof your home to reduce chewing or destructive behavior while you are away. Young dogs or bored dogs may chew when left alone just to have something to do. Take the time to close interior doors and put away items dogs like to chew before you leave to limit the opportunities for chewing while you are gone.
Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for man’s best friend.