How to train your dog is the question dog owners usually ask themselves when their canine friend starts acting out. The truth is, training takes patience and dedication; but the rewards can be great. If you’re ready to take your relationship to the next level, read these dog training tips.
Start a Dog Obedience Plan: This is probably the best thing you can do for yourself (and your dog) when thinking about training methods. Create a plan of action and then take it one step at a time. It’s a great way to stay organized. Always have an end goal – when your dog is truly responding to your commands, don’t give up – keep going!
Teach him a “sit” command: Teaching your dog a “sit” command is simple. Just say “sit” and put him in sit position. Stay in that spot until he does what you want. Then give him a treat as a reward. Repeat this exercise over again until he’s responding well. Be sure to use lots of praise and rewards.
Use Different Techniques to Teach Your Dog’s Better Obedience: One of the most common dog training mistakes owners make is trying to implement the same techniques in every training session they hold with their dog. Instead, use a variety of methods – one technique here, another technique there, and so on. Most dog trainers use positive reinforcement and praise to teach dogs proper behavior. But if you want your dog to behave well in all situations – and especially with other people, animals and other dogs – you need to teach them different techniques as well.
For example, in order to teach him “sit” when asked, offer him a treat. When he stays put after you say the word, offer him another treat. This will encourage your dog to sit even when there’s no food to be given. Once he learns to respond to your voice and your physical touch, reward him with a larger reward, like a dog toy.
Start Training Your Dog in Small Steps: When you first start training your dog, he’ll be excited, nervous and maybe even angry. Don’t worry about it. He needs time to adjust to his new surroundings and new ways of doing things. Gradually increase the time you spend training him.
Visit an obedience training school or enroll in a dog training school if you can afford to do so. The people running these institutions are professionals who know how to handle dogs of all breeds and temperaments. They also know how to deal with the behavior of a dog that doesn’t always listen or respond to commands. The benefit of visiting an obedience training school instead of trying to teach your dog on your own is that the trainer there will know exactly how to teach your dog the proper way.
Reward Your Dog With Praise and Rewards: Dogs are creatures of habit. When they do something you like, they get rewarded in kind. As long as they follow your command, get the treats and praise and above all, keep praising them. Eventually they’ll learn to expect rewards for following your commands. Eventually you’ll be able to start using these rewards along with praise for good behavior.
Punish Your Dog With Consequences: You can use consequences in the training process as well. If you dog doesn’t behave well one time, don’t be harsh on him. Punish him a little but still very much in a way that he knows what you’re trying to do – that is, correct him. Your dog will eventually catch on to what you want him to do and he’ll learn to behave well every time. If he doesn’t, then you need to punish him a little more, but not so much that he begins to fear you.
Crate Training and House Training: Both methods can be effective when it comes to house training and how to train your dog. Crate training can be particularly helpful because it helps you teach your dog where he should relieve himself, at what time and in what manner. Also, crate training allows you to keep a closer eye on your puppy while he’s learning to stay in his place. It can be difficult for puppies to be on their own for more than a couple of hours at a time, so crate training can be a big help. House training, on the other hand, can teach your dog that you are in command, so he learns to control himself in order to stay where you want him.
Dog trainers can be an invaluable asset to your home training efforts. They can provide structure to your home training efforts while you’re away at work or are away at holiday. There are many different kinds of dog trainers out there, from pet store owners to professional dog trainers. No matter which style of trainer you decide to use, you can be sure that your puppy training will go smoothly, and in the long run, be an enjoyable experience.
