Training Your Dog 101: Ten Tips On Dog Training
01 Mar 2010
What dog owner doesn’t want a well-behaved dog? But it doesn’t just happen. Training is the only way to achieve this. In order to be able to successfully train your dog, there is some basic information you need to be aware of before you start. Here then are the top ten tips on dog training.
1. Don’t waste any time in starting to teach your new puppy. Establishing routines right from the start and sticking to these routines is easier than trying to change things up after a period of time. That only succeeds in confusing your pet. For instance, if your dog is not allowed on the furniture, don’t let him join you on the couch one day and then shoo him off when you find him on your couch another day.
2. Be firm, but fair and consistent. If you change the rules you will only frustrate and confuse your dog. So, if you don’t want your dog to beg food from the table, don’t ever feed him treats while you are eating.
3. Teach your new puppy to accept a collar and lead soon after bringing him home. This is one of the easiest yet most important steps you can take to have a well-trained dog. A dog on a lead is easier to work with and control.
4. Training should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your pet. Be sure to reward him for his accomplishments, no matter how small. Rewards don’t always have to be food. They can be a simple pat on the head, or a “good boy”. You will find that he works that much harder if he knows that you are going to give him a reward for his performance. Use this to accomplish a lot in a short time.
5. Be patient. Mark progress in very small steps. It takes many repetitions for the training to become a part of your dog’s behavior. Compliment and reward at each step to reinforce the learned behavior.
6. There will be times when it will be necessary for you to discipline your dog. There are two important points to remember when it comes to discipline. First, don’t ever order your dog to come when you are preparing to discipline him. Leave this word for positives in training. Instead go to him. Second, hitting does not have a place in dog training. If you hit your dog as a form of discipline, he will learn to be afraid of you. This will not work with dog training.
7. When starting a new session with your dog, start by reviewing behaviors your dog has already mastered. Reward him and then move on to new training exercises.
8. Keep lessons short. You never want to drag things out to where the training becomes a chore. So if your dog begins to lose focus, end the lesson with a simple-to-follow command. Then give him a reward and then spend a few minutes playing with him.
9. Start by teaching your dog basic commands like sit, stay, down and come. Only after he has learned these commands and consistently responds to them should you attempt to teach him more complex commands or tricks.
10. You have probably noticed that rewards are used liberally when training your dog. It can’t be emphasized enough how important it is to only reward when a command is executed properly. If you give him a treat whether or not he sits at your command, there is no real reason for him to do as you ask.
By following these tips on dog training, you can be sure of having success in your quest to have a well behaved dog. And really wouldn’t you rather have a dog that listens to you than one who doesn’t?
A comfortable bed is a great way to show your dog that you appreciate his hard work during your training sessions. Dogs love to feel warm and cozy. A heated dog bed is the ultimate in comfort. Some dogs prefer the soft padded cushion and the bolster which doubles as a pillow in a bolster dog bed.
This course covers selected training methods that are used in “Secrets to Dog Training” and it is yours free with absolutely no obligation whatsoever…
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