Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Trouble Training Your Dog? Try These Tips

Often dogs are adopted by owners who don't fully contemplate owning a pet. Dogs need a lot of attention, care, and commitment from their owners. You have to train them well so they don't cause any trouble. If you need to train your dog, the provided article has enough information to help you.

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.

Try to see things from your dog's eyes. Frustration is easy during dog training. You should never give up on them, try looking at it from your dog's vantage point. This allows you to gain more insight into what is most likely to work and what should be avoided.

Walking your dog means leading your dog. Your role in this situation is to lead the pack, therefore your pet should be expected to walk a half step behind. You will instill confidence in your pet when they know you are leading the pack and making the decisions. They will be less likely to attempt running or being distracted while you walk.

A good plan when training your dog is to keep your sessions short. When you have multiple, short sessions of training, as opposed to one long set, your dog will stay interested and will anticipate more. Keeping your pet motivated by short interval sessions will be effective and have a stronger impact.

Don't waste your money on expensive training products, such as shock collars. These devices are expensive and do not always work as well as you would expect them to. Plus, shock collars are not positive reinforcement when your dog is exhibiting proper behavior. Trying things akin to this will only cause harm to your relationship with your dog.

Remember that sometimes patience is key, don't become frustrated if your dog doesn't catch on right away. It would be nice if every dog could understand your every command but you have to remember they can't. Just try and be sure you are aware of your dog's emotions and when they do follow your command reward them so they know what they did was right.

Spend time each day training your dog, even if for only a few minutes a day. Dogs respond well when they get to practice what they are learning and what they have learned. Practicing at least 15 minutes a day on commands your dog already knows keeps the dog in practice.

When you toilet train your dog, avoid accidents! Learn to read your dog and anticipate his needs. Constant whining, sniffing, and pacing around the house are all very common signs. If you see any of these signs, get him outdoors! Get outside right away to the dog's favorite spot. Praise him for a job well done. He'll want to go out and do the right thing soon enough.

To teach your dog how to walk on a leash, you should start by getting your dog used to the leash at a young age. Walk around your yard or garden with your dog on a leash at first. Reward your dog if it does not tug on the leash. Use a command such as 'come' and tug on the leash at the same time. Your dog should quickly understand that you wish it to follow you.

Create an environment that is learning-friendly for training sessions. Remove distractions such as children, TV or anything else that may pull focus from you. Young children love to help but they can be your biggest hindrance in the process. When distractions are removed you will not have to constantly redirect your pet, and this allows for easier learning.

Staying aware of your dog is vital to a successful dog training program. There is a great deal of expert advice available to the trainer, but you must keep in mind that outside information should remain secondary to the feedback you get from your pet. Every dog is different, and you have to stay aware of your dog's particular feelings to make your training program truly effective.

If you are consistent, your puppy can learn to "hold it." When at home, keep your dog close and let him outside each hour. Every time your dog potties outside, be quick to praise him. Don't punish your dog for eliminating inside the house. Your dog knows no better, and your yelling is not going to change things. Bathroom breaks are required after meals or after leaving the crate.

Your dog should learn that nothing in life is free. Have him work to get goodies, no matter how small. Have your pooch "sit" and wait before meals are placed on the floor, and release with a command. Have your dog "sit" and wait by the door before walks. He'll learn patience, and he'll learn to wait for your cue.

Your dog should earn his freedom around your home. Too many pet owners give their dog free reign without earning it, which can lead to costly furniture replacement or even surgery when Fido eats something he shouldn't have. Test your dog's comfort levels and limits gradually, and in safe doses so you know his cheap promise rings triggers.

If possible, begin training your dog when they are young. A skill that is taught early on is often learned faster and easier than a skill that is introduced at a later age. In addition, older dogs have often picked up quite a few negative behaviors over the course of their life; these behaviors must be undone before the training process can begin.

Use the information contained in this article to properly train your dog to be on its best behavior. You should train him as soon as you can to avoid any risk of the dog unintentionally hurting someone.