Well-Trained Dogs Are Happy Dogs And Good Citizens
Knowing how to effectively train your dog is not an intuitive process. Many times, we fail to remember that dogs simply don’t speak English, and they often don’t know what we want them to do. This article details some easy-to-implement things that you can do as a pet owner to have a better behaved, happier dog.
A new dog needs to feel safe and happy in their crate during training. You should place the food bowl inside the crate and leave the door of the crate open while they eat their food. This will give your dog a positive association with the crate.
While training your dog, observe his body language and general behavior closely. Look for signs of enthusiasm. Is his tail wagging? Does he follow you around? This shows he’s ready to learn. If you see your dog is scared, bored or nervous, stop what you are doing and reevaluate.
Make sure you’re not reinforcing an undesirable behavior. You don’t want to give your dog treats or special attention during training if they’re not performing the task properly. If you do, then they’ll think you’re pleased and continue to do things the way they’re doing them, and they won’t improve.
As you encounter unfamiliar dogs, make certain to advance with care and let the dog smell your hand. Dogs need to familiarize themselves with the smell before they can trust you. Once the dog recognizes your scent, he will not be afraid of you and will be more likely to follow your commands.
If you have a dog that begs, the easiest way to train them from this behavior might be to simply remove the dog from the situation. Shutting the dog out of the room at mealtimes keeps them from pestering you while you eat, and removes the temptation for you to give in to that cute face.
In addition to regular walks and dog training sessions, you should make time to let your dog exercise for at least one hour every day. Ensuring your dog gets thorough exercise will cause your training sessions to be much more effective, which will encourage your dog to behave better. An exercised dog is a happy and responsive dog.
Dogs are commonly referred to as “man’s best friend,” but when they are unruly and untrained they can be a nightmare. The old adage that one cannot teach old dogs new tricks is false, but it is definitely easier to train a puppy. Dogs are ultimately pack animals and it is important for a dog owner to be the leader of that pack.
Well trained dogs are happy dogs and dogs that are trained make for happy dog owners. It is a win-win situation. Training your dog takes time, but it starts with house-training and moves onto learning how to walk on a leash. Simple commands such as heel, sit and return are important for any dog’s safety. Dog owners can find pet trainers via their local big box pet store or the veterinarian, but it will take a lot of work from the owner regardless. A dog that is well trained makes a happier pet and really happy pet owner.
If you have a dog that is not learning, despite training, sometimes bringing in another dog that is already trained, can work wonders. The trained dog can lead by example and will receive all the praise from the people around. Meanwhile, the untrained dog will be watching what the trained dog is doing and learn from this.
If you do not communicate that biting is unacceptable, your puppy doesn’t know he is doing something wrong. When you catch your puppy biting, redirect him to a chew toy or bone. As soon as the pup starts to bite, firmly say “No!” and give him the chew toy. While you are teaching a puppy to stop biting, do not play any wrestling or tug of war games with them to strengthen what you are teaching.
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.
Dogs can be spoiled just like children. While rewards are definitely necessary to keep your dog on the right path, too many rewards can lead your dog to expect them! Your dog should be treated for challenging tasks, or performing tasks he knows under exceptional circumstances. Making him work for his grub encourages him to stay on his toes.
Most people find that, with a little bit of dog training, their relationship with their dog improves tremendously. And as you can see, training your dog, while not an intuitive process, IS a much easier process than most people think. So put some of our suggestions into practice, and you’ll see for yourself!
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