Dogs have walked faithfully beside man throughout recorded history. In the modern era, when the Internet brings vast swathes of information within everyone's reach, dog owners have more resources than ever on training their pets to behave according to their wishes. Here are just a few handy ideas for getting the most out of the dog-training process.
You will want to use your pet's name to get his or her attention. Use your dog's name when calling to go for a walk, for meal times, and for play. This will teach your dog to pay attention when you say their name. Never punish a dog for coming to you when you call them.
Reinforcement is a key element in dog training. Reinforcement only works, however, when it is executed with the proper timing. Excitedly saying, "Good girl!" just a few seconds too late has little positive impact on the dog's future performance in terms of the desired act. Reinforcement for desired behavior should be immediate.
If you want to help your dog succeed in his training program, take a moment to try and think like he does. Understanding how your pet views the world can help you make better training decisions for him. The better suited your program is to your dog's personality, the more success you will have while training.
House training your puppy can be a lot faster and more effective using a crate. The crate should never be used for punishment. The puppy should be put in it at night and in between times of interaction with his owner. His natural instinct is to not relieve himself in his sleeping area.
Do not reinforce any negative behaviors accidentally. Withhold treats and attention when your dog exhibits any undesirable behaviors. For instance, if you are trying to train your dog to not jump on you, you shouldn't be petting them whenever they do so.
When you are training your dog, focus on what your dog does right during the training sessions, not what they do wrong. This will make training more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Enjoyable training sessions will ensure that your dog remembers what you taught and is ready to come back for more at the next session.
Stimulate your dog every day to help prevent nuisance behaviors, such as barking. A bored dog is more likely to bark continuously in an effort to gain attention. If you get your dog out for regular walks and exercise, you may find that this behavior stops. You will have a happier dog, and be a happier owner.
The type of leash, collar, and harness are very important to take into consideration when training a dog. The bigger the dog the more secure these items will need to be. Also if one has a dog that pulls on the leash a harness should be used to control the animal opposed to a choke chain or collar. The right equipment is essential to dog training.
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.
Sometimes a dog trainer must punish their dog. Punishment does not eliminate the behavior the trainer wants to discourage, though; it merely suppresses it. Canny trainers know that punishing a dog only encourages them to hide the behavior for which they are being punished. It is better to entirely replace an undesirable behavior than to punish a pet for engaging in it.
Try not to repeat commands. It is human nature to repeat a word or in this case, command when we're frustrated. However, repeating yourself around your dog will get you nowhere. Every time a command is repeated, your dog learns that listening to you is optional. Be firm with commands and be stubborn by waiting him out.
Does your dog like to tug on his leash? This is very simple to fix. A harness can make walking your dog a more enjoyable experience. It can also reduce the amount of pulling your dog does.
If you want to take your dog to agility competitions, do some research on this discipline and make sure you get the best breed for these competitions. While virtually any dog can do agility, some breeds - like German and Australian shepherds - truly excel at it.
Use appropriate rewards and punishments when training your dog. For example, many dogs respond favorably when rewarded with a favorite treat for good behavior. At the same time, be aware that excessive punishment can backfire. Instead, use a consistent tone of voice or command word to indicate to your dog when a behavior is unacceptable.
To get your dog to crawl on command, have him start in a lying position. If you are tall enough, or your dog is small enough, place your leg, heel on the floor, knee up, in front of him. Take a treat and lead him underneath your leg. If your dog cannot fit under your leg, find another low threshold, like a chair, that he can crawl under. This makes him have to scoot forward to get the treat and will reduce his urge to stand up to follow your hand.
Train your dog by reinforcing positive behavior. You do not necessarily need to punish the dog for errors, but you should not reinforce problematic behaviors. Negative reinforcement does not encourage trust between you and your dog. Positive reinforcement tactics will make your dog want to please you.
The dog-owner relationship is as old as history itself, and it is not going away any time soon! With information of the kind that has been presented here, dog owners can find the perfect training strategy to make their dog-training experience a successful and happy one.
Orignal From: How To Break Your Old Dog Of Bad Habits
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