Pets

Training your dog is an absolute necessity, there is no doubt about that; but how can you do it and enjoy it? Please read on for some very valuable information and advice on how to make dog training easier and a more successful endeavor for you! Soon you will have a smarter and better behaving dog and the two of you will be much happier for it!

Target training can serve as a basis for more advanced tricks. Target training is teaching your dog to touch an object (the target) with his nose or paw. The object can be any item, but once you pick something to use (some trainers use a ball mounted on the end of a stick), stick to it consistently. Once your dog has learned to target the object, you can shape his behavior by placing the object near the next task you want him to learn. Targeting can be used to teach a dog to do everything from closing doors to turning the light switch on or off.

Timing is going to play a key role in the training of your dog. Set a schedule and keep to it. He should know when you are going to feed him, take him for walks and have play time. This is going to make it much easier for you to do all of the training that you have planned for him.

Create a bridge between the dog’s response to a command and the reward for success. By saying a bridge word such as “yes” or “good”, you will reinforce that the behavior is acceptable and the reward will follow. Keep using this bridge word even after training is complete to be consistent with your pet.

Dogs need attention. This can be either positive or negative attention. They will learn rather quickly what it is that gets your attention. Sometimes they won’t care if you are giving positive or negative attention. Continue to reward your dog for good behavior with positive attention and do not give attention for any behavior you do not want. This will help to see the behaviors you want out of your dog.

Teach your dog to “drop it”. You never know when that command will come in handy. Be generous with praise and treats as you work with this command, and continue to practice it from time to time even after your dog has mastered it. A word to the dog sure beats having to wrestle unsavory objects out of a dog’s mouth.

Avoid using food and treats to train your dog beyond the puppy stage. Once you teach your dog to expect food for performing any task, they will refuse to do even the most basic commands without a food reward. Praising your dog warmly with words, cuddles and special playtime will get you a dog that listens without you worrying whether or not you have a treat in your pocket.

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.

Don’t get discouraged. It may seem like it is taking forever to train your dog, but the truth is that you simply get tired out more quickly than your dog does. Even when it’s hard, make sure that you keep trying. Stick with it, and you’ll start to see results.

Pick the proper size crate for your dog if you want to be able to effectively use the crate to train them. Remember, puppies grow up. Pick a crate that will be of suitable size for the adult when the puppy matures. The dog should have plenty of room to turn around and lie down without being crowded.

You want to begin your dog training as early as possible, but not too early. You want to wait until the dog is at least 49 days old before you begin trying to train them. But after that, you’ll want to begin quickly so that your dog can learn while he’s still adapting to his environment, and you don’t have to undo behavior that he’s already learned.

While dog training is incredibly important in order to integrate your dog into your family, it is also important that you spend fun, relaxed time with your dog as well. If you do not, the dog will be very well behaved, but it will also lose some of its personality and spirit.

Your dog is going to do the things that you reinforce. If he sits at your feet with his favorite toy barking and you take it and throw it you are giving him the idea that barking is going to make you do what he wants you to do and he will continue to think of it that way.

Your dog should know how to “sit” like he knows the back of his paw! The “sit” command is useful for a multitude of reasons, and is a behavior that can be built upon. Use a “sit” gesture that is intuitive for his body – in other words, he should always be looking up at your hand, which will help him sit instinctively.

Even if you think that you have taught your dog everything that he needs to learn, find something new to train him. Dogs will never stop learning and the more training you provide them, the more the dog will feel accomplished and happy. Training should be reinforced for their entire life.

After reading this article you should be a little more prepared to tackle the task of training your dog. Take the tips and tricks you have learned from this article and apply them to a basic routine that is the same every time you work with your dog. Although it may not be the easiest task in the world, training your dog is of great benefit to him, everyone he comes in contact with and more importantly it will really enable you to enjoy life more too!