Whether you have a new puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to invest a little time training them. And while there is an abundance of information available about how to train your dog, you can go wrong with dog training tips from the experts.
What does a well trained dog act like? First, he is aware of his owner’s command and follows each because he likes to please his owner. He is not running around like a tornado and does not cause commotion, but behaves in a way that is likely to be helpful and cause pleasant thoughts regarding his presence. He does not jump on a person, he does not bark incessantly, he does not lick a person, he does not try to take food from their hands, he does not try to sit in a visitor’s lap, he does not nip or bite at fingers or hands, and he will lay down at the owner’s request. He is also well trained to expect his daily walks to relieve himself and will not, only in dire and unusual circumstances, relieve himself in the house. A dog owner has the responsibility to let his animal know there will be ample and regulated breaks for him outside and that the owner will be there when needed.
Positive reinforcement is essential: While there are many theories on how to train your dog, most dog training experts agree that positive reinforcement works best. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It doesn’t involve yelling at your dog, hitting or punishing them. Positive reinforcement works because it builds a bond of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards especially food rewards.
Always end on a positive note: Learning a new trick is hard work. End each training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they know how to perform and end with a food reward and plenty of praise
Keep your dog healthy: One of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog a quality dog food, giving them plenty of fresh water and making sure they get enough sleep. A healthy dog is a happier dog and will learn desired behaviors much more quickly.
Walking/Leash Issues: Can you picture this? A 75 pound Labrador retriever pulling it’s owner along at a fast clip while zigzagging from tree to tree. The poor owner, with a now dislocated arm, vows never to walk the dog again. This is sad because dogs can be trained to walk nicely and they LOVE to go on walks.
When the dog has learned some of the basic commands, a couple more commands like GET IT to retrieve an object or maybe JUMP to go through an exercise routine with hoops can be added. It is very pleasurable to train your dog and to give him rewards as he completes each task. Take the time to teach your dog some cool tricks. Yes, they’re fun for you and you’re able to show off your dog, but your dog likes them too because you’re giving him tasks to do and quality time with you.
Finally, teaching your dog to fetch something is a time-honored tradition. Dogs can be taught to fetch items and will remember the various names for items. This can be not only a fun trick, but a handy one if you’re unable to easily get things for yourself. You dog can learn to fetch all sorts of things by name – toy, ball, bone, newspaper, shoes, etc. Start with one word, and really emphasize the word. When he’s consistent at fetching that item, you can add another word, and so on.
Many people complain about their new dog chewing up everything in sight and tearing up their gardens, and admit that they don’t know how to stop the dog from doing this. There are some solutions, though they may take time to implement, which will help to stop this problem. There are a large variety of toys available which should keep the dog amused. Some are capable of hiding treats inside them, making the dog work for its reward by rolling the toy around until a treat falls out. Others can be placed into the freezer overnight and given to the dog on a hot day, letting the dog lick the cool treat over a period of time as the toy defrosts.
Many other variations of dog toys can be found or can even be made out of existing household items, just be sure to make them safe for the dog.
If you are unable to devote the time to training your pet, then please have a professional train your dog. It will be well worth the time and effort and money when one of your friends says, “Wow, your dog is such a pleasure to be around. I would love to have such an obedient animal as a pet”. Just take the praise and smile and give your dog a well deserved pat on the head!
Be sure your dog is comfortable and protected from the elements by wearing cute dog clothes and durable cooling dog beds.
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