How To Train Your Dog And Have Fun Doing It

May 26, 2012 by Perezg93

Be a leader first and a “friend” second. From the moment you bring your dog home or begin to train him, you must constantly be leading. Attitude is your key to successful dominance and alpha behavior. Giving in to the playful side of your pet degrades the role you should be creating for your dog.

You should only leave your dog’s food out for around fifteen minutes each day after you put it out. This helps get your dog used to a regular routine. Your dog will quickly learn to begin eating his or her food immediately, and as a result, your dog will eat fresher food and not beg for food at other times of the day.

Calling your dog over to you then punishing him will teach him to fear you. Telling him he was bad or did wrong from a few feet away will definitely get your point across and the dog will understand your meaning without feeling threatened by you. Keep in mind the dog wants your approval and that alone will motivate him to do well.

A common misconception in dog training is that you should punish bad behavior. If you punish bad behavior, you are actually reinforcing that behavior. You strong reaction will imprint whatever the dog has just done on its mind. Instead, ignore bad behavior, redirect to some good behavior and then reward that.

When your dog is acting like a brat, cut off attention immediately. This is hard to do for some people, and encompasses more than you likely think it does. This includes foregoing nudging the dog away when he is playfully mouthing and even avoiding instructing or even looking at a dog that is demanding attention. Any attention at all may encourage your dog to keep up the bratty behavior! Reward him once he calms down instead.

A great tip for properly training your dog is to give your dog enough attention. Dogs thrive on social interaction with their owners. So if they do not get enough attention on a regular basis, then they will likely start performing some type of bad behavior.

Keep training sessions short. Dogs have a short attention span, and keeping the training sessions short and sweet prevents them from becoming a boring chore your dog dreads. If you wish to do more training, give your dog a play break to stretch their legs and relax before resuming their training.

Stay away from high end training devices like shock collars. They often don’t function as well as advertised and are far more expensive than conventional training methods. Plus, using devices like shock collars can stifle your dog and discourage even good behavior. In general, using such techniques produces negative effects.

Do not punish your dog excessively. If your dog performs a bad behavior in front of you, keep your cool and redirect his behavior to a more appropriate source. For example, dogs who inappropriately soil the house should be quietly taken outside and walked until they do their business again. Reinforce going outside as a positive thing, instead of shouting about the stain.

As already noted, dog training can be vital. Responsible dog owners take the time to work with their dogs and train them. Applying the information in this article, can help with dog training and help you to become a better dog owner. Working with your dog can build a better relationship, that will ensure that he will truly be your best friend.

Cathi Inga produces e-books on Elevated Dog Bowls