Knowing how to train a dog

Dog training often ends up looking more akin to human training. That's really because an owner must train himself, before he can effectively attempt to train his dog. People are not born knowing how to train a dog and need to first learn if they really desire to do so. This article will help to clear up some of the mystery of dog training.



Make training for your dog a regular, repeated part of your time together to keep them familiar with the rules they've learned. Do not assume that your dog will remember his training all his life. But dogs can become complacent just like their human counterparts. Make sure your dog has a regular routine.

 Training is not a time for you to punish your dog. Instead, focus on preventing unwanted behavior. If your dog misbehaves, you should try to demonstrate the preferred action. Training is about building your pet up, not breaking him down.

 Reward your dog with high-quality treats when you are training him. Cheese, hot dogs or other normally taboo treats can be used as a reward for a job well done.

 Taking an obedience class will help you train your puppy properly. Instructors have been trained to deal with all sorts of behavioral problems, and can even help you to learn the best ways to maintain a training routine.

 Getting your dog to hang onto his favorite toy with his mouth, for example, is easy. When he puts the toy around his mouth, use a training clicker and offer him a treat. After this is done a few times, watch and wait for your dog to put the toy inside his mouth. After has has done this, you should click and promptly give a reward. Next, only give him a reward if he holds the toy using his mouth.

 While training your puppy, don't play tug-of-war. They encourage puppies to bite. There is no way that you want them to exhibit that type of behavior. When they are older you will be able to play those games with them without causing them to act out when not playing the game.

 Always be aware of your tone of voice when you have to discipline your dog. Dogs are great at understanding how their trainer feels. By adopting a stern tone to your voice, it will be easier to enforce discipline.

 Be sure to feed your dog healthy foods and treats. A dog with an unhealthy diet may manifest several symptoms, including sluggishness and poor behavior. It not only makes your dog unhealthy but can make him misbehave as well. Making sure your dog's nutritional needs are met helps give them the focus that they need to be able to learn.

 In an effort to alleviate your puppy's teething pain, give him plenty of chew toys. You also need to try to have other items he might chew on out of his reach. Replace the item immediately with one of the dog's own chew toys. If the puppy is suffering any pain from teething, freeze a wet washcloth for him or her to chew on.

 During the dog training process, it is a good idea to use various treats as rewards for your dog's good behavior. Don't use your dog's everyday treats for training. You want to place special emphasis on their improvement in training.

 Most dogs have anxiety as a reason for chewing. Putting your dog in his crate with a chew toy will reduce the chance of destructive events and give him something to do while he waits for you.

 It may look like a harness is more comfortable for a dog, but it can actually prove to give you less control than even cinching type collars would. If you plan on using a harness outside of training, put both that and a collar on your dog during the training process. This will teach him to respond to commands even after the cinching collar is removed.

 Dogs will focus on something and ignore all else unless something breaks that attention. Dogs learn by repetition so with continued training, your dog will immediately focus on what you are saying.

 A clicker can be a useful tool for positive reinforcement. When you begin using a clicker, positively associate the clicker noise with positive reinforcement. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Soon your dog will be able to recognize the click noise means that he did something good, helping to shape desirable behavior.

 The more active your dog is, the healthier it will be. When dogs have nothing to do, they can get bored. When dogs are bored they are difficult to train. Keeping your dog exercised and happy will help them pay attention more due to releasing all excess energy that often distracts them from your commands. Walk or run your dog frequently.

 One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is to not give up. Through constant and positive reinforcement, you will be able to train your dog to retain the behaviors you teach them. Much like providing your pet with food, training is a continuous process that is never truly finished.

 Your dog should be challenged regularly. Test the dog occasionally to check his memory, even though both of you know that he remembers his commands.

 Above all else, consistency is the key to effective dog training. Write down the specific commands you want to use with your dog, and get everyone in your household to review the list and use the same words. Also, make sure everyone knows what behavior should be rewarded, and what is considered bad behavior. If different people are responding differently with the dog, it will make training difficult and confuse the dog.

 Give your dog new challenges often. Make sure you quiz him on the stuff he knows, so he stays on his toes.

 Always use your dogs name when you need his attention. To have some good control over your dog, a solid response is crucial. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Try to avoid punishing your dog when it comes to you after you call out its name while using this technique.

 You should be able to have a clean home and a loving dog. It is easier to love and care for an obedient, well-behaved dog, so investing some time and effort in your training process is a great idea. These hot tips will make the story of you and your dog one that ends happily ever after.