How To Teach Your Dog
FIDO a little too feisty? Are you furry best friend really more of a nightmare? It is important to implement dog training as early as possible for dogs. When you establish strict, consistent rewards and punishments for your pup early on, good behavior will follow. Here are a few training tips to get your dog on the right path.
An often overlooked component of good dog training is to evaluate and improve the dog’s diet. The old adage that you are what you eat definitely applies to dogs. A lot of medical and behavioral problems can be traced back to a dog’s diet. Make sure you are doing all you can to give your dog the very best food it can get.
It is fun teaching your dog how to do tricks. Pick a time when he is fed, relaxed and calm. First, extend your hand to your dog’s paw. You may have to pick his paw up when you first start. Regardless of how he acts, give him a treat. Pretty soon he will learn that if he extends his paw he will get a treat. In no time, he will simply give you his paw on his own.
When training your dog, never forget that he is a dog. It is easy to get frustrated with your pet when he is not learning something simple, but keep in mind that it sounds simple to you in human terms. Try to think like your dog and see things as he does – this might change how you train him, which will in turn positively change how he reacts to the training.
If you are trying to prevent your dog from begging, the best thing to do is ignore the begging completely. Don’t respond either positively, with a treat or petting, or negatively, by shouting. Your dog will learn quickly and remember for a long time that the begging ended up with you paying attention to the dog.
A dog’s name should only be used when positively interacting with the animal. Call the dog’s name to get him to come to your side or call his name when you are serving his dinner. Don’t, however, call your dog’s name when you are unhappy with his or her actions. The dog would negatively associate that with punishment.
A great dog training tip is to be perceptive about what dog foods and treats your dog likes. Just like humans, not all dogs like the same foods. There are a lot of different dog treats. Try experimenting with different dog treats to see which ones your dog likes the most.
Research to find out if your training path fits your dog’s specific breed. Certain breeds have a tough time with retaining new things quickly or are very stubborn, and may need more time. There are several dog breeds that need your patience when training, and basset hounds and bulldogs are just two such breeds.
The advice in this article is meant to help you improve your dog’s training. A dog’s behavior is reflective of its owner’s ability (and willingness) to control it. Although it may be hard to be strict on your furry little friend, you both will benefit from it at the end.
