Training your dog can feel like a constant game of tug of war, and half the time the dog is winning. Successfully training your dog can be challenging but very rewarding. This is some tips for you to a better relationship with your pet by offering a variety of training tips for your pet:
- Do not repeat a command when training your dog or asking for behaviors. If you repeat a command twice before your dog offers up a behavior, and then you praise it, your dog might learn that the command is using the repeated words. Instead, say the command once and gently help your dog complete the action if he has not done so. Be consistent and patient with your dog throughout this whole process so that he is better able to recognize the commands you are giving him.
- Make sure you and your family are consistent with your commands. If one person uses “down” to tell the dog to get off the couch while another says “off” and a third is letting him lay there, the dog is going to get mixed signals. It makes it much more difficult for him to learn the commands.
- Dog-proof your home if you know that your dog is prone to chewing and biting everything in sight when the family is out. If you don’t want to crate your dog, you will have to act as if there is a baby in the house and remove access to those things that your dog may get into when you’re gone.
- When you are giving your dog a command, make sure that you do not give it to him or her more than once. If your dog does not respond to the command that you are giving him or her then you need to try to do something to reinforce the command.
- It is important to note that telling your dog “no” does not give him any information. For example, if someone comes into your house, and your dog starts to jump, saying “no” is not enough information. Whereas, saying, “sit” is a better alternative, because it gives him something he can actually do. If you tell a dog what you want him to do with a command, this avoids confusion, and he will learn to listen.
- If your dog is working through troublesome behavior, be careful about where you send him for boarding or Pet Camp. Many Boarding and Pet camp facilities do not follow through on individual dog’s training programs, so be sure that you put your dog somewhere where he will get the attention he needs. Pet sitters often provide individual care that reinforces behavior. Ask whatever facility or Dog Sitter you’re considering about how they handle a situation like your dog.
We all know that training your pet can seem like a bit of a challenge. Now that you have read these tips, you have put yourself in a great position to better understand dog training. Knowing these tips can be the first step to having the best relationship with your dog that you possibly can.
