Friday, July 27, 2012

Dog Training Tips Straight From The Experts

By Kirk McGee


If you are completely new to the world of dog training, then you are probably thinking that some tips on the best ways to train your dog is going to help you immensely, so that you can teach your dog how to behave. Listed below are some tips to get you started with your dog training aspirations.

Sometimes a dog trainer must punish their dog. Punishment does not eliminate the behavior the trainer wants to discourage, though; it merely suppresses it. Canny trainers know that punishing a dog only encourages them to hide the behavior for which they are being punished. It is better to entirely replace an undesirable behavior than to punish a pet for engaging in it.

Time your rewards properly. Timing is crucial when training a dog. Dogs have very short attention spans, and waiting too long to reward a good behavior or punish a bad one will end up doing more harm than good. For example, when training a dog to "quiet" when barking, rewarding too soon after the barking will serve to reinforce the barking instead of the stopping. When you give the "quiet" command, wait a second or two, and then treat and praise " ensuring your dog knows that it is the calm behavior that is being rewarded.

Spend time each day training your dog, even if for only a few minutes a day. Dogs respond well when they get to practice what they are learning and what they have learned. Practicing at least 15 minutes a day on commands your dog already knows keeps the dog in practice.

If you want to train your dog to avoid inside accidents, keep him or her on a tight schedule. Feed your dogs at the same time each day, and avoid giving them food or water before bedtime. This regulates their bodies so you can expect when they will need to go out.

Learn your dog's signals to help prevent accidents inside. Most dogs have a specific pattern of behavior indicating a need to eliminate. By learning this pattern, you can take your dog outside immediately, which teaches him appropriate behaviors. Being in tune with your dog's natural tendencies makes house training easier on both of you.

Dogs with separation anxiety should not sleep in their human's bed. Fido may be warm, but unfortunately, sleeping in bed often causes dogs to build unhealthy, obsessive fixations on their owners. By giving your dog a crate or bed of his own, he will have his own space and learn a little independence.

When you are trying to train your dog to follow a command, repetition is key. Practice the command multiple times a day and be sure to offer your dog praise and a treat when he or she successfully follows your command. Repetition will ensure that your dog will remember and follow the command in the future.

When your dog understands the benefits and rewards of learning the tricks you teach it, the desire to learn is often as rewarding as the reward itself. Your dog will be happier, and so will you.




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