Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dog Training Tips And Tricks You Can Use

By Kirk McGee


Training your dog is important if you want him to know his place in the family. You may love to spoil and pamper him but he still needs to understand that you are the pack leader and he is not. This article can help you to understand the benefits of training your dog.

Start training your dog as early in its life as possible, but not younger than about seven weeks. This helps build an early bond between you as the owner and trainer and the dog. However, starting too early will simply overstress the dog; a very young puppy won't learn anything from training sessions.

Never cave in to bad behavior. Your dog will always love you, but it needs to know that you're the boss. Don't encourage bad behavior and let your dog know that any such behavior will be met with punishment. At the same time, make sure you reward good behavior as well.

Watch what sort of activities you are encouraging your dog to do. Sometimes we may perform actions with our dog without realizing that they are training them to do something we dislike. If every time your dog chews something up you send him outside, you are teaching him that chewing something up is the key to getting outdoor time. Be careful with the actions you take, especially ones that tend to be consistent practices.

If you are aiming to train your dog in the best manner, you should always make sure your dog gets enough exercise. Dogs are very hyper creatures who need constant exercise in order to release energy. If they do not get enough exercise, they will likely use all of that stored energy to do something bad.

Always use positive reinforcement to train your dog. Reward your dog with happy words, petting and an occasional very small treat when he pleases you. Never hit or shout at your dog. This is ineffective and will just convince your dog that you don't know what you are doing. Be firm, consistent and positive for the best results in dog training.

Do some research on your dog's breed before planning a training regimen. Some breeds respond differently to training methods, so learning about a specific breed can help both of you be successful during the training process. For example, some breeds respond better when training is mixed with herding activities. Other breeds are more receptive to acrobatic training.

If you have an old dog, he may become grouchy and nervous. This is because older dogs often lose their vision, hearing, and/or sense of smell. This can cause them to feel uncertain and vulnerable. Be sure to keep things consistent for your old dog. Set up a comfortable area where he can always count on finding his comfy bed, favorite toy and a dish of food and water.

As already stated, dog training can be important for getting your dog off to the right start in the family. It will be harder if you wait till later to try training. This article can help you to make the decisions about dog training that can help your dog keep his place as a cherished family member.




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