Saturday, September 29, 2012

Simple Methods For Effective Dog Training

By Kirk McGee


Having a dog can bring great joy into your life, especially if the dog is properly trained. There are many techniques that you can employ to train your animal into being a fantastic companion. Whether you simply want the dog to stay off of the furniture or learn tricks, good training is something you can start today. Here's how to get started.

Be a leader first and a "friend" second. From the moment you bring your dog home or begin to train him, you must constantly be leading. Attitude is your key to successful dominance and alpha behavior. Giving in to the playful side of your pet degrades the role you should be creating for your dog.

Dogs usually respond well to physical rewards when being trained. Almost all dogs have an extremely large capacity for love. That makes them respond very well to rewards like belly scratching, back petting and brushing. Your dog wants to be loved and greatly appreciates you giving him affection. Show your happiness with his success this way.

When trying to train your dog, always reinforce positive behaviors even when you're not actively in a training session. It's easy to remember to reward your dog during a training session, but it's just as important to reward your dog for those trained behaviors the rest of the time, too. This builds a good connection for the dog between the behavior and the reward.

While training your dog, do not forget to have fun. It is important that your dog knows you can still have fun with him by playing with his toys. Keep up games you used to play before getting serious about training. Play time is a great stress reliever for both dog and owner!

One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is that it is important to ensure that your dog has all of his needs fulfilled. Your dog will not respond well to praise or punishment and will not be able to focus on learning skills, if he is not being well taken care of. Be sure to feed him well, shelter him comfortably and spend time playing with him.

Throughout your dog's training program, continue to play with them as much as possible. Interacting through games and activities is one way to bond with your pet and relieve stress. Dogs respond much better to people they trust, so go out and throw a ball, play tug of war or just rub their belly.

Set a routine as much as possible when training your dog. Dogs respond well to regular activities such as exercise or bathroom breaks, so putting them on a routine encourages good behavior. Feed your dog at the same time each day to further establish a routine, and be as consistent as possible.

As you can see, there are many methods of training available to you, to make your dog the best canine he/she can be. Try any or all of these techniques to begin teaching your pet how to behave properly in your home. An educated animal will be a incredible friend for years to come.




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