Saturday, October 27, 2012

Get Your Pooch Under Control With These Simple Tips

By David Hamilton


Many people choose to get dogs for their children as gifts. Although his is a great way to teach a child responsibility, a dog really needs to be trained by an adult before they are given to a child. This way the dogs know how to behave and do not injure the child accidentally.

A good tip is to get a breed of dog that matches your lifestyle. If you have kids, you'll want a breed that's good with kids. Chihuahuas have become really popular over the years and many families have started buying them. They aren't great with kids however, and a lot of them are being left in shelters.

A great dog training tip is to learn to read your dog's facial expressions. Dogs communicate a lot just through their facial expressions. For example, when a dog is scared or worried, their mouth may appear stiff and their ears will perk up. You can learn a lot about your dog just by watching their facial expressions.

Do not just tell your dog "No". This does not give him the information that he needs to learn what it is that he is doing wrong at the time you are yelling at him. Give him specifics. If he is jumping up on company, tell him to "No Max, get down!" He will then be able to learn from this experience.

When potty training your dog, be consistent. Establish one, specific place for your dog to do his business. Take him there at the same times daily (e.g. when you first get up in the morning, when you get home from work, and just before bed). Praise your dog when he does his business in the right place at the right time. If he has an accident in the house, tell him "No!" firmly, and take him out to his potty place.

Use your pet's name often to reinforce familiarity. It is important that your dog knows its name well, so that you can gain their attention at a moment's notice. Reinforce their name as a positive experience using it when calling for food, treats, walks, or any activity your dog enjoys. Refrain from using their name when you are angry, or they could learn to fear it.

Walking your dog means leading your dog. Your role in this situation is to lead the pack, therefore your pet should be expected to walk a half step behind. You will instill confidence in your pet when they know you are leading the pack and making the decisions. They will be less likely to attempt running or being distracted while you walk.

A great tip for properly training a well-behaved dog is to always make sure that you are shaping good behavior. Every single time you interact with your dog, you are shaping it in some manner. You should always make sure that training is done in a good way in order to raise a good dog.

Training a dog is a great experience. Seeing how your pet develops good behavior and respect for your command you is a rewarding experience and well worth your time. Training a dog should be treated as an opportunity to have fun instead of a chore, so have fun trying out the suggestions in this article!




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