Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Some Tips For New Dog Owners On How To Train

By Kirk McGee


Dog training is something that takes a great deal of patience and dedication, but also requires that you know what to do in order to get your efforts to work. Understanding the various ways that dogs respond and how to implement training can begin with these simple dog training tips that could give you a great hand in your new adventure.

Dogs benefit from being trained to respond not just to verbal commands but also to the body language of their owner. Consider, for example, a dog that is approaching its owner from across a busy highway. The dog who is trained to stay in response to the proper hand motion will be more likely to survive this experience than the dog trained only to verbal commands.

When it comes to grooming activities, familiarize your pet with common handling as early as possible. Dogs require grooming regardless of breed and getting your pet used to having her paws, face and ears handled regularly makes the grooming process less stressful for both of you. Whether you do your own grooming or have it done professionally, train your dog to accept handling common to grooming.

Have the right equipment and use it properly. Learn how to put on a chain or nylon slip collar and use a standard 6 foot leash for most training. Do not yank or pull on the leash. Just give a quick tug and release when the dog ignores a command to come or heel. Soon just wearing the collar will be enough to remind the dog that you are the one in charge of the training session, and very few corrections should be needed.

When you are training your dog, do not repeat commands over and over to get the dog to obey. Rather than teaching your dog to do what you say, repeating the same command when your dog doesn't listen gives them an attitude of indifference. Give your commands firmly, once, and insist the dog do what you say.

Your dog is the product of many generations of domestication and breeding. If you have a purebred or mixed dog, tailor your training efforts to your dog's personality. For example, herding dogs may need more work to release energy that would otherwise go to herding efforts to make something like taking leashed walks easier.

Crate-training is an excellent way to curb bad potty habits. Your puppy or dog will benefit from a sanctuary fitted to his size. Dogs are evolutionarily designed to stay away from where they 'go', so a crate uses this fact to your advantage. This also makes it more likely that your dog will hold it until you get home, however, never use the crate as a form of punishment.

Many people are surprised to discover just how easy it is to significantly lessen canine behavior problems. So try some of the advice we mention and you'll soon discover, just as many happy pet owners already have, that with just a little bit of work, and a lot of consistency, your dog will be much happier and better behaved.




About the Author:



No comments: