Tips On How To Successfully Train Your Dog

Your dog can be considered a member of your family. Much in the same way that you would train and correct your children, it is important to do that for your dog as well. How can you expect them to behave if you haven’t taught them what that means? Read on for ways that you can start training your family dog.

When it is time to leash train your new dog or puppy, you must let him know that you are boss. Punishment does nothing but make him afraid of you and it doesn’t actually correct the behavior. One thing that you should do, is make a short leash so that he has to stay right by your side. Do not let him lead you. You are the leader, not him.

Young puppies can be quickly potty trained by keeping them with you all the time and carefully observing their actions. When very young they might need to be taken outside as frequently as every hour! By carefully watching them you’ll quickly learn how they act when they need to relieve themselves.

Don’t waste your money on cruel, ineffective gadgets such as shock collars. They might not work like they say they do and they cost too much. Also, shock collars and like devices are just not nice things to use. In general, using such techniques produces negative effects.

Learn how to read your dog’s body language for a better dog training experience. Once you have found out what certain behaviors are signifying, you will have the knowledge to unlock hidden doors. You will be able to tell if they are tired, distracted by something else, or are in the perfect mood to learn. This provides you with a very great advantage.

If you have a dog with separation anxiety, you can train him out of this anxiety by varying your routine. If you act like you’re leaving the house, but then don’t or store your jacket in the car instead of the closet, you can break the cycle of actions, that get the dog hyped up with anxiety to begin with.

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.

Never use human shampoo on a dog. While it may be tempting to have your dog smelling like your favorite shampoo, most hair products for humans are far too harsh for a dog’s sensitive skin. If you are in a pinch and must use a human shampoo, try to use one formulated to be gentle enough for a baby.

To prevent your dog from chewing, you should apply a smelly substance on objects that your dog is not supposed to chew. Buy some chew toys for your dog: some dogs chew because they are going through teething, and some use chewing as a way of releasing stress caused by loneliness.

Learning to listen to your dog will make you a better trainer of him. Animals are not robots that can be programmed and your dog has a personality with preferences and quirks, just like you. Understanding the nuances of your dogs expressions will help you decipher more in training and therefore, expand your ability to teach him.

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.

It is important to teach your puppy that it is never okay to put his teeth on you. Puppies interact with their litter mates by using their mouths, both to play and to express when they are upset and he will more than likely try to do this to you. You can gently push his face away and say ‘no’ to teach him that this is not acceptable behavior.

Use appropriate rewards and punishments when training your dog. For example, many dogs respond favorably when rewarded with a favorite treat for good behavior. At the same time, be aware that excessive punishment can backfire. Instead, use a consistent tone of voice or command word to indicate to your dog when a behavior is unacceptable.

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.

When training your dog, make sure to keep him active. Dogs get bored just as easily as humans, so make sure you take him out for walks, runs and any special classes that may be offered by local pet stores or animal shelters. Exercise will help him improve not just physically, but also mentally.

Spaying or neutering your dog can stop a lot of behavioral problems before they even start. Territorial marking, inappropriate soiling and even aggression can be a result of sexual maturation. By neutering or spaying your animals, you can stop your animal from roaming if they ever get out of your house by accident. Spaying and neutering is relatively painless with modern veterinary technology, and your dog will benefit from it for life.

The dog in your life is very important to you. Your relationship will only be helped by having good training and discipline now. You can focus more on having fun with your dog when you aren’t always concerned about what trouble he is causing. Use the tips from this article to get started.