When some people adopt a dog, they have not really thought things through. Having a dog in the family requires the right preparation. All dogs need training to know what is acceptable behavior and what isn’t. If you decide to adopt a puppy or dog, use the tips in this article to get a good start.
Do not tie up your dogs too closely. The chain from one dog could wrap around the second and the dogs could get hurt trying to get free. Situations like this can cause dogs of various sizes to cause fatal injuries if not properly monitored. Always err on the side of caution.
If you intend to use a crate in canine training, make sure the crate is an appropriate size for your dog. Keep in mind that puppies grow up. Get a crate that is the right size for your dog when it gets older. Don’t restrict the size so much so that the dog cannot lie or turn easily.
The first step of training your pooch should be to assert your control. If the dog does not understand that you have control he will ignore your commands and act with outright disobedience. Your dog should not walk ahead of you, because that indicates a position of leadership.
If you are going to be doing any training you need to know how to enforce the rules. Primary reinforcement employs a reward for his good behavior. This includes treats and rubbing their belly. The best rewards are things your dog already likes and wants.
Make sure your dog’s training is consistent. If there is more than one person training your dog, you need to make sure all the members of your household are using the same rewards and commands. The dog will learn more easily if he learns a single set of commands and if he knows what response will be received for his behavior.
It is vital that the dog’s leash remain loose when you are trying to train it to walk on a leash. When dogs go on walks, they frequently want to explore all the new sights and sounds. This makes them excited and want to pull on the leash. The savvy owner will discourage this behavior, instead encouraging his or her pet to walk with some slack in the leash.
Even if you’ve had an untrained dog for some time now, you still may use the following information to make sure your dog is trained properly. However, you should act as soon as you can before your dog harms others due to ignorance.