Every dog needs to be trained to engage in good behaviors and avoid unwanted ones. Read on for some ways to get started training your dog.

Shock collars are not a good idea. These devices are expensive and do not always work as well as you would expect them to. Also, shock collars and like devices are just not nice things to use. These tools often do more harm than good.

As your dog becomes better when it comes to puppy training, you can start giving it more freedom. The key to a satisfying life for your dog is a balance of freedom and obedience. Be sure not to give them too much since this can counteract training efforts.

When you are training your dog with a leash, try to ensure that the leash is loose. Dogs love exploring when they get to walk. Their eagerness will cause the leash to be strained. A good dog trainer will work to discourage this and teach the dog to walk with a bit of slack on the leash.

When it comes to having a well-behaved dog, it is important to introduce him to social situations early and often. You need to show them what is acceptable when they are around people and their pets. Also, this will reduce the chance of your dog embarrassing you.

One thing to remember when canine training is that all your actions are molding its behavior and personality. This is a critical fact, since you may inadvertently cause your dog to regress by teasing or laughing at bad behavior. Work on commands at all times to keep them learning the right behaviors.

Consistency is key when housebreaking your dog. If you are home, spend time everyday with your puppy, and take him out every hour or so. When he eliminates outside, give him praise. Do not punish or yell at your dog for having an accident indoors. He can’t understand why you are yelling. Let the dog outside roughly 15 minutes following food or drink, and also each time he emerges from the crate.

Make sure you give your dog a good workout every day. Dogs also need to be fed a healthy diet, get exercise, and be kept busy, just as you do.

If you are interested in dog agility, it is a good idea to do some research and choose a dog breed that is well suited for it. Most dogs can learn agility and join competitions, but border collies, Australian shepherds and Labs usually do best in these competitions.

When training your dog, it is important to always be consistent. Your rewards, tone of voice and commands should all be consistent throughout your training so the dog learns what to expect.

When canine training, use various treats as rewards. These treats cannot be confused with every day treats at first, because you need to create a sense of specialness which will encourage the dog to obey your commands, since they know that the treats they will be receiving are out of the ordinary.

In most cases, dogs bite out of fear. This can happen if the dog feels backed into a corner or otherwise unable to escape a bad situation. Dogs cannot be trained through force. This may have serious negative consequences, such as your dog biting you. A dog’s main purpose in life is to please you, as he regards you as his leader.

Six months is the recommended age at which a dog should be spayed or neutered. This is also a good time to begin obedience training classes. You don’t want hormones to interfere with the learning process. You will be able to better enjoy the time you have with your dog and they will be happy and healthy.

Train your dog by reinforcing positive behavior. Instead of punishing him when he is bad, simply do not reward that behavior. You do not want your pooch to be afraid of you. Your dog will be more likely to behave if he knows he will be rewarded.

Your house will be a disaster, and your sanity will be out the window, if you do not train your dog. If you follow the guidelines in this article, you will be more effective while training your dog.