Do you prefer to allow your pet to sleep indoors, only to wake up to find that your home has been demolished? From shredded upholstery to soiled floors and chewed-up shoes, it’s evident that your dog must be trained. This article offers important training tips to improve indoor life.
When you correct your dog verbally, those corrections should be short and focused on the behavior. Don’t berate your dog with a lengthy speech. Just tell them no, and redirect them to the task you are asking them to do. Remember that your voice’s volume gets their attention and that you are talking business.
Be careful not to reward bad behaviors without realizing it. In other words, you must avoid showering your pet with treats or rewards in response to performing some unwanted behavior. For instance, do not pet the dog lovingly if it jumps on you the minute you arrive home if this is something you are attempting to cure.
To strengthen your training efforts, you can use a designated verbal command to help your animal understand what your expectations are and when they have been fulfilled. If you do not have a treat you can reward your dog with, pet it and talk to it in a soft voice until you find a treat.
Limit the duration of training sessions. If you spend too much time doing one training exercise, your dog will become bored. Only spend 10 minutes during the first couple of sessions.
Make sure training has an element of fun incorporated into it. Taking some time to have fun with your dog makes your dog like you more, which means fewer problems when training him. While you can have fun during training sessions, it’s a good idea to spend a little time simply playing.
Use positive reinforcement when you are training your dog. Use positive language to reward the dog, as well as petting and small treats on occasion. Don’t shout at a dog or hit them. This makes the dog think you are imbalanced. Stay positive but stand your ground when training your dog.
Using various voice tones for various purposes is a great way to train a dog. Command and praise should differ in tone, as should corrections. Be firm and sharp with commands. Use a louder tone for corrections, and your natural voice for praise.
One trick to remember when training your pet is that the things that you do will surely mold its behavior throughout its life. This is crucial to know because you may undo certain behaviors by engaging in horseplay or by teasing your pet. Always work towards desired behaviors to mold them properly.
Don’t give up on training your dog, no matter what. You will need to give your dog continuous reinforcement, or he or she will go back to how they were before being trained. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.
Start your training by teaching the “down” command to your dog. You can build from this command, or just have it handy in emergencies. Dogs that understand the “down” command are able to hit the ground whenever necessary, which is valuable in times of danger.
The tips in the article above should give you some confidence that you can now handle those challenging times when your pet is on a rampage in your household. No longer should you have to suffer with chewed shoes and scratches on the furniture. Follow the steps provided in this article, and you will learn how to train your dog to be a good indoor pet.