If you’ve never done anything like it before, dog training can feel like an impossible goal. You can have information overload when you think of all the resources you have at your disposal. Follow these tips to gain a better understanding of training your dog.

There are many different approaches that can be used to crate train a new puppy. If the dog doesn’t want to get in the crate try putting a chew toy in it and close the gate when they’re not there. The dog will smell the bone and want to go racing into the crate to eat it. After your dog goes into the crate, give positive reinforcement to increase the chance that he will go into the crate again.

When doing crate training, train your dog incrementally rather than trying to do it all at once. As soon as they start to feel comfortable in the crate when the door is open, try closing the gate and have them eat inside. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If they get upset, it’s too fast.

By giving your dog the proper amount of rewards, you’ll have an easier time training. Treats are great to give your dog when he does something good, but timing is very important when doing so. Dogs won’t know why they’re being rewarded if you’re not consistent.

Ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and stimulation. Dogs get bored just as easily as children. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. When your dog is exercised and is happy, training will be easier. Go for a long walk with your dog.

Give your dog a word that tells them they’re doing the right thing. A positive word will give your dog time to obey.

As you encounter unfamiliar dogs, make certain to advance with care and let the dog smell your hand. That is the first step in getting the dog accustomed to your smell and building trust between you. Dogs that know your smell are less likely to fear you and more likely to obey commands.

“Leave it” is a command that should be taught and reinforced early on. This will help prevent them from chewing on your furniture or other items, as well as prevent them from having dangerous items in their mouths.

When training your dog, keep track of time during each session. If you spend a lot of time on only one thing, your dog can get bored and frustrated. Only spend 10 minutes during the first couple of sessions.

Be sure to always grab your dog’s attention the same way. When calling your dog, use their name every time. Secure the dog’s attention and then state what you wish him to do. Dogs will respond instantly when their name is called if they know they are going to be rewarded.

Bond with your puppy by making sure he learns his name before anything else. Repeat the name as much as possible, and reward your puppy when he responds. Usually this simple command “come” and their name, are what they learn first. Make sure to spend time with your dog in order for him to learn and trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.

This article should have given you some valuable information for training your dog. If you keep these tips in the back of your mind when it’s time to train your dog, it will kick-start your training into an ultra-efficient routine.