Sometimes it may feel as though you brought home Cujo instead of Lassie! There is hope! You can train aggressive or naughty behaviors out of your dog.
If any sudden behavioral issue occurs, take the dog to the vet to make sure that there is not a health issue involved. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This is your dog’s way of seeking help with a potential problem.
An older dog can learn new things, but you need to be aware of health issues that might cause his ability to be somewhat limited with certain things. An older animal with arthritis or other joint problems may lack the flexibility of a younger dog. As a result, certain request may be unreasonable. Training stimulates your dog’s cognitive functions. This is especially helpful if your dog is getting old. Remember that the last thing you want to do is force your older pet to perform certain tricks or behaviors that may cause physical discomfort.
Maintain consistency when dog training. Write down a list of all the commands you use, and inform anyone who commands the dog to use the words on the list. Make sure the whole household is being consistent with training cues. A dog will get confused if the reward does not always come after a good deed.
Accidents will sometimes happen when you are house training a puppy. Clean accidents as quickly as you can. Urine and feces smells will stay in the carpet if you don’t clean them up straight away, causing your dog to go back to the same place to do his business. There are a wide variety of odor control products designed to address just this situation, so head to the pet shop and ask about them.
Avoiding accidents entirely is the best way to toilet train a dog. Pay attention to the cues your dog displays to indicate that he needs to be outside. Pacing back and forth, snuffing and whining are some common signs. Don’t delay; bring them outside. Put his leash on and take him to the place you wish him to go. Praise him for appropriate toileting. He will soon learn how to ask for the bathroom.
Training Sessions
Maintain short training sessions. Dogs can’t concentrate for long periods of time, so long training sessions are pointless. If more training is desired, work in some break times so your dog can play before continuing with training.
Training should be disciplined but also fun for the dog. Training sessions should be kept to 10-15 minutes maximum so your dog enjoys the full benefits of his attention span. Give plenty of rewards. Make sure to shower your dog with praises when he performs well; dogs love it! This will make training and listening pleasurable for your dog.
A dog needs a healthy diet as much as a dog owner does. Your dog will not benefit from a poor diet. It can not only damage their health, it can also influence their behavior. By making small changes to your dog’s diet, you can alter their receptiveness to the training.
Have you heard of the shake-can training method? Place a few pennies into a soda can (empty please), and seal it up. If your pup misbehaves, just give the can a shake. This will give your dog a start and stop the bad behavior. Your dog will soon realize their behavior is unacceptable after a few shakes. Do not shake the can multiple times or he will become desensitized to it.
It is not uncommon for dog owners to express surprise at the simplicity of weaving training your dog efforts into daily life, and how fast they achieve great outcomes. If you are having behavior problems with your dog, read on for some solutions.
