Bringing a new dog or puppy into the home is a time of excitement and joy. The following few weeks are when frustration may set in. You may start to wonder why you bothered. Teaching your puppy how to behave properly will make things a lot easier for you and your pet. In this article we’re going to go over some of the tips of the trade in training man’s best friend.
When correcting your dog verbally, use sharp, short, concise commands. Do not go on and on about how bad the dog is behaving. Just say no, then show it what to do instead. Pitch your voice in such a way that your dog will recognize your vocalizations as commands.
When your dog behaves well in a training session, reward him in a calm manner. Reward them only when your dog is calm after it performs a trick. You might be happy about the progress your dog has made but you need to quell your excitment. Stay calm and bestow rewards calmly too.
Teething is painful, and providing chew toys helps alleviate the pain. Keep items that are potentially more painful out of reach. Take it away, and give him a chew toy. If your puppy seems to be suffering a lot from teething, a frozen washcloth to chew on can give him some relief.
Avoid restraining two dogs too closely together. The chain of one dog could become wrapped around the other and, as the dogs struggle to free themselves, one or both could be injured. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dog’s neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.
It is not difficult to teach a dog how to roll over, and having some treats on hand makes it easier. First, make sure the dog is in a laying position. Then, position a treat near the floor to one side of him, raise it up and move it over to the opposite side. His nose will follow the treat, naturally making him roll over. As he is rolling over say, “roll over” and praise them immediately when they do. Be patient if they don’t get it right away; they’ll get it soon enough!
You should pick a phrase to say to your puppy while he is being house trained. Each time you let your dog out to relieve himself, use a phrase such as “go potty” so that he associates going outside with going to the bathroom.
When you meet an unfamiliar dog, you should go up to him slowly and allow him to sniff your hand. That is the first step in getting the dog accustomed to your smell and building trust between you. After your dog gets your scent, it will no longer fear you and will follow commands better.
One thing to remember when puppy training is that all your actions are molding its behavior and personality. You might be reinforcing bad behaviors without even realizing it, for instance by playing with your dog or by acknowledging its barking. Be sure that every action you take supports the behaviors you seek.
When you are traveling together with a dog, make a dog travel bag. Water, bowls, bathroom bags and paper towels are good things to have to help everything run smoothly. You do not have to bring some food for your dog with you because you can easily find quality food anywhere you go.
You can use treats, love, and positive reinforcement to train your dog. Using the above advice will have you and your dog loving one another for many years. It takes time, but consistency and patience will see you through to a positive end.
