How To Train Your Dog

Puppies are cute…and unruly. They need guidance as they don’t know what is right or wrong yet. They are little explorers and will get into trouble unless you teach them how to behave well. How can you help your mischievous little friend? Well, train your dog by following the basic rules of dog training. Here are some useful dog training tips that will help you guide, teach and train your new addition to the household.

1. Never use the dog’s name in a negative sentence. If you use your dog’s name in a negative command, he will make the connection that this is when he gets your full attention; although it is not enjoyable, he will tend to repeat the same type of behavior each time he wants to get your attention. Associate his name with a good deed or desired behavior instead, so that he’ll be more inclined to get your attention in a positive manner.
2. Get the dog to sit as much as possible. A dog learns by repetition. You want your dog to understand and obey the command “sit”.
3. Use verbal encouragement, not treats. If you reward her with a treat in order to follow your command, she will only do so when rewarded with a treat. Another fact that you must consider is that treats are not always available. The most important factor to think about is that you want your dog to obey you and your command. A positive comment or a nice pat on the head will be seen as a great reward…as it should be.
4. Never let the dog jump on you. While it might look cute at first when he is a puppy, nobody likes a dog to jump on them, especially visitors. It is not only seen as rude but it also could be dangerous to children and seniors. Also it is a way for him to test your authority and he will not see you as a strong leader and master after all; a jumping dog is trying to prove his dominance over you.
5. No food or toy protection allowed. Your dog should be able to have someone play with his food and toy or even remove them without becoming aggressive. If you teach them that you are in charge of everything that is given to him, he will learn to gracefully let you have it. This behavior will protect children against aggression.
6. No screaming or yelling as it will just confuse the dog. Dogs do not understand a specific language as humans do. They understand commands as they are used repeatedly. Screaming and yelling confuse your dog; the only thing she’ll understand is that you lost control and she’s not sure what you want from her. If you say “No!” at the inappropriate behavior as it is happening, you will have more success than losing your cool.
7. Never hit your dog! Never!! Hitting your dog will force him to fight for his safety. This means that your dog will gradually become aggressive. It may not be against you at first, but how would you feel if he reacted to a small tug on his tail from your 6 months old baby and attacked her? Also, by hitting your dog, you are showing him that he can’t trust; why would he obey the person that hurts him?
8. Make the dog wait for food about 5 to 15 minutes until he is calm. A hungry dog becomes excited by food and literally gulps it down in no time, which isn’t good for his digestive system if he doesn’t throw it up first. Teach your dog that he will not get his food unless he is calm. It is a good way to show him who’s in charge while helping him to adopt a healthy behavior.
9. Walk the dog properly on the leash. Don’t let the dog pull or give you the ride of a lifetime. Show him who’s boss is by using a short leash, a tight grip, a training collar that is tight behind the ears. Insist that he walks beside you, never in front. With patience, practice and time, he will understand that a walk can be enjoyable when walking beside his master.
10. Don’t acknowledge an excited dog. An excited dog is a misbehaving dog. If you pay attention to him when he is excited, his behavior will not change. If you do not pay attention to him, he will seek your attention by adopting an appropriate behavior instead of misbehaving.
11. Only acknowledge the qualities you want in the dog instead of trying to train out the qualities that you don’t want him to have. If you reward your dog when he adopts a positive behavior or follows a command, he will seek your attention in the same manner. If on the other hand, you focus on the negative behavior, he will adopt a behavior that you do not want in order to get your attention.
12. Never let the dog go through the door ahead of you. If you let the dog get inside the building first, you allow him to show his dominance over you. After all, you clean up after him, you feed him, you groom him – you don’t need to make him the master by letting him in first. Show him who’s in charge!
13. Practice letting the dog wait to exit the car. Show your dominance over the dog by having him wait to exit the car until he is calm. After all, an excited dog could mean injuries for you, a loved one or man’s best friend. By encouraging this positive behavior, you are ensuring everyone’s safety.
14. Show true leadership and encouragement by not yelling or using intimidation. Leadership focusing on positive training methods and strategies will help your dog during her training. After all, positive breeds positive while negative breeds negative. You reap what you sow!

Your success as a dog trainer and your dog’s success as a trainee depend on your positive attitude, your tenacity and how closely you follow these dog training tips. If you follow them well, you will soon agree this is a great way to train your dog.