Having a dog can enrich your life tremendously, but it can also come with its share of difficulty. Many owners simply do not know how to effectively handle canine behavioral problems, and can sometimes make the dog's behavior worse. If this is your situation, then relax - we're here to help!
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety and gets restless when you are about to leave the house, you should feed your dog right before you leave. This will keep your dog busy while you prepare and distract it from the stressful situation. This should make the separation much easier.
A great dog training tip is if it seems like you can't get your dog to listen or learn on a particular day you should check your dog to notice any symptoms of illness. Some other indicators that your dog is sick, could be that he is sleeping excessively or has stopped eating. By paying attention to your dog's symptoms, you'll be able to get him to the veterinarian quicker.
To help with training your dog you need to be flexible in your training methods. Being flexible with your training will help you when your dog is struggling to learn. This will help you tweak the methods needed to suit your dog until you figure out what works best for him.
When training your dog to deal with its fear or anxiety related behaviors, go slow. Responding to a fear or anxiety response with aggression only leads to more fear and even mistrust. Take your time and give your dog the opportunity to succeed. He will grow in confidence and reduce fear induced behaviors.
Teaching a dog to know its name is the first dog training task a new dog owner should undertake. The name is used in calling the dog and just in getting its attention. Therefore it is more appropriate to choose a short and easily enunciated name than a longer and more confusing one.
When training a dog, rewards are much more effective than punishment. Use low calorie treats or pieces of boiled chicken to reward good behavior. Once the dog has learned the behavior you're trying to encourage, you only need to reward with treats occasionally. Always reward with praise and affection!
The diet you are feeding your dog needs to match their needs and activity level. The diet that is right for a working dog is a lot different from that of a dog that lounges around the house all day. Talk with your vet regarding what is right for your pup and don't forget their needs will change as they age.
Establish where your dog's resting and eating areas are, and don't let him take control of your home. Prevent him from getting in the habit of sleeping in high traffic areas and confiscating sofas and comfy chairs, by redirecting him to his own resting area whenever you find him in the way. Don't make a big production number of this. Just move him along.
If you have a dog that is not learning, despite training, sometimes bringing in another dog that is already trained, can work wonders. The trained dog can lead by example and will receive all the praise from the people around. Meanwhile, the untrained dog will be watching what the trained dog is doing and learn from this.
Dog Walking
Walking your dog is one of the most important aspects of dog training. It is during these walks that you establish dominance. It is essential that you are in command of the walk and not the dog. This means that you should always be in the lead, with your dog walking beside, not in front of, you.
Doggy daycare may sound like a great idea for hyperactive, distracted dogs, but it may be a serious setback to your training efforts. Your dog will need structure throughout the day. While running around and socializing with other dogs will be sure to tire him out, he will not receive the structure needed to curtail any over-the-top behavior. Consider a dog-walking service to let your dog stretch his legs during the day, instead.
Every owner owes it to their dog to know the basics of dog training. And the good news is that, even if you know little about canine behavior, there are simple and very easy steps you can take to develop a more positive and healthy relationship with your dog.
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