Training Your Dog 101: Ten Tips On Dog Training

If you have ever owned a dog, you know how frustrating it can be when your dog has a mind of his own. A well behaved dog on the other hand is a joy to have around. The way to get a well behaved dog is through training. It’s not hard to train a dog but there are some basics that you need to know about in order to succeed. Keep reading to find out what the top 10 no fail tips on dog training are.

1. Start as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Establishing routines right away avoids problems later. For instance, if you don’t want your dog to climb on the couch, sit on the floor with him. Don’t bring him up on the couch with you. If you do, you are teaching him that he is allowed on the couch. This is a difficult habit to break.

2. Your dog needs to know who is boss and that should be you. At the same time, it’s important that you be fair in your treatment. Don’t expect things from your pet that he is not ready for. But once you teach him, expect him to obey. For instance, don’t toss him a scrap from the table one day and then scold him for begging for food another time.

3. Collar and lead training is one of the most important things you can do to have a well behaved dog. Start in on this as soon as possible when your puppy arrives to make training much easier and more effective.

4. Training should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your pet. Be sure to reward him for his accomplishments, no matter how small. Rewards don’t always have to be food. They can be a simple pat on the head, or a “good boy”. You will find that he works that much harder if he knows that you are going to give him a reward for his performance. Use this to accomplish a lot in a short time.

5. Patience is a quality that every single good dog trainer needs to have, and lots of it. Progress should be measured in very small steps. Your dog will not learn and remember overnight. It takes lots and lots of practice before the desired behavior will come naturally. Be sure to reinforce the targeted behavior by repeated practice and rewards.

6. There will be times when it will be necessary for you to discipline your dog. There are two important points to remember when it comes to discipline. First, don’t ever order your dog to come when you are preparing to discipline him. Leave this word for positives in training. Instead go to him. Second, hitting does not have a place in dog training. If you hit your dog as a form of discipline, he will learn to be afraid of you. This will not work with dog training.

7. When starting a new session with your dog, start by reviewing behaviors your dog has already mastered. Reward him and then move on to new training exercises.

8. Never extend the training session too long. If you sense that your pet is tiring or losing interest you will be farther ahead in the long run, ending the session than urging him to keep going. Be sure to have him carry out a simple command at the end of the lesson, give him his reward, and then spend a few minutes just having fun with him.

9. Start by teaching your dog basic commands like sit, stay, down and come. Only after he has learned these commands and consistently responds to them should you attempt to teach him more complex commands or tricks.

10. Only reward when a command is executed correctly. This goes along with being consistent. If he knows that he will get a “good boy” whether or not he sits on command, he won’t learn the lesson.

Consistently following these tips on dog training will ensure success in training your dog. And we can all agree that a well trained dog is a pleasure to have around.