Tuesday, August 21, 2012

How To Get What You Want From Your Dog

By David Hamilton


Training your dog might seem like a difficult, intimidating task to take on. Many pet owners choose to send their dog to a professional trainer. This is a good option, but the following article has many tips that will help you train your dog on your own and in your home.

In order to keep your dog interested, be sure to use some kind of reward system in your training. When you're first starting out with a command food treats work well. As training progresses you can use his favorite toy and eventually verbal praise will be a reward for a job well done.

Always use the same words when giving commands to your dog. Using different phrasing for basic commands can confuse your dog. Saying "Come" today and saying "Come here" the next, in the dog's mind, is like teaching two different commands, however, the behavior is expected to be the same. Keep it simple and keep it consistent.

A great tip for properly training your dog is to always associate certain words towards your dog's behaviors. If you give a name to a certain behavior, this will give you more control over that type of behavior, which will lead to a greater success rate when training your dog.

Make sure your yard is free from burrowing wild animals to keep your dog from digging. Some dogs, especially hunting breeds, will dig when looking for prey. Finding humane ways to rid your yard of other animals can help to stop this troublesome behavior. Wild animals can be deterred or relocated for the sake of both your yard and your pet.

Be realistic about changing behavior that has gone on for years. If a dog's previous owner or you have allowed a dog to sleep on furniture or jump on people for many years, it will take time to change that long term behavior. If the behavior was addressed when the dog was a puppy, then it can be easier to change the behavior more quickly.

A very important command that any dog should know is 'stay'. Not only can this command stop him from doing something dangerous like running into the street, it can calm him down in a strange place. Firstly, tell him to 'sit'. Hold him in the sitting position, repeating the word 'stay'. Praise him with a treat, all the time ensuring that he stays seated.

Following the tips in this article will ensure you have a well-trained dog. There are many options for training, including using professionals or doing it yourself. Whatever path you choose, you need to know that your dog can understand your commands and be in control in any situation you are in.




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