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 you are training a high-energy dog, it may be beneficial to exercise your dog just before the training session. A dog that is overly energetic will have difficulty focusing on what you are trying to teach. The exercise session can be beneficial for the human owner’s health as well!
Don’t get discouraged. It may seem like it is taking forever to train your dog, but the truth is that you simply get tired out more quickly than your dog does. Even when it’s hard, make sure that you keep trying. Stick with it and you’ll start to see results.
Most of the time children and dogs get along wonderfully. Children, however, often tend to mimic what they hear adults doing. Don’t let your young child repetitively give commands to your dog. The dog will learn to disregard the command because they know there will be no repercussions for doing so.
When training a dog to a leash it is important to keep the leash loose. Dogs are often eager to explore new territory when they get the opportunity to go for a walk. Because of their eagerness they will tend to strain on the limits of leash. The savvy owner will discourage this behavior, instead encouraging his or her pet to walk with some slack in the leash.
If your dog is running away from you, don’t try to chase him. Instead, call him by name and give a command, such as "come." Your pet views chasing as a game and thinks you want to play along. The exception to this tip would be if your dog is about to enter a dangerous situation and has not responded to your commands.
If your dog has a hard time traveling due to anxiety, consider using a homeopathic treatment to calm your animal as you acclimate them to the process. Your veterinarian should have an idea if a homeopathic treatment is right for your pet, but a calming treatment can boost training success immensely for anxious travelers.
When training your dog, it is always of utmost importance that you do not punish them for what they have done. It is better to positively reinforce them when they do something correct, rather than punish them when they do something wrong. If you do this they will not become skittish whereas they would if you punished them.
Be consistent in your role as pack leader with your dog. Without proper leadership from you, your dog will see this as an opportunity to establish themselves as the pack leader. Everything you do in respect to training your dog should follow this rule. Being the pack leader with your dog is a lifestyle change that will be rewarding for your pet.
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.