How To Train Your Dog

If you have never tried to train an animal, the idea may be rather intimidating. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. The tips below can help you start training your dog properly.
Don't play tug of war with your puppy. In addition to tug-of-war, games that involve wresting something away from your puppy or chasing each other in any respect, can entice the animal to bite or nip at your hands. These bad behaviors will be hard to get rid of and are counter intuitive to your training efforts so save them for after the dog has learned clear, well established guidelines on how to act.
You cannot rush through the training process. Puppies have short attention spans, therefore keep your sessions short and provide ample amounts of praise. If you overdo it, he is likely to forget everything he learned and simply remember the experience in an unfavorable light, making it that much harder for you the next time you attempt the training.
When someone enters your house, do not be afraid to tell them the best way to interact with your dog. These things can cause a dog to attempt to establish dominance and maybe even jump on guests.
If you use a clicker, you can reinforce obedience better. To start using a clicker, all you need to do is make a positive association between the noise the clicker makes and great things happening. Use the clicker and give your dog a treat immediately several times a day. Over time, your dog will learn that the clicking noise means he is doing something correctly.
Prior to ever leaving your dog at home alone for a considerable length of time, make sure he has a good long walk. If you are able to tire your pets out, they will not be as anxious when it is time for you to go.
Prior to acquiring the services of an animal behavior professional, you should conduct an interview and do some research into their background and reputation. Many behavior specialists will have different opinions on how to correctly train a dog, and you want to make sure that the professional is on the same page that you are.
Most cases of dog bites are a result of fear biting. The dog will feel fear if it is startled, trapped or feels threatened. Do not ever forcefully train your dog. This makes your dog more likely to bite. He will forever be your loyal companion, and best friend.
Everyone that lives in your home should know the same dog commands. If you dog barks loudly and you tell him to "be quiet" but your kids say "stop barking" your dog will be confused. If all members of the family use the same commands, training your dog will be much more easier.
It is wise for all family members to be involved when it comes to training a new puppy or dog. It may be easier for one person to work with the dog until he has mastered basic commands. However, the dog should respond to the same commands when given by any member of the family.
If you are training your dog to do a complex behavior, break it down for him. This includes tricks like training your dog to retrieve your newspaper. He will first need to learn how to hold onto something. Then he should be taught to recognize that item by name. After mastering this, he should be taught how to pick something up. Finally, he should learn how to bring it over to you. When you train your dog by breaking down a behavior into stages, he will understand that each step relates to the other.
Consistency is one of the keys to successful dog training. Make a list of the commands that you are teaching your dog, and be sure that everyone in your household knows them. Make sure the whole household is being consistent with training cues. Having different people respond differently can confuse the dog and make training more difficult.
Try training a dog to clench a plush toy in his mouth. Every time he successfully holds onto the toy with his mouth, hit the clicker and proceed by giving him a treat. After this is done a few times, watch and wait for your dog to put the toy inside his mouth. After has has done this, you should click and promptly give a reward. After this, you should only reward your dog after he holds the toy in his mouth.
You should be able to have a clean home and a loving dog. A rambunctious and destructive pet can quickly ruin the appearance of your home indoors and from the outside, but an effective training program can solve the problem. If you utilize the information that is provided in this article, you should be able to live a happy life with your K-9 companion.