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Thinking Outside The Box In Dog Training

By David Hamilton


Your dog can be considered a member of your family. Much in the same way that you would train and correct your children, it is important to do that for your dog as well. How can you expect them to behave if you haven't taught them what that means? Read on for ways that you can start training your family dog.

If you go into a training session expecting the worst from your dog's behavior, you will get what you expect. Understand your role in the training and know that you have the ability to maintain that control and correct behavior. Your dog is very attuned to your feelings and will emulate your anxiety should you allow it to show.

Start out using a clicker for dog training rather than voice commands. Dogs do not understand human language easily. Using a clicker at the beginning of training allows the dog to easily associate simple clicks with positive behavior. Once your dog understands simple clicking actions, you can replace the clicks with very simple voice commands.

A great dog training tip is to always be sure you properly enforce all the commands that are given to your dog. The reason is if you do not enforce them, your dog will not listen to them. You have to be firm with your orders and be sure your dog follows through on them. Do not give up.

If you have a dog with separation anxiety, you can train him out of this anxiety by varying your routine. If you act like you're leaving the house, but then don't or store your jacket in the car instead of the closet, you can break the cycle of actions, that get the dog hyped up with anxiety to begin with.

Understand that training takes time. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking a dog is 'untrainable' when things don't go according to plan immediately. Some dogs respond to commands sooner than others, and it is usually according to breed and age. If you have adopted an older dog, it may take a long time, as he will already be set in his ways. Remember to be patient, and understand that a dog always wants to please his owner in the long run.

Positive reinforcement is the proven key to success in dog training. Figure out what reward will motivate your pet and use it. Strong smelling meats and cheese are usually very popular. It is imperative to always have treats handy when training. However, it is equally important to watch the caloric intake.

Dogs can get very rowdy and be very difficult to train. This is especially true, if you do now know how to train your friend. Hopefully, you understand more about how to get your dog under control. Apply the tips listed in this article and your dog will be on his way, to truly being, your best friend.




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