Dog Guidance Blog

Aggressive behaviors, excessive barking and general disobedience are annoying to a dog owner. These bad habits can be changed. Perhaps they won’t be 100% successful, but they can be limited with this article. With the right training, your dog can be transformed into the perfect pet.

Any behavioral problems that crop up suddenly warrant a visit to your veterinarian to rule out health conditions. Sometimes pain and other health conditions can cause some animals to act strangely or lash out. Since dogs cannot communicate verbally, a change in behavior might be a sign that something is wrong.

Be sure to stay consistent with the commands you choose to train your dog with. Your dog will relate the word with the behavior. Being consistent is key. By being consistent, the chances of successfully training your dog are much greater.

Your dog needs to feel a sense of safety for him to be properly trained, this is a good tip to follow. If dogs feel afraid, unprotected or unsafe in anyway, they will start to lash out or show other types of poor, defensive behavior. In order to eliminate this, you should ensure that you put your dog in a safe surrounding.

If you just can’t keep your canine from chewing when you are away, put them outside or in their kennel. If you cannot do this, try closing the doors of the rooms that contain the items and putting the other tempting things out of their reach.

Make sure the whole family is familiar with your dog’s routine and rules. Dogs like routine and consistency. If multiple people are training a dog with different methods, the dog becomes confused.

Dogs are just like people; they love hearing the sound of their own names and the use of the name will call them to attention. Do this consistently during the first several weeks to get your dog to pay attention to you. Give your dog a relatively short name, preferably one that isn’t likely to be confused with other words.

Stay with the training, so that he doesn’t forget the lessons that he learned. Keep him in practice. Too many owners tend to be under the impression that once they have trained their dog, that’s the end of it. But pets and humans actually share the same types of habit learning systems; if they don’t practice they will forget! This is why you must make sure that you have a rule system that is strict for your dog.

Repetitive training can be one of the best ways to deal with your dog’s separation anxiety over being left alone. If you dog starts barking or running wild as soon as you head for the door, separation anxiety is the likely culprit. It is possible to train your dog to refrain from such activities and control himself while he is alone. A great way to ease your dog’s anxiety is through love and compassion.

Dog training does not have to be a battle between you and your pet. The correct focus and determination will enable any dog owner to achieve wonderful things in the training of their pooch. Dogs can rise to the occasion and thrive with training from their owner.

There is nothing wrong with being unsure of how to properly train your dog. Few people other than professionals actually do know. Researching training your dog was the first step in the right direction. The following tips and techniques will help you train your dog quickly and efficiently.

An example of shaping would be to teach him to hold his favorite toy in his teeth. Whenever he accepts the toy, you can feed him a treat. When he repeats this a couple of times, watch for when he actually puts it into his mouth. When he is successful, click him off and give him a treat. Now, reserve the reward for only those times he completely holds the toy inside his mouth.

You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. These pads often leak, and the enzymes from urine or feces on the pad can end up marking its spot on your floor as a potty zone. They also have the side effect of conditioning dogs to think that any similar-looking item is also acceptable to use as a bathroom. Ideally, work on teaching your dog that outside is always the best place to do his or her business.

Punishment is an ineffective tool for training your dog. If your dog does exhibit bad behavior, correct this behavior by showing him is expected of him. Training is only successful if you can build a good relationship with your pet – take the time to teach your dog in a positive manner.

Try taking obedience classes to make your dog become more obedient. Instructors have been trained to deal with all sorts of behavioral problems, and can even help you to learn the best ways to maintain a training routine.

When your dog is six months old, have it spayed or neutered. This should coincide with the beginning of obedience classes. A dog that is fixed will be more willing to learn. Doing this will allow you to have more years with your pet, and it will give your dog a healthier, happier life.

Try introducing a clicker to reinforce great behavior. When using a clicker, be sure to make a positive relation between the clicker’s noise and the good things that you want your dog to do. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. In time, your canine friend will recognize the clicker as your voice saying “great job!” He will want to hear this noise and so will act appropriately.

Since you have found a resource to help you out, you must implement what you have been taught to your training. Having an understanding on how to go about training your dog will help you get started.

Most dogs think a lot alike, no matter their size or breed. If you get this mindset, it shouldn’t be tough for you to train a dog. However, if someone doesn’t understand the mindset of dogs, there is still hope. This article contains helpful information on understanding how canines think.

Ensure that your dog gets enough activity. Dogs can easily get bored. When a dog is bored, he will be hard to train. When your dog is happy and well-exercised, he will be more willing to pay attention to his training. Regularly take a walk or run with your dog.

Playing tug-of-war with your puppy makes training less effective. These kinds of games may encourage your dog to bite your hands. This behavior is very difficult to break, so you should avoid these games while they are still a puppy.

You should always check credentials before hiring anyone to help you understand your animal’s behavior better. Different animal behavior specialists use different practices. They also have varying opinions on what is best for your dog. You want to be certain that the trainer you go to employs practices that you are comfortable with.

If you are more irritable than normal, you may need to reschedule your training session to another time to avoid losing your patience with your dog. You will need to be patient with your dog, or they will become impatient and their attention will be focused elsewhere.

Do not let the pressures of your day or life influence how you speak to your dog when you are training. If your dog has not misbehaved, you should treat him warmly.

One vital piece of dog training advice is to be resilient and never give up. Unless you constantly enforce desirable behaviors, the training is unlikely to be effective. The learning process for dogs is a constant one; with reminders and reinforcements needed along the way.

Your dog’s diet should be healthy and balanced. There are many reasons why bad diets are bad news for your pet. It can damage your dog’s health and affect their behavior. Feeding your dog quality food can greatly affect what you accomplish during training sessions.

Keep your dog outside while you are away from home to prevent it from chewing on your items. If you cannot do this, try closing the doors of the rooms that contain the items and putting the other tempting things out of their reach.

Anxiety is frequently the cause of destructive chewing behavior. You can also keep your dog from causing damage while you’re away by humanely enclosing him in an appropriately sized dog crate or some other small space of his own with a chew toy to keep him occupied.

You need to know when you should get professional help. Training you dog can be tough, and sometimes you need a dog trainer if your dog is too hard to handle. Professional trainers have dealt with all types of dogs and problems, so they are capable of figuring out exactly why your training isn’t going as planned, and how to fix it so that your dog does as it’s told.

Make rewards something truly special, by using his favorite treats. Consider using human food for these treats, even if you don’t normally allow your dog to eat such food.

Training can be a big help for a dog suffering from separation anxiety. Dogs that won’t stop barking and destroy everything in the house when you leave are probably suffering from separation anxiety. You can fix this by showing your dog acceptable behavior for the times when you’re away. While you’re training your dog, it’s important to also show a great amount of love so your dog knows that everything is alright.

If you can get your mind in tune with what your dog is thinking, it will have a great impact on your training. If you know this, you can train your dog more effectively. Make sure to tailor the training to a dog’s specific personality.

Training your dog is among the most important aspects of your pet’s life. Dogs, like human children, need discipline and self-control to feel like they fit into the family. Your dog will be happier after going through training, because he knows what you expect him to do and how to please you. Read on to find out some other reasons dog training is vital to the health and happiness of your dog.

Make dog training easier by helping your puppy always feel safe and loved, rather than afraid. When a dog does not feel safe or comfortable, his behavior will reflect the apprehension he feels and he will be difficult to manage. Keep your dog confident by placing him in a safe area.

Train your dog in little steps if what you want him to do is a bit more complicated. A simple example is teaching your dog to get the morning paper. First, he needs to learn to hold an object. Next, he must be able to identify an object by its name. From there, proceed to teach him how to pick the paper up without damaging it. Finally, he should learn to bring the object to you. When you train your dog by breaking down a behavior into stages, he will understand that each step relates to the other.

If you are looking to train your dog to not use the bathroom inside, housebreaking pads are counter productive. These pads can leak, leaving behind invisible areas with the scent and enzymes from feces and urine that will attract your puppy back to the spot. Wee-wee pads can also train your dog to think that other items that are the same shape are a potty area as well. The best way to housebreak a dog is not to allow them to use the bathroom in the house; there is really no alternative.

Be aware of what foods and treats your dog loves the most. Using the food that your dog loves will encourage it to work more during its training to please you and be rewarded. Watch how your dog responds when receiving their reward to ensure it is still the best choice.

Try to use the same words or actions when you are training your dog. This makes it easier for the dog to learn to associate the words with the actions you desire. The key to successful dog training is consistency. This will allow you to train your pet more effectively in a shorter period of time.

Your dog training program should incorporate at least a little fun. Keep training sessions to more than 10 to 15 minutes to stay within your dogs’ attention span. Be generous when it is time to reward! When your dog does a good job, shower him with praise. Making training fun makes listening fun, too!

Try introducing a clicker to reinforce great behavior. When using a clicker, be sure to make a positive relation between the clicker’s noise and the good things that you want your dog to do. You should click, and then immediately treat. This method will be necessary until your dog learns that the “reward” is the clicking sound alone. Soon, your dog will associate the clicking noise with a treat, which can help to reinforce desirable behaviors.

This article makes the case that dog training is extremely important. An ill-behaved dog is destructive and a cause of stress for every family member; before long, he will be unwanted. You can avoid this by putting the tips in the above article to use to make your pet happy and obedient.

A better name for the art of dog training would be “human training”. This is because a dog cannot be effectively trained until the owner learns how to go about doing it. The ability to train dogs is not instinctive; an owner has to learn before he or she can teach. This brief discussion will provide assistance in understanding dog training.

Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Certain health conditions, or even pain, can completely change an animal’s demeanor. It could even be to the point that the dog may become more aggressive and lash out at people. Because they cannot speak to let us know there is a problem, this is how they alert us to the fact that they require extra attention.

Make sure you are consistent when you train your dog. Write down the specific commands you want to use with your dog, and get everyone in your household to review the list and use the same words. Only reward for good behavior. Bad behavior must have its own reaction. If everyone is on the same page, the dog will better understand what is expected of him.

Walking on a leash is a big step in your dog’s training. This will make sure you are both safe when talking walks.

If there are triggers for your dog’s bad behavior, while you pass temptation, keep him busy. If your dog has trouble around other dogs, consider keeping him occupied whenever the two of you pass another dog whenever you are on your walks together. This could re-jigger his associations and make him associate other dogs with positive reinforcement.

Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.

When someone enters your house, do not be afraid to tell them the best way to interact with your dog. This is exactly the kind of behavior that makes your dog forget his training.

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety when you’re away, encourage him to bond with other members of the household. The dog needs to have other people around to get rid of its fixation with you.

Always use your dog’s name to get his or her attention. To maintain control of your dog, you must be able to encourage a favorable response. Use your dog’s name several times a day. Make sure you never punish your pet for responding to his name.

Use high-value treats when training for the best results. Since these treats will be handed out sparingly, it should not matter too much if they are usually off limit items.

When you train your dog, you need to establish control. If the dog does not understand that you have control he will ignore your commands and act with outright disobedience. Always walk ahead of your dog when you go on walks, as this establishes that you hold a position of leadership.

While group training for dogs is sometimes accomplished in professional sessions,
you may wish to consider separate classes if you have more than one dog. However, if your dogs distract each other while training, try training each one separately first, then work with them together.

Now that the people who are interested in training their new pet dog have, hopefully, learned some new tricks, they can proceed to pass them along to their pets. Once a dog is on its way to learning, the owner will begin to appreciate the dedication that he or she has shown for doing the right thing for man’s best friend.

It is often said that one of the greatest stress relievers is to have is a pet, particularly a pet dog. Dogs are often brought to therapeutic facilities to soothe patients and bring them joy. Of course, if you have ever had a brand new pet dog at home, then you know that it can bring just as much stress as it does smiles. The best time to start training your dog begins when it is still a puppy. However, no matter what the age, instilling effective training in your dog is very beneficial now and in the long run. These are some ways that you can get the most enjoyment out of your pet through dog training.

To help potty train puppies, consider using a crate. Crate training may sound unpleasant, but it’s actually one of the most natural ways to train puppies. A crate is considered their home or den, and puppies have an instinct not to soil in this space. Just be sure to limit the time spent in the crate, so your pup can spend time with you too.

Training your dog is a daily, on-going process. Ask your dog to sit before being petted, fed, or taken outside. By constantly reinforcing lessons, your dog will learn that all commands are applicable in all situations. If you train only in specific locations at specific times, you may end up with a dog that only “sits” in the living room at 6 p.m.!

If you’re tired of your dog pulling on the leash while walking with you, here’s a simple training method. Take your leashed dog to an outside place that is familiar to both of you – such as the backyard – then begin to walk. If your pet stays beside you, right at your thigh, reward it with a treat. If the animal rushes forward, stop walking. If it wanders off for some reason, say “let’s go” in an upbeat way and turn and walk another way. When it catches-up with you, give it a treat, and if it doesn’t catch-up, pull gently on the leash until it gets the point. In this way, you reward good behavior and don’t have to be unduly harsh for bad behavior.

Training your dog can definitely present many challenges as well as rewards. Following these tips and tricks for training your dog consistently will result in a better-behaved dog. The time put in now to implement these techniques means there will be more time to enjoy the company of man’s best friend.

From helping your dog to know when to bark, to know when it’s not okay to beg, to come to you when you call him, it’s easy to see how at least some training can be very beneficial. It may seem hard to teach your dog new tricks, but in reality it’s simple if you just keep trying the right strategies. Here’s a few good ideas.

To enforce good behavior when training your dog, remember to praise your dog. Get excited, smile, and give treats to help your dog relate the good behavior to something positive. Never reward unwanted behavior as the dog will also relate the unwanted behavior to something positive as well.

Training sessions for your dog should be fun and stress-free. Your dog will learn better, and you will be able to teach better in a positive environment. Use your training session as a bonding time with your dog and have fun. This will help you and your dog have a life-long relationship.

Training your dog to walk on lead takes time. The idea is to have your dog walk obediently beside you without straining, tugging, and pulling from side to side. Correct your dog’s movement with short snaps of the lead that pull sharply and abruptly back against his momentum. He will stop pulling and walk complacently for a time beside you. During this time loosen the lead but when he pulls again snap the lead again.

You, as the leader of the pack, should always eat first. In the animal world the Alpha always eats before the rest of the pack. This confirms dominance and establishes trust in the leader. When you exhibit this behavior you teach your dog to respect you as leader and also to trust that you are leading in the proper way.

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.

When training your dog, you must establish a schedule and provide some consistency. It is important to have a routine and to reinforce the actions you want the dog to learn. By repeating the actions over and over, and providing reinforcement, the dog will quickly learn what they are supposed to do.

To keep your dog from barking, teach them to obey to a simple order that will make them quiet. When your dog barks, show them a treat and repeat the order, for instance ‘be quiet’ until it stops barking. You can then give it the treat. If you repeat this long enough, your dog will associate the treat and then the order with being quiet.

Before crating your dog always allow them the opportunity to eliminate. Young dogs, in particular, have to relieve themselves quite frequently. You can’t expect them to not urinate or even defecate in the crate if they haven’t been given the opportunity to do so before they are crated.

Focus on making the training sessions with your dog fun. All animals behave better when they enjoy being good. Use whatever your dog likes, including toys, attention and privileges, to help make training a game rather than a chore. You will probably be surprised at the type of results you get from your animal.

Training a dog is a great experience. Seeing how your pet develops good behavior and respect for your command you is a rewarding experience and well worth your time. Training a dog should be treated as an opportunity to have fun instead of a chore, so have fun trying out the suggestions in this article!

Dog training is a vital part of being a responsible dog owner. Working with your dog brings better understanding between the two of you. This article can help you with your dog training. Your dog is eager to do things to please you and you need to take the time to show him how to behave.

If you are getting a new dog, and you intend to train it, look for a younger dog. The old adage “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is somewhat appropriate here. Younger dogs are more receptive to dominance from a pack leader and will learn quickly in an effort to please. Another plus to this is that young dogs really enjoy learning new things, much like children do.

When trying to train your dog, always reinforce positive behaviors even when you’re not actively in a training session. It’s easy to remember to reward your dog during a training session, but it’s just as important to reward your dog for those trained behaviors the rest of the time, too. This builds a good connection for the dog between the behavior and the reward.

A great dog training tip is to learn to read your dog’s facial expressions. Dogs communicate a lot just through their facial expressions. For example, when a dog is scared or worried, their mouth may appear stiff and their ears will perk up. You can learn a lot about your dog just by watching their facial expressions.

As already noted, dog training can be vital. Responsible dog owners take the time to work with their dogs and train them. Applying the information in this article, can help with dog training and help you to become a better dog owner. Working with your dog can build a better relationship, that will ensure that he will truly be your best friend.

To keep your dog from barking, teach them to obey to a simple order that will make them quiet. When your dog barks, show them a treat and repeat the order, for instance ‘be quiet’ until it stops barking. You can then give it the treat. If you repeat this long enough, your dog will associate the treat and then the order with being quiet.

When you are dealing with a barking problem, consider making a “safe space” for your dog to occupy when a guest visits. This helps anxious dogs by giving them a small territory of their own, and also keeps them calm during an otherwise exciting time. After introducing the space and training the dog to go to it, reinforce this behavior with new guests around.

Time your rewards properly. Timing is crucial when training a dog. Dogs have very short attention spans, and waiting too long to reward a good behavior or punish a bad one will end up doing more harm than good. For example, when training a dog to “quiet” when barking, rewarding too soon after the barking will serve to reinforce the barking instead of the stopping. When you give the “quiet” command, wait a second or two, and then treat and praise ” ensuring your dog knows that it is the calm behavior that is being rewarded.

In order to train your dog to stop barking, it is crucial that you find out what the cause of the barking is. For example, if the reason that your dog is barking is because he is hungry, make sure that you are feeding him often enough. If he is barking because he has to use the bathroom, let him out.

To train a dog to stop barking you must first train him to bark on command. When the dog barks on command instead of when he chooses to bark, it is easier to teach him to stop barking during the training session. Once he learns the command for “stop barking” he will follow it outside of training.

Make sure your dog has plenty of mental and physical stimulation every day. Mental games such as “find it” and training sessions keep your dog busy and physical exercise such as walking, playing fetch and agility training keep your dog active. A busy, active dog is less likely to display unwanted behaviors such as chewing and barking.

Your dog is going to do the things that you reinforce. If he sits at your feet with his favorite toy barking and you take it and throw it you are giving him the idea that barking is going to make you do what he wants you to do and he will continue to think of it that way.

A barking dog can drive its owner as well as the neighbors crazy! A good way to train your dog not to bark is to offer him a reward to stop barking! When he barks, use a command such as “Quiet!” or “No bark!” and wave his favorite treat in front of his nose. Soon he will learn that dog treats are better than making noise!

Know that all barking isn’t bad barking. Some barking is necessary for a watchdog to alert you or a dog to let its mother know it’s hungry. However, if your dog barks incessantly at everything and everyone it may need training. First figure out the reason behind your dog’s barking, and then speak with your veterinarian to determine the best course of action.

Address boredom barking. If your dog is barking because he’s bored, then you should be prepared to take the blame. It means that he doesn’t have a sufficient outlet for his physical and mental energy. Take the time to play with him and go for regular walks. When you aren’t around, offer chew toys as a distraction.

A dog is a man’s (or woman’s) best friend! Dogs are wonderful pets to come home to at the end of a long day or take for a run around your favorite park. If you want to make your relationship with your dog better, having your dog trained is very important. Below you’ll find tips and hints to help you with the dog training process so you and your dog can have a mess free, relaxing and fun time together.

If your dog gets anxious every time he sees you getting ready to leave the house, break up your routine a little bit. By changing your leaving routine a bit each day, you will be breaking the anxiety cycle that can trigger your dog to engage in destructive behaviors while you are gone. Leaving for varying amounts of time will also help break up the cycle. Leave for a few minutes one time and a little longer at other times. Eventually, your dog will get used to the idea that you may leave occasionally, and nothing bad will happen to him!

When you are working on commands with your dog, work only on one command at a time, and only say the command one time. Do not say the command word more than once. Your goal is for your dog to obey the command immediately. You don’t want to have to say the same thing over and over.

Don’t get angry or upset if your dog doesn’t learn a new trick right away. New tricks take time to learn and require patience and persistence from you. Praise your dog for each correct response and try not to get frustrated. Your dog can sense your frustration and that may cause him to get discouraged.

When bringing a new puppy home, plan to keep him on the leash and in your sight for a few days. When you can’t be with him, have a safe place for him to go. This will help you to find your pet’s trouble spots and teach him the house rules.

You won’t have to use dog treats forever to train your dog. As time goes by and your dog starts to learn, their obedience will increase and they will obey your orders as a habit as opposed to an action that gets rewarded with treats. It is also nice to use one form of praise when your dog performs as you asked.

Having your dog trained can make all the difference in your relationship. By following the above tips, you’ll be able to have a better time with your dog with less hassle and mess. If your dog wasn’t your best friend before, he or she will be after some simple dog training!