Dog Guidance Blog

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.