Some people shy away from training their own dog for fear that it will be too hard. This is mainly due to the fact that they aren't sure how to train their dogs in the first place. Puppy training requires a high degree of information, so constantly research methods. Keep reading this piece and you will acquire many new ideas and tips.
Canine training requires generous rewards that are given correctly. Unless you offer treats appropriately and frequently, it's almost impossible to keep him motivated and interested. If your timing is off, your dog will not understand what you are rewarding.
Unless you offer a distraction or stimulus, your dog will probably focus exclusively on a single thing. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.
Exercise your dog for at least an hour each day in addition to regular outside potty breaks and training sessions. If they are well-exercised, then you will have more efficient training. As they say, a healthy dog will respond well to training.
Try to get your dog's attention when you are training him or her. Start each command by calling the dog's name. Once you call his name and have his attention, begin getting him to do what you would like. Using your dog's name lets him know you want his attention.
It is not good for a puppy to train too often, it will wear it out if it has to process too much information. You need to keep your training sessions short so that your puppy pays attention. If you try to do too much, the puppy will probably not remember much except that it was an unpleasant experience, and that will make it more difficult when the time comes for the next training session.
While training your dog, you need to introduce it to different social situations as early as possible. They need to become aware of how they should act around other people and dogs. They can't learn about it otherwise. Your dog will be better able to handle new situations.
If you take your dog with you when you travel, pack everything he needs for eating, sleeping and eliminating. Bring food and water bowls, waste baggies and treats for a good trip. Don't worry too much about food though. You can buy it there.
Make sure that you are consistent when potty training your puppy. If at home, be sure to spend some time with him and bring him outside every 50 minutes. When the dog eliminates outside, offer it praise. Never scold your dog for going in the house. Your dog doesn't come out of the womb potty-trained, and it takes time to learn. Yelling or punishing is not helpful. Take your dog out soon after meals and after coming out of the crate.
If you ever use your dog's individual name in a warning mode or tone, make sure that you complement that with three or four positive uses too. Dog's should associate their name with positive things only.
Crib Mattresses
A large breed dog needs a large dog bed to be comfortable. Plenty of pet brands make dog beds sized for larger breeds. A crib mattress is also a viable alternative. The perks of these are that you can change out the sheets on crib mattresses as often as you like without too much effort. Crib mattresses are also waterproof!
Spay or neuter your dog at six months. Have this done before the dog begins obedience classes. Any dog not "fixed" will be very excitable and easily distracted in obedience sessions. By spaying or neutering a dog he will have a longer happier life.
Fetch is a great way to teach a dog you're the boss. If you go toward your dog as he brings the ball or go pick up the ball, your dog will not assume your are the master. Making sure that your dog brings the ball back to you every time will help your dog understand his/her expectations.
High-value treats should be used when training a dog. It can even be an extra special treat you would not usually give your dog such as real bacon, hotdogs or even cheese.
Dogs are like people when it comes to the fact that they all learn in very different ways. For instance, a loving and calm dog will probably succeed with positive reinforcement, while a dog that is more aggressive may require negative reinforcement to honor your position of alpha. Whatever your initial approach, be prepared to change your methods if your dog is not responding.
When potty-training a puppy, stay away from the disposable training pads that you can place on your floor. Pads that dogs pee on are viewed by them as okay areas that they can go and they will smell the area as well. Wee-wee pads might also cause a dog to mistake anything with a similar shape (a rug, for example) for a suitable place to relieve itself. Always teach your pet that he must go outside to use the bathroom.
Armed with the tips presented here, you can approach canine training with confidence. Though you have learned some valuable information here, there are always more things to learn. Make every effort to gain any knowledge you can about training your dog.