Dog owners buy their pet expecting things to turn out well. Yet, all too often things don’t go as expected and the dog is given to an animal shelter. This doesn’t need to be the cause, though. A dog that is trained well will be a happy dog and a good member of your family. It isn’t that hard to have this kind of dog.
If you are working on crate training your indoor puppy or dog, you can always try a few tricks. If your dog does not want to go into the crate but one of his favorite toys inside and close the door. As soon as they smell the tempting treat, they will want to get into the crate to enjoy it. After they have entered the crate, be sure to give them praise so they understand that they have done a good thing.
Your dog should know when calm time is to be had. Play time needs to be a distinctive time you initiate. Avoid acknowledging the dog upon your entry, and you can foster the sort of controlled environment necessary to good behavior.
Do not tie more than one dog in the same area. The chain of one dog could become wrapped around the other and, as the dogs struggle to free themselves, one or both could be injured. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dog’s neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.
When you buy a crate, ensure it is the correct size. Keep in mind that puppies get bigger. Choose a crate that can grow with him. There should be ample room for the dog to lie down and turn comfortably.
Once your pet is able to progress through training sessions, you’ll be able to loosen the reins somewhat. The right balance of training, obedience and freedom ensures your dog has an enjoyable life. Don’t give too much at any one time, of course, or it could take your training back a step.
Your training sessions should be short. Dogs don’t have long attention spans so make sure that your training sessions are kept short. If you want a long session, make sure that your dog has a break in between.
“No” shouldn’t be a huge part of training. It’s important to discover positive methods of reinforcing your dog’s training. Saying ‘no’ is not a good command, and the dog won’t know how to react. Not only is each situation different, every breed of dog is also different. Therefore, you should adjust your training based off your dog’s breed and the specific situation at hand.
Use your dog’s name when you can, as it will help to get your dog to pay attention. You puppy will develop the association between his name being called, and him needing to pay attention to what you are telling him. Chose a name that can easily be distinguished from other words, and that has only one or two syllables.
It is absolutely possible to have a happy and well mannered dog. You cannot achieve this, however, unless you can provide your dog with the affection and discipline he requires. Use the tips above to turn your dog into a member of the family.