Dog Training Tips

Free Tips for Dog Training

Pets are trained for the purpose of making them live in harmony with their human counterparts.  Training is given for the specific purpose of making them adjust to the human conditions existing in the homes of their owners so that both the owner and the pet live in peaceful co-existence.  Modifying typical animal behavior to suit human needs is what training is all about and dog training specifically aims at making the dog feel comfortable to a life of being looked after by his owner.

dog training tipsHere are a few basic tips on training your dog.  These are easy to follow steps and will be fun for both you and for your dog:

1.    Never be too sure of how you are going about training your dog.  If and when in doubt,  seek help.  Most people do not take the dog’s personality into consideration.  A lot of reference material and guides are available to assist you in understanding and training your dog.  Feel free to approach a professional dog trainer to get guidance and dog training tips.

2.    Rewards work for obedience training of dogs.  Punishment or negative reinforcement is the not an effective way to get the dog to obey your commands.  On the contrary it will end up making the dog more aggressive and fearful of you and other humans.  You can reward your dog with dog food that your dog likes.  You can use dog food coupons to buy branded dog food at discounted prices.

3.    Make dog training a fun experience.  For best results and to gain your pet’s confidence and trust make the whole experience of training a process that is both enjoyable and fun.  Dogs love to please their owners and are willing learners.  Make sure you enjoy yourself playing with him.  This will help in bonding between the two of you.

4.    Treat your dog with small tasty treats as rewards.  Every time your dog performs a task you give him,  gift him with a small treat.  Treats should only be given during the training period and after every task performed correctly.

5.    Do a thorough research on the products available for dog training before buying them.  Buy only the products that would specifically help in making the general obedience training easier.

6.    Your dog is not pre-trained and training him is not an easy task.  It takes time for a dog to understand and remember commands.  You will need to exercise patience.

7.    Do not give up.  If your dog takes time to understand,  try a different technique to teach and train him.

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Basics of Puppy Training

Puppy Training Basics

Every task undertaken regarding a pet seems like a challenge.  It tests your patience and nearly makes you want to give up.  Training puppies is not that very difficult but it is absolutely essential that you train him right away.  It would be nice if the whole family participated in training the puppy,  following a set routine,  schedule and rules laid down for his training.  Prior to training and before you bring him in,  make sure you have all the accessories handy,  like his water and food bowls,  a dog collar and a dog mat for him.

puppy trainingThe first week of the puppy’s arrival is very important.  People at home are excited about the new addition to the family and are very enthusiastic about doing their bit.  But make the rules and routines clear to everyone in the house so they are followed.

Kids are usually the ones that break the rules,  so be firm with them.  The other problems you will encounter are whimpering,  barking and howling by the new puppy because he feels alone.

A thoughtful thing to do is to play with the puppy quietly and gently till he looks and feels tired.  Then leave him alone so he can have his sleep.  This way both your puppy and you will have a good night’s sleep.  Puppies,  like human babies,  need a lot of sleep.

Feeding your puppy the right way is also very important.  Entrust the responsibility to someone in your family or do it yourself.  It should be done routinely at regular intervals.  Any break in the routine will discourage the puppy and give him a wrong impression.

Puppies need to be properly toilet trained and it is up to you to train them gently and patiently.  Any changes in routine will confuse them.  Giving instructions and ensuring they are followed is your responsibility.  Puppies are very quick learners and show their love and affection easily when treated encouragingly.

Never give harsh commands or hurt them.  They will misbehave initially because it is in their nature to do so.  You need to train them to behave appropriately.  Teaching them to play with their toys and making it fun makes them feel happy to be in the company of humans.

Get your puppy vaccinated and get a schedule from the veterinarian for any other prevention he may need to take.  A healthy puppy will blossom into a very loving and affectionate dog.

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Dog Training and Behavior

Behavior Training for Dogs

It would benefit both your pet dog and yourself to put him through a formal training to behave in a well-mannered way.  An ill-behaved dog makes life stressful when you have visitors in the house.  It is easier to teach your dog early in its life about what is expected of him.

dog training behaviorAdvantages of Behavior Training for Dogs:

•    He is well behaved and well mannered to be allowed the freedom to move freely in the house

•    He is comfortable to let you inspect him for injuries if he has hurt himself, without growling or nipping at you

•    He does not need supervision anymore and he has been trained to entertain himself

•    He follows instructions you give him.  Remember to praise him for his understanding

•    He is able to walk with you down the street comfortably with a leash on, without you having to be pulled along

•    He understands simple commands and knows his physical boundaries.

If your dog is able to follow all commands and behave appropriately then you can congratulate yourself on having given him a splendid training.  You will feel more comfortable entertaining your friends and relatives at your house without having to face any embarrassment.

Though there will be some problems at the beginning in understanding your pet and making him understand what is expected of him, in the end you will be the one to benefit from the training given to your dog.  You need to understand that it might be a frustrating and long-winded experience at first.  A little patience and understanding on your part will yield the best results for both you and your dog behavior.

Remember, your dog will also end up feeling happier knowing he is at his best behavior and is pleasing his owner instead of feeling confused about your expectations.

Behavior training classes for dogs are available at many locations.  You can search for them online.  Contact information is available on the internet along with the name of the person who conducts such classes, the timings and the location.  The best way to bond with your pet is to undergo training on how to train your dog at these classes.

It is under your leadership and guidance that your pet will not only learn to discipline himself and behave in a manner suitable for you and your household.  Indeed dog behavior training will be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog.

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Dog Obedience Training

Obedience  Training for Dogs

How will you be able to display your emotions to your dog?  How will you express your caring and love for him?  There is one way to do so – the dog obedience training.  It is no longer a challenge for you to train your dog at home and all by yourself.  You don’t even have to get him trained with a professional trainer any more.

If it is a behavioral crisis you are facing with your pet,  it is not a problem any more.  It can easily be corrected with appropriate instruction.  All you need to ensure is consistency in your dog obedience training.  Remember there is nothing to be gained if not for persistence and consistency.  All your pet problems will then get resolved in a simple but effective manner.

Learn to use any problems pertaining to your pet behavior to both his and your advantage.  Channelizing hisdog obedience training energies in the right direction will enhance what initially appears to be an unlikable trait,  to being beneficial as time goes by.

Establish a set of rules and stick to them while training your dog on obedience.  The pet will appreciate and follow the rules set by you once you make it a routine.  This will also enhance communication between you and your pet and will make it easier for you to train him.

Training your pet on dog obedience is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously.  But it should be made to look like fun so your dog enjoys the learning he is undergoing.  Playing with your pet builds and strengthens the bond between you and your dog.  He too enjoys socializing but both of you will be more comfortable in company of visitors to your home when he is trained to be obedient and will follow your commands as instructed.

Always be kind and considerate to your dog.  Just giving tit bits of meals or treats is not sufficient.  Patting and praising him when he understands your commands or does as he is told,  not only makes him feel special but he will feel like performing even better for you.  Make an effort to find out what kinds of treats he likes and keep yourself well stocked with it.

Treat your dog like any other member of your family and see how well he responds to your every wish and command. With the right obedience training,  your dog is your friend for life.

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Dog Agility Training

Agility Training for Dogs

Making your dog go through a course in agility can be as much fun for him as it could be for you.  Most breeds of dog are very easily trainable in being nimble and supple,  as it is a part of their nature to run and prance about.  They are also keen on keeping their masters happy and are willing to undergo and learn any kind of physical routine that would make their owner feel proud of them.

Some of the dog agility training equipments available are:

Jumps

Jumping is one of the routines to keep your dog agile and quick on his feet.  Agility type of jumps is available in single,  dog agility trainingdouble and triple jump types.  Fence wing jumps resemble a fence and is a popular training apparatus.  These are several bars stacked one over the other like a fence.  Height can be adjusted by taking out one or more of these boards.

Another type of jump equipment available is the obedience jump.  The only difference between the obedience and the agility jump is that in the former the person handling the training of the dog tells the dog when to clear these jumps and how.

Barrels and Chutes

Other equipment used for dog agility training is specially made barrels resembling a short pipe that has a width to accommodate a dog passing through it. They come in two sizes of diameter 18 inches and 24 inches.  The barrel comes with a specially made kind of PVC frame that keeps the barrel in place when the dog is made to crawl through it.  There are also specially made canvas chutes that can be attached to the barrel to make the training more challenging to the dog.  With the chutes attached to the barrel it would give an additional 10 to 12 feet of crawling area to be covered by the dog.

Contact Equipment

There are other pieces of equipment that can be used along with the jumps and barrels. The dog walk a teeter totter and the A-frame are all listed under contact equipment.  These are used for walking over by the dog to demonstrate his balance.

Training for dog agility is done in a large field because of all the equipment needed for the dogs.  It is a pleasure for the dogs to perform their given tasks and routine and a pride for the dog owner to watch his pet.

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How to Build a Relationship with Your Dog

Tips for Building Relationship with Dog

Building a relationship with your pet dog is a matter of friendship and trust.  With training and time,  your puppy will grow up to be an excellent companion.  He will keep striving to win your approval and have a growing respect for you.  You will then find it easier to train him.

Bonding with a puppy is not an easy task.  It takes time and a great deal of patience and understanding.  Since he cannot communicate you must remember to keep checking him for any signs of injury or disease.  Your kindness and thoughtful interactions with him during his growth will facilitate his learning process feeling secure in your fair treatment of him and taking care of his needs.

hoe to build relationship with dogIt is important to play with the puppy as it helps in establishing a strong relationship between the owner and the puppy.   Puppies bite anything that moves as it is in their nature to play in that manner with other puppies.  This is obviously not acceptable to humans especially the elderly and children who have comparatively sensitive skin.  It is up to the owner of the puppy to teach him how to play with toys instead.

Find out what kind of toy your puppy prefers by getting moving or squeaky toys or tugging ones or the ones he can chase.  Ensure you only give him soft bite able toys.  Puppies are easily excitable and once you know which toy he prefers,  you can offer it to him to distract him when you have visitors or when you have been away for long and he falls all over you.

When playing with your puppy,  play with a lot of energy but make sure to show your disapproval if the play gets out of hand or too rough or if he bites you accidentally.  This will teach him to be gentle while playing and not use his teeth on your skin.

Having a positive attitude,  getting your puppy involved with different kinds of toys and taking care of all his needs will earn the love and trust of your puppy and build a relationship that will be rewarding for both you and the puppy.

Play with your puppy often and keep toys easily accessible to you.  Regular play will keep him exercised and help him burn excess energy.  It will help form a bond between you to help you in training him later.

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Clicker Training Dogs

Tips for Clicker Dog Training

The dog clicker training is not only a gentle style of training;  it is also known to be very effective.

This method of training is used to train dolphins,  orcas and whales to perform the classic tricks in shows at the Sea World.  The clicker training for dogs is the most harmless way of training dogs.  There is no physical interaction with the dog, unless it is to show praise by petting him.

Remember to reward your dog by giving him a treat in the form of a bowl of whatever he likes to eat – chunks of chicken,  soft bones or special dog food – every time he performs any little task to your satisfaction.

How to Clicker Train your Dog

For this training you need to first get your dog accustomed to the clicker and to relate it with a treat that he loves.  Theclicker dog training treat should be in small bits and soft.  Do not put your dog through the trouble of having to chew on something he is not too fond of.

Start by holding the treat in one hand and a clicker in the other.  Ideally it would be best if this training exercise is done with just you and your pet in a room.  Press the clicker and then give him the treat.  This routine of clicking and treating will get your dog’s attention every time you want him to do something because he will expect a treat at his performance.

You can also get him used to responding to your calling his name by the click and treat method.  Just say his name, wait for him to look up,  click and then give him his treat.  Practice doing this when he is distracted,  so you know you have his attention.  Make sure you do not repeat his name.  Just say it once.

In the same manner,  you can train your dog to follow other verbal commands.  Say a command like sit.  Place your dog in that position,  click and offer the treat.  With repeated performances,  your dog will learn to understand and obey your instruction.

Verbal instructions can consist of different single words like down,  sit or stand.  It will be a little difficult for you to train him to stay.  After placing him where you want, tell him to stay and step back a couple of steps.  If he stays put, click immediately and offer the treat.  If he is unable to perform,  place him the same way and try again.

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How to Stop Your Dog from Barking

Solutions for Dog Barking

There are many reasons why dogs bark.  Some breeds of dog have a lot of vocal power but this can be easily remedied.  Some techniques to help you understand and figure out how to stop dog barking are as follows:

Water Spray

Keep a spray bottle or a bottle with a nozzle that sprays filled with water handy at all times.  When your dog barks,  say the word quiet.  If he does not stop,  go up to him quietly and spray water from the bottle over your dog’s face.  Make sure you do not just run up to him and squirt the sprayer in his nose or face.  Give him sufficient warning by saying the word quiet first.  Next time he will think twice before barking,  consider the threat of the water spray and remain quiet as commanded.

Dog Training Collars

Although collars are an effective training support,  they are also practical to use when you are trying to find out waysdog barking of making your dog stop barking.  These days there is a wide variety of anti-barking collars available.  There are traditional collars that give a tiny jolt of electricity or a tiny burst of citrus pungent smell every time a dog barks.  The citrus smell collars have been found to be very effective because dogs are very sensitive to smell.  Some collars emit a beep when a dog barks and it seems to effectively distract the pet.

Leisure Amusement

If you have to leave your dog alone for a few hours or a day it will upset him and make him bark.  Ensure you have kept enough water,  food and a warm and dry place for him to lie down along with some toys.  Keep the kind of food he likes like rawhide chews and soft bones and toys so that he feels happy and content in your absence.

Soothers

Some dogs bark because they feel lonely.  Some dogs are so fond of their master or family that they feel depressed when they are left alone.  To comfort the stressed dog,  it would be nice to keep a radio switched on or a recording of the family talking playing on the cassette player.

You might need to try one or more of these suggestions to find out what works best for your dog.  It will take some time to figure it out,  but you need to try everything to stop your dog from barking.

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Training your Dog to Sit

Tips for Training your Dog to Sit

Training your dog to sit is an important part of a dog’s upbringing.  This helps both you and the dog to relate and understand each other better.  The command to ‘sit’ seems very simple,  but it is important because it can help your dog to escape several hazardous situations.  While crossing the road,  or even while strolling on the sidewalk,  if your dog is not on a leash and wants to cross,  the training will help him understand the word sit and make him wait and stop as commanded by you.

How to Train your Dog to sit:

dog training to sitBefore you begin your training keep some small treat like a soft bone or a piece of ham in your hand.  Bring it close to your dog’s nose.  Now move the treat back towards the back of his head.  This will make the pup follow and naturally sit down.  Keep the treat at the dog’s eye level so he does not jump up,  because that would be a futile exercise as you are trying to get the pet to sit,  not jump.  The moment he begins the process of sitting down,  say the command ‘sit’ using a clear voice.  Keep your voice soft but firm while issuing the command.  The moment your dog has sat down give him the treat.  The timing of your giving the treat should be perfect.  Now your pet will connect your command of ‘sit’ with the action of sitting and the treat that follows.

As time goes by,  you will not need to use the help of the treat any longer.  Replacing the treat with praise and pats will also help.  Make sure you give him lots of praise when he performs the action of sitting as he is commanded.

Do not repeat the command of ‘sit’ more than five times.  Keep the sessions brief so that your dog will get bored.

Remember to not overdo the giving of treat when your dog performs the task of sitting as commanded by you.  Once you are sure that he has understood,  switch over to praising him.  That way you will not have to go around carrying treats every time you go for a walk.  Take him on a leash at first.  When he has grasped the idea of ‘sit’ you can then teach other commands like fetch,  come and heel.

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