Do you need to train your dog? As much as you’d like to hear a “no” from us, unfortunately, the answer is a yes. You do need to train your new dog. If you want to know when you need to start training the answer is right now. The best time to train your dog is when it’s still a puppy. Experts agree that training adult dogs is more challenging compared to training puppies. In dog training, you can choose to do the training yourself or hire a dog expert to train your dog. If you want to give dog training a try, you can benefit from the following dog training tips from expert dog trainers.
#1 Choose Your Dog’s Name
Just like a new child, you must also pick a name for your dog. There are plenty of potential names but dog experts recommend you choose a short name that ends with a consonant. Research shows that names like Ginger or Jack helps get your dog’s attention. If you got an older dog that already has a name, you can opt to retain the name or change it. If your dog came from an abusive household, it’s better if you give it a new name signifying a fresh start. Don’t worry, your new dog will eventually get used to its new name.
#2 Establish House Rules
Part of the training is establishing house rules. Be strict on your house rules because if you tolerate bad behavior and let it slide your dog will get confused. Before getting your new dog, establish a set of house rules and see to it that everyone in the household is on the same page. It will be useless if some members of the family do not follow the rules.
#3 Give Your Dog Some Privacy
Just like you, your dog also prefers to have its own space. The moment you decide to get a dog, buy a crate for it to sleep in. Dogs love to be left alone in their private den. It’s also a great tool that you can use during training. Make sure to reward your pup with a treat if it remains behaved and quiet in its crate.
#4 Make Your Dog Relax
To help keep your dog relaxed you can give it a clock or a warm water bottle in its crate. Research shows that the warmth and the sound will helps soothe pups and will remind them of their litter mates. In a way, the feeling of familiarity will help them get used to your new home quicker. This is tip is extremely helpful if your pup came from a loud and busy environment. As much as possible, do whatever you can to help make your home comfortable for your new pet.
#5 Reward Your Pet For Good Behavior
If your pup does something good reward it with a treat. This form of dog training follows the concept of positive reinforcement. You can use different treats depending on what your dog wants. Examples of treats you can use in training are praise, love, and toys. Make sure you don’t’ dispense treats when your dog is misbehaving. Otherwise, it will get confused and think bad behavior deserves a treat.
#6 Teach Your Dog To Come When Its Name Is Called
One of the basic commands you should teach your new dog is the Come command. To do this command, you will have to go down to their level and tell the dog to come by saying its name. When your dog goes near you, use positive reinforcement like the words “Good job!” Over time, if you continue practicing positive reinforcement, you’ll be living with a well-mannered dog.
#7 Repetition Will Do The Trick
Sometimes you’re tired or you’re busy and you forget about dog training. There may be instances when you give your dog a treat just for the heck of it. The problem with this is that your dog can get confused and if it gets confused everything you taught will be for nothing and you’ll have to start all over again. For dog training to work you have to be consistent. Don’t give a treat when your dog misbehaves. Always go back to the concept you used in dog training.
Takeaway
When training your dog, keep the sessions short around 10 to 15 minutes tops. Studies show that if you train for long periods of time it’s not going to be effective because dogs have a short attention span. Are you excited for dog training? Good luck!