The dog that you have just adopted may seem less like Lassie, and more like Cujo. Proper training can transform your puppy, into the Lassie you thought you’d brought home.
When correcting your dog verbally, use sharp, short, concise commands. It’s not good to rant about how bad your dog is. Be firm and get them to do your bidding. Your tone should be stern to let them know you are serious.
Keep your dog active. Dogs become bored very easily. When dogs are bored they are difficult to train. You will find that your dog will pay more attention to you when it is exercised and happy. You and your dog can run or walk together daily.
Don’t give your dog too many treats as rewards, or he might start adding too many pounds. Treats don’t spring to mind when thinking about a pet’s diet, but they have an impact – one that is magnified during the reward-heavy training process.
One of the very first commands you should teach a new puppy is the “leave it” command, which tells them to drop an item and step back from it. This simple command will get them to stop chewing on household items or furniture, and can keep them away from dirty or potentially dangerous items outside the home.
Your dog should learn he doesn’t need to respond when you say ‘no’. Instead, use positive reinforcement to encourage positive behaviors and gloss past the results that are not what you want. Saying ‘no’ is not a good command, and the dog won’t know how to react. Tailor dog training to suit the dog and the situation.
This article should have given you some valuable information for training your dog. Remember these tips as a guide to helping you train your dog, so both you and your dog will be very happy.
