Easy Dog Training Tips

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  • Dog Obedience Training Exercises: Developing A Well-Trained Dog

    Dog Obedience Training Exercises: Developing A Well-Trained Dog

    Have you seen the movie “Marley and Me“? If you have, then you’ve seen how annoying Marley can be. He’s the type of dog that any dog trainer will not be too happy to meet. He pees everywhere, chews on the living room set, and jumps on people. Actually, his owner, portrayed by Owen Wilson, even brought him to a dog training class to turn him into a well-trained dog.

    Unfortunately, the dog trainer easily gave up on him because he was the worst dog she had ever seen. He made a total chaos in the class, so he was not allowed to finish the course. That was kind of frustrating on the part of his owners. Now, if you have a dog like Marley, what will you do? Why not try these dog obedience training exercises to develop a well-trained dog?

    Sit

    You have to note that your dog must always sit at your left side with his shoulder at your left knee. To make him obey the sit command, you have to first fold the leash in your right hand. Then, call your dog’s name and command sit. Push down on his hindquarters using your left hand and jerk up on the leash with your hand. When he does the sitting position right, praise him and give him a treat.

    Heeling on Leash

    When walking your dog, his right shoulder should be about even with your left knee. Once the leash turns loose, simply call out your dog’s name and give the heel command. Walk forward as soon as you can and then give a hard jerk on the leash. Do not drag your dog when you do this. Once you jerked him into position, praise him with words like “Good boy!”

    About Turn

    When you turn away from your dog, do it to your right to reverse your direction. And as you do it, make sure that you keep your eyes on your dog and then give several short and quick jerks.

    Stay

    To make your dog stay where he is, command him to be in a sitting position. Afterwards, hold up your hand with the flat of your palm facing him, then tell him to stay. If he does, again give him praise but if not, put him back in position and start again.

    Down

    Just like in the stay command, you can make your dog obey the down command by putting him in a sitting position first. With him sitting, give the down command, then slowly push on his shoulders and wobble him off balance at the same time. But there’s another way to do this. You can also place the leash between your sole and shoe heel. Then, give the down command and pull up on the leash.

    So these are just some of the dog obedience training exercises that you can do to develop a well-trained dog. At first, they may seem difficult. But once you tried them and see effective results, you will realize how rewarding these dog obedience exercises could be not only for your dog but also for you.

  • Dog Training On Come Or Recall Command

    Dog Training On Come Or Recall Command

    The arrival of a young dog is always an exciting moment for everyone in the family. Kids and adults alike take turns in playing and adoring him. The puppy is always fun to touch and play with and has the tendency to be the center of attention in the household. You have to realize though that his arrival means you have a lot of things to attend to.

    At the same time, he has a lot of new things to learn in line with his behavior and following orders. Do you want your dog to be responsive when you call on him? Well, unfortunately, some dogs fall short on this. To make a change, be sure to have your pet properly trained on this. Dog training training educates your dog to respond to the come or recall command given to him.

    The Significance of the Come or Recall Command

    Among the dog training commands, the come or recall order is said to be the most basic yet most important. This has to be done while the dog is still young. When your pet is able to respond well when you execute this command, you can be sure that he can use it to steer himself away from danger or any kind of trouble.

    The come or recall command is greatly associated with the safety reasons. First and foremost, you may be able to grant your dog more freedom without fear that he will get himself into troubles. Even if you lose sight of him you are confident that he will come back as you call on him.

    The Training Itself

    The main goal that you should achieve for this dog training come or recall command is to easily get your dog’s response. He should come around during your first two calls. His listening skills should therefore be sharpened so he will respond wherever he may be and whatever it is that he is busy with.

    Undoubtedly, the process is a bit hard. A responsive dog is not that easy to achieve. Dogs are not as mature as other human beings so the training will include a lot of work on your part. There are even dog breeds that love to be chased after. Thus, you should be familiar with the right technique that you should apply depending on how your dog’s natural instincts work.

    The real secret to this is to start the training training as early as possible and reinforce your command all the time.

    The General Rules to Observe

    To make things a lot manageable, here are some quick tips for you.

    • Your dog may not respond at once but never punish him when he comes. It will give him the impression that the same thing will always happen and it will be twice the challenge to call on him.
    • Don’t unleash him in public especially if he has not perfected responding to your command.
    • Exude a positive voice when saying the command. Your dog has to associate his coming to you with a positive thing.
    • The environment where you are in must reflect safety because your dog will not definitely come to you when he feels threatened.
    • Don’t confuse him with other commands when he has not yet mastered the first one.

    So, there you go with the important insights that will keep things manageable as you do the dog training training on come or recall command.

  • Dog Training And Socialization

    Dog Training And Socialization

    It is fun to keep a pet at home but it also calls for a couple of obligations to fulfill. Take note that what your dog does is always out of habit. Thus, if you tolerate his bad habits, he will not be able to outgrow them. It will be you who will suffer in the end. So, it is best to start early with the dog training lessons.

    Puppies are but young and don’t have a mind of their own. They are simply dependent on you so it is your task to assist them let go of their bad habits and develop the good ones. You and your leadership skills will therefore guide your dog towards the right path in terms of honing his behavior, habits, and temperament. This is the main reason why dog training and socialization trainings are very much necessary.

    Training Your Dog at Home

    Separation anxiety often attacks young dogs. So, they normally cry, bark, chew, and do a lot of annoying things. You have to understand that it is also hard for him to adjust to his new environment. Thus, you should start with the house training activities by setting boundaries, introducing new areas, and letting him know those activities that you can tolerate and not.

    Don’t be violent when your dog doesn’t seem to understand at once. Potty training, leash training, and the likes are never achieved overnight. You have to use lots of praises, rewards, and encouragement. It is always best to start as soon as possible so his old ways will be corrected. Incorporate fun sessions during the training. Use commands frequently. Whenever necessary, impose a punishment but not something that will agitate him and cause him to fight back. Say for example you didn’t like his behavior, simply ignore him. He will surely try getting your attention but be stern not until he does what he is told.

    Leaning the Socialization Skills

    The dog’s socialization period is said to fall in his first 16 weeks of puppyhood. It is the time when he develops into an adult dog. Therefore, you must expect that it is also the time frame when he changes his temperament, behavior, habits, and character. The socialization period is also the time that he gets adjusted to his family and the people in the household.

    It is best to let him become familiar with the house and the people around. It helps to expose him to some animals too. This conditions him that it is not only him that exists in that area. Take him out for a walk so he will see what lies beyond the gates of your home. In this way, he will not go wild whenever he sees other objects, animals, and people apart from the members of his family.

    During the dog training and socialization training, you should arm yourself with a doze of patience. Your pet lacks maturity so it is your own responsibility to handle the matter really well. He imitates what he sees so you better act accordingly.

  • How To Master Dog Training

    How To Master Dog Training

    Dogs are no doubt man’s best friends. They are definitely fun to be with and make great companions. Sometimes, they are even considered as part of the family. It certainly feels great to be walking with a dog around either just within the neighborhood or along the beach.

    But if you happen to have a dog as worse as Marley, the dog in the movie “Marley and Me”, perhaps you’re more stressed than the usual because of your dog’s naughtiness. But why live up with a dog like Marley if you can turn your pet into a well-trained dog? The solution –master dog training. Here are some steps on how to do it:

    First, be considerate. You have to remember that a dog is an animal, so unlike humans, it has shorter attention span. You may be able to get its attention now, but a couple of minutes or so it will go back to what it finds interesting. So, try to put yourself into its situation and imagine how frustrating it could be to undergo a dog training class instead of doing more fun activities. Take note that most animals are trained easily when given treats before the training. So, before you enroll your pet in a dog training class, prepare some really good treats as rewards.

    Next, be consistent. It is not good to give your pet so many instructions at the same time or worse, give up on teaching it a trick just because it is not able to get it at first. Try to be very consistent in such a way that you will start with the easiest command first like the “sit” command before going for more difficult ones. Once it learned the “sit” command, proceed to others like the “stay” or “come” command.

    When giving instructions, make sure that you repeat them from time to time until your dog realizes and understands what you are trying to communicate. Again, do not give too many instructions at once for this will confuse your pet more. Take your time. Now, once your pet learned the trick that you’ve been teaching, give a reward or treat and make sure that you review the trick before jumping into another.

    And lastly, of course, be the boss. It is important that your pet recognizes you as its leader; otherwise you’ll end up having a dog that is as hardheaded as Marley. Once your pet recognizes you as the boss, it will be easier for you to make it follow your commands. However, you have to remember that being the boss does not necessarily mean that you have to be harsh to your dog whenever it fails to follow your instructions. Be gentle as possible because this is the most effective way to gain dog training.

    Mastering dog training is not as difficult as you think, right? With all these steps in mind, you are off to a successful dog training training. Remember: be considerate, be consistent, and be the boss.

  • Who Says You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks?

    Who Says You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks?

    To quote the rock band Chicago, they say it’s a hard habit to break. Perpetually stereotyping employment, marriage, and singularity: Age is but a hindrance but not for long. With approximately 15 minutes of training daily for 2 weeks straight, according to The Animal Planet, even the most stubborn dogs will give in. These enduring canines will sit, roll over, and do whatever your heart desires. All you need is a strong sense of consistency, and a mouthful of patience under your sleeve.

    In order to make this a quick fix, the trainers (or owners) should develop a positive attitude. To feel frustrated and angry will not help at all. As a matter of fact, pets somehow feel how their owners experience; and that would not speed up the progress for even a bit. As for the owner’s side, unreasonable expectations should not be made for their pets. Unlike children sent to school for a 12-year formal education to get the basics, it is quite irrational to invest an uptight 12-week course for your dog to acquire the desired behavior, and earn the respect and discipline needed. Remember: all relationships require a bit of work.

    It also involves recognizing the dog’s previous training, then deciding on what certain applicable and viable changes are needed for a greater effect. You highlight the dog after a day’s work with plenty of rewards such as treats, and verbal praises such as patting him on the head for doing a good job. Take it nice and easy, as not to shock and confuse the pet. It is necessary to change the behavior in small steps rather than a complete change all at one time.

    However, there is a difference. One has to put in mind that training an older dog is remembering that this dog has, most expected, to having been trained once. This means that it has an established thinking as to what acceptable behaviors are, and what behaviors are most not welcomed. It takes a great deal of endurance to train an older dog, and should be at the very least regular to receive the best outcome.

    But do keep in mind that although the owner is the master, the dog still is an individual, as in it has its own personality; so a little give-and-take affiliation will not hurt. The key is to enjoy the whole teaching-an-old-dog-new-tricks activity, as you build a better relationship with him. That is the sole purpose of dog obedience training.

    What you give is what you get; therefore being the educator, you are responsible for the way your pet responds. Dogs are social creatures, and are among of the most loyal. If you have a senior dog around who needs a bit of a push, do not fret; all you need is give your little furry friend some feisty motivation. Who ever said you can’t teach old dogs new tricks?

    That saying is meant to be taken more literally to humans, for we’ve got a lot of habits that are harder to break.

  • Useful Dog Obedience Training Tips

    Useful Dog Obedience Training Tips

    Okay, so you just bought that cute female puppy that you’ve been eyeing on for months. Now, what are you planning to do with her? Are you thinking about teaching her new tricks? If you are, then as early as now, you must accustom her to being handled for grooming and veterinary care so she’ll respond nicely. Whenever you have free time, take her in your lap and gently brush her.

    Speak to her softly and say words like, "That feels good, doggie, right?" Then, stroke her paws and simply run your fingers through her. That way she will learn that touch is pleasant and not something that is frightening. Once you are able to handle her well, it will not be that difficult to start teaching her new tricks like making her obey your "sit", "wait or stay", and "do not jump" commands. Anyway, here are some useful dog obedience training tips for you.

    For the "Sit" Command

    This is actually one of the easiest tricks to teach and often the most useful. Since your pet is still a puppy, as early as now, you must teach her how to obey the sit command because it is a great way to reinforce your status as her leader. How to do it? First, you have to get her attention. Start by showing her a treat and then slowly move it upward in a way that she has to raise her head for her to see it further. You’ll notice that in order to do this, she will move into a sitting position, just like most dogs do. If she doesn’t do this, slowly push down on her rump while you move your hand back over the head to give her the idea. And once she’s on that sitting position, give her the treat.

    For the "Stay or Wait" Command

    This one can be more difficult than the sit command as dogs tend to move a lot. To teach your dog to wait or stay, simply place her in a sitting position. Then, hold up your hand, on which the flat of your palm is towards her face, and tell her to wait or stay. Now, move a few steps backward. If she stays where she is, give her words of praise, like "Good girl or good doggie!" But if she moves towards you or away, do not shout at her or punish her. Just put her back in position and start all over again.

    For the "Do not jump" Command

    A jumping puppy is very cute to look at, but when her size has doubled and she still does a lot of jumping, it will not be too fun at all. So, you must replace that jumping behavior with the sit command. Instead of pushing her away, simply pivot so that she misses you and then tell her to sit. When she obeys, give her praise or a simple treat.

    These are just some useful dog obedience training tips that you can keep in mind. Take note, your puppy will be more lovable if she learns how to obey your simple commands.