Part of a successful dog training program is to keep the dog healthy. Your pet cannot respond to you well if it is feeling poorly. Make sure to take your dog to the veterinarian for regular checkups or for any illnesses that might arise. While you are there, get a microchip implanted in case you ever lose track of your precious pet.
Reward your dog for obeying you, but only occasionally. Rewards like treats and excessive praise can be useful tools when training your dog. Just be careful that you do not condition them to expect this every time they do as they are are told. Reward them for following instruction, but do so randomly.
Do not attempt to handle dangerous situations alone. If your dog is exhibiting behavior that is threatening to yourself or others, you must remember your responsibility as a pet owner. An evaluation by an animal behavior professional will be invaluable in guiding you through challenging situations. It will also ensure everybody involved is safe.
In order to properly train your dog you must understand how your actions affect your dog. Self awareness is vital if you want to ensure success with training your dog. If you do not understand how your actions affect others, there is no way you can have success with training your dog.
Show your dog what is your territory and that you are leader of that territory. If your dog sits in your spot and you sit elsewhere, or if he lays in the middle of the doorway so that you step over him, your dog thinks he is the leader. Do not be violent, but you should nudge your dog calmly to get up each time so that he understands it is your territory, and you are the leader.
When you are potty training a young puppy, continue training even at night. A midnight potty run might not be convenient, but it can save your favorite rug. Puppies have very small bladders and need to eliminate often. Since they are not capable of holding it, those midnight potty runs are essential.
Don’t punish good behavior. Many dog owners make a big mistake during training for recall by having the dog come for reprimanding. This will only teach your dog that responding to his name is a negative event, and will discourage such behavior in the future. Make sure your punishments never incorporate desirable commands.
As you can see, dog training can be easy when you know what to do. Make sure to follow these tips consistently throughout your dog’s life to make sure you have a happy, friendly, obedient addition to your family. Enjoy your new best friend and have a great time training him!