Article by Bruce Marchi
No matter if you have a brand new puppy or an older dog, it makes sense to spend a little bit of time training them. Although there is an abundance of information out there about how exactly to train your dog, you can’t go wrong with dog training guidance from the professionals.
1. Positive reinforcement is a must. Whilst there are numerous theories on the way to train your dog, the majority of dog training experts acknowledge that positive reinforcement is most effective. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It doesn’t involve screaming at your dog, hitting or punishing them.
Positive reinforcement works because it forms a relationship of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards especially food rewards.
2. Consistency is a must. If you’re working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then make an effort to train them at the same time each day. This helps your pet understand what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn faster once they understand what is expected. If you’re training using food rewards, attempt to train your dog before mealtime so they’re a little bit hungry and motivated.
3. Be patient. Dogs often learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up quickly then the next day it seems like you must start again from the very beginning. Be patient. Start every new trick with tiny steps and be clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks such as “sit” you will need to break it down into smaller steps.
4. Use hand cues as well as verbal cues. A number of dogs have an easier time understanding and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to every trick or behavior you are training.
5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Trying to train them for twenty or thirty minutes is not likely to work. They’re likely to get frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to no more than five minutes.
In the beginning, you may choose to train for only a minute or two until eventually your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.
6. Always end on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. Conclude every training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they have learned to perform and end with a food reward and plenty of praise.
7. Keep your dog healthy. Last but not least, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog a quality dog food, giving them sufficient fresh drinking water and ensuring they get adequate sleep. A healthy dog is a more content dog and will understand desired behaviors far more quickly.
For more dog training tips, visit Dog Obedience Training.
Whether you have a new puppy or an old dog, it makes sense to devote some time training them. Although there is an abundance of information out there about how to train your dog, you can’t go wrong with dog training guidance from the professionals.
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