A trained dog is a happy dog with a happy owner. Dogs want to please you and they can best make you happy when they are well-trained and know how to behave themselves. Believe it or not, dogs do not want to misbehave or do wrong, but sometimes it just happens. When a dog knows what is expected of him and has good manners, he will be a much better companion to you and be a happy dog. Continue reading to learn a few tips on how you can best train your dog.
First of all, you have to be consistent with your dog. He needs everyone he deals with to use the same commands and expect the same things from him. It is important to use the same commands when you want your dog to display a certain behavior or do something. For instance, if you want your dog to go outside, do not say "out" one time and then "go" the next time. Keep your command consistent so he knows exactly what you are talking about. You also need to keep your expectations consistent. If you expect your dog to do something the first time you say it, do not reward him the next time he does it after you say it four times. The more consistent you are with your dog's training, the more success you both will have with the process.
Use positive reinforcement with your dog. When he displays a desired behavior reward him. You can reward him with treats that he does not get often. You can also give him extra hugs or praise him. Your dog wants to make you happy and when he sees that his behaviors please you, he will continue to do that behavior. Positive reinforcement works much better with dogs than screaming or yelling.
Discipline your dog when he does something he is not supposed to do. The discipline should come right after the undesired behavior so your dog can connect the discipline with the behavior that he just displayed. Waiting too long will not help the behavior.
Be patient with your dog. A dog does not have a long attention span so his training sessions should be kept short. The younger the dog, the less time he will be able to focus on learning a new skill. If you see your dog is no longer interested in the training that is going on, stop and resume at a later time. Trying to train a dog that is not into it will do nothing but overwhelm the both of you. If your dog is not getting a certain skill fast enough, use your patience and remember that he does want to disappoint you.
Training your dog will make for a happier dog and owner. Your bond will be greater and your whole relationship will be so much better. Try the tips shared in this article and you will find that your dog training efforts can be successful.