Make Your Dog Training Easier With These Tips

Dog Training

From helping your dog to know when to bark, to know when it's not okay to beg, to come to you when you call him, it's easy to see how at least some training can be very beneficial. It may seem hard to teach your dog new tricks, but in reality it's simple if you just keep trying the right strategies. Here's a few good ideas.

Using a crate when you're not at home can be very effective, especially for a young puppy. The crate keeps your puppy safe and secure, and also protects your home from chewing and bathroom accidents. Your puppy can learn to feel comfortable and protected in his crate home while you are away.

Always use the same words when giving commands to your dog. Using different phrasing for basic commands can confuse your dog. Saying "Come" today and saying "Come here" the next, in the dog's mind, is like teaching two different commands, however, the behavior is expected to be the same. Keep it simple and keep it consistent.

Your body language is an important tool that will help you as you begin training your dog. Even more than words, the way you act tells your dog a lot about what you want. Stop talking as much and start showing your animal what behaviors are important to you.

As you plan out your dog training sessions, focus on only teaching your pet one new skill at a time. Too many instructions and expectations can cause your dog to become confused and frustrated. You will achieve much better results if you work on one skill, achieve mastery and then move on.

Training sessions should be very short. Dogs can't concentrate for long periods of time, so long training sessions are pointless. If you want to do anymore training, let the dog have a play break for stretching and relaxing before continuing with their training.

Be sure to always grab your dog's attention the same way. Begin commands by using his name. Then, say the command. Dogs tend to respond by name right away and they know that you want their attention.

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety and gets restless when you are about to leave the house, you should feed your dog right before you leave. This will keep your dog busy while you prepare and distract it from the stressful situation. This should make the separation much easier.

Participating in a group class can be a very effective way to train your dog. Group classes are almost always less expensive than individual training sessions. They also offer your dog the opportunity to socialize with other pets. Look for a smaller group though, so that you still have plenty of one on one interaction with the trainer.

Start leash training by playing with your puppy while he is wearing his collar. Ensuring your puppy is comfortable wearing his or her collar is important for a couple of reasons. First, this helps you use the leash properly. Second, it ensures that your puppy can be identified in case the leash gets taken off.

Maintain consistency when dog training. Make a list of all your commands, and ensure that anyone who might have to control your dog has this list. Reward your dog for following commands. Do not reward your dog if he doesn't obey. If everyone is on the same page, the dog will better understand what is expected of him.

Make sure you dog proof your home to reduce chewing or destructive behavior while you are away. Young dogs or bored dogs may chew when left alone just to have something to do. Take the time to close interior doors and put away items dogs like to chew before you leave to limit the opportunities for chewing while you are gone.

Here's a neat trick you can teach your dog. Have him sit down, and then place a chair in front of him. Encourage him to put his front paws on the chair, while remaining in the seated position. Then, take a treat and hold it between his front paws. When he lowers his head to retrieve the treat, it looks as if he is praying.

Training a dog is a great experience. Seeing how your pet develops good behavior and respect for your command you is a rewarding experience and well worth your time. Training a dog should be treated as an opportunity to have fun instead of a chore, so have fun trying out the suggestions in this article!