Dog Training Tips

General Dog Training Tips

Let's begin with a few general dog training tips that can be applied to any form of training you undertake with your pet.

Establish Dominance

Establishing dominance is perhaps the most important of all dog training tips you'll ever receive. Dogs are pack animals that are hardwired to respond to a distinct pack hierarchy. Every dog in a pack has a pack mate that is either above or below him in the pecking order, and he'll react submissively to those above him, and dominant to those below him. Every pack has a "top dog" who sets the tone and actions of the entire pack.

This instinctual pack behavior is mirrored in the dog/human relationship as well, so you must establish yourself as the leader of the pack if you want your dog to follow your commands.

How is this accomplished? You must establish firm boundaries that you do not allow your pet to cross, right from the moment he arrives at your home. If you do not intend to allow your dog on the furniture or in certain rooms, enforce these rules now. Allowing your pet to do things as a puppy or newcomer only to forbid them later as he grows will confuse your pet and delay the learning process.

You need to know without a doubt that you are the leader in this relationship, and if you are exuding that sense of authority, your dog will intuitively respond to it. If you allow your pet to determine his own preferred behaviors, and believe us he will, then you will find yourself dominated by your pet and unable to train him for nearly anything.

Use Simple Commands

Contrary to what many people believe, dogs do not truly understand the human language, rather they react to the vocal tone. Happy, excited commands will elicit a happy, excited reaction from your pet, and likewise, a scolding tone will cause your dog to act sheepish and submissive.

Because this language barrier exists, it is important to limit commands to one or two words at the most. Let's look at the two most important commands to teach your pet as training begins.

"No"

The word "No" is the command that let's your dog know he's made a mistake, something he's bound to do a lot during early training. Whether your dog has an accident on the rug, jumps on you relentlessly when you come home from work, or begs for food from your plate, this simple command will let him know his behavior needs to stop immediately.

This command should always be delivered in a firm, stern tone that is conducive to your pet's learning. Yelling or screaming "No" can startle your pet so much that he fails to connect it directly to his offense.

Once the command has been given, follow it immediately with a corrective action. For example, if your pet was jumping on you or a guest, firmly force your dog into the sitting position and hold him there for a moment until he relaxes. If he repeats the behavior, repeat the command and the correction. "No" is not a magic command, it will take a number of incidents for your dog to connect the word to unwanted behaviors, but if you are consistent, he'll learn.

"Drop It"

One of the earliest undesirable behaviors owners encounter with a new pet is chewing. It may be your hands, your shoes, your furniture or a score of other possessions, but this destructive behavior has lost more than one dog his happy home and should addressed right at the onset.

"Drop it" will be your all-purpose command for your pet to let go of anything he has in his mouth. Again, deliver the command in a firm, low voice that conveys your displeasure to your pet, then remove the object from his mouth. If it's something you can put away so he won't be tempted to go back to it, then do so.

Unfortunately, furniture is not something that can be put away, so it will require more diligence on your part to correct the behavior and help your dog make that mental connection. Once your dog learns the "Drop it" command, it will be easier to stop him from chewing forbidden objects.

Be Consistent

Do not vary your behavior expectations for your pet and do not become lazy during the training process. Diligence on your part now will speed the training process along and put your pet/owner relationship on a comfortable footing that much sooner.

Praise

Dogs thrive on positive attention, so when your pet finally gets your command right, reward him with some affection, and maybe even a little bit of his favorite food or dog treat. After all, he's earned it.

Be Humane

Above all, never strike or otherwise abuse your pet for mistakes. All you can honestly hope to teach him with this kind of behavior is that you are someone to be feared and distrusted, effectively destroying all chance of having the kind of affectionate and companionable relationship that has drawn dogs and humans together for centuries.

Quick Dog Training Tips

Potty Training

• Confine puppy overnight.
• Up and outside with first morning light.
• Repeat one word command of "Potty" until puppy obliges.
• Take outside and repeat every half hour for first full day to reinforce command and avert unneeded accidents.

Jumping

• As dog jumps against you, bump him away with your knees and give him a firm "No", then make him sit down. Repeat as needed.

Chewing

• Give a firm "Drop it" command, and take away the item.
• Spray furniture with Bitter Apple to deter dog chewing.

Leash Training

• Let puppy wear a rolled leather collar for a week to get used to the feeling around his neck.
• Attach leash and then follow him where he wants to go.
• Work slowly into coaxing him to go with you, taking care never to jerk or drag him along.

Multiple Pets

Many trainers believe it is beneficial to say a dog's name before giving a command. For example, you may say "Fido, no!" This is especially true if you have more than one pet. By clearing addressing your dog by name, you establish a pattern of identifying to whom you are giving a command and avoid causing your pets confusion.

Training is also a reason you may want to carefully consider the names you give your pets. Like sounding names can easily be misinterpreted by your dog.

Conclusion

We hope you find these dog training tips useful. Keep in mind that every dog is an individual--some learn quickly, while others learn more slowly, but all dogs can learn when trained with consistency and praise.