Robert Sawtelle

Hi

Hope all is well with you and your dog.

Dogs can be very sociable, especially Miss Daisy. In fact, they sometimes get too sociable and get aggressive. That is why it is important to train your dog to control behavior.

Moreover, dog training is important to avoid dog-biting incidents. Statistics show that 77% of dog biting cases are mostly those that are within the family.

Hence, with dog training, bad habits are removed and dogs have better control of their feelings and behavior towards environmental and social variables.

However, implementing dog training is not that easy. Certain things must be employed to have positive results. I find the thing most needed in dog training is what experts define as positive reinforcement. This refers to the way people reward their dogs with treats, praises, or both whenever their dogs show positive behavior.

Through positive reinforcement, dogs are able to comprehend that treats and praises will come whenever he shows good behavior. For example, when the owner gives his dog some treats for obediently obeying his commands, the dog will
think that obeying commands when told equals treats. Praise works wonders with young kids as well.

But this does not necessarily mean that when the dog did not obey the owner’s commands, punishment is needed as counter-reinforcement. This should not be the case because punishments will only make the matter worst. What will happen is that your dog will be confused and it will begin to doubt your feelings.

The next thing that you must remember when training your dog is that people should avoid training their dogs into a bad habit. Actually, many people are not aware they are doing this but there are instances wherein the people’s reaction
towards some behavior of the dog will inadvertently train the dog in a bad way.

For example, when dogs bark, it is common especially when they do that because they see something strange or unfamiliar things. But, when dogs continue to bark, even if it includes a familiar person, that becomes a problem.

In this case, most people have the inclination to yell and tell their dogs to shut up. This particular reaction of dog owners will confuse their dogs and will only make them understand that the reason why their owners are yelling is because they are also enjoying the shouting scene and that they are barking along with their dogs.

The key point here is to avoid paying attention to the dog. In time, she will stop. That’s when you should reward your dog. Miss Daisy gets so excited when I return to the house that she barks sharply and annoyingly. What works for me is to turn my back to her until she stops barking and then give her a treat. It does work and it’s been peaceful ever since.

Boiled down, dog training is all about positive reinforcements. And, as they say, positive reinforcements reap positive results.

Some Effective Dog Training Tips

Considered man’s best buddy, dog-training professionals have been sharing more knowledge on how to make this companion live up to that title. Check out these ideas:

Digging Behavior

Dogs, as social beings, consider digging as their outlet when they are lonely. Nutrient deficiency may also cause this digging. Also known as pica, they sometimes eat the dirt they dig to supplement their health. Spending more time
with your dog and giving him a health check will keep his digging behavior at bay.

Potty Training

For dog potty training, a reward-based method will prove to be a very rewarding endeavor. Giving it a bit of dog food when it performs a good potty behavior will make it easier for it to remember the good thing that it did.

Repeat and Repeat

Considerable repetitions will give your dog ample time to grasp the command. Consistency is the name of the game. After doing enough repetitions, and it’s not helping him, test to determine if the dog really got it. Three successful attempts in a row is a fine gauge in defining if it’s just a fluke or if the dog has actually understood the drill.

Direct and Correct

Communicate to the dog how the drill should be. Be clear on what you want the dog to do. Just commanding the dog without correcting him if he did it wrong is not advisable. (I have gone so far to demonstrate to my dog how to roll over. It
was quite embarrassing but she caught on, after watching me, and will roll over now upon command. Only do this if you have a very smart dog and you are very nimble, healthy, and fun loving.)

Timing is Gold

Experts say that you should consider the age of the dog when considering how to deal with him. It is best to train dogs while they are still puppies. Always remember that ‘old dogs can’t learn new tricks’ saying. I disagree.

It’s like saying ‘senior citizens’ can’t learn new behaviors. Anybody can if they really want to. It’s just a little harder and takes a little more time. Motivation and patience is the key.

Be More Stubborn Than the Dog

Establishing rapport with the dog must always be in this order: you as the alpha dog (authoritative) and him as the submissive being. Show any sign of fear when he snaps back and you damage that rapport. Insist your dog complete the training and not avoid it. This will teach the dog not to try and hold out for you give in to his preferences.

Be A Good Actor

Provide your puppy with an outlet for his chewing urges. Also, you may practice yelping loudly when your pup starts to chew on you. After yelping, fold your arms and for 10 minutes consider ignoring him. That response is the thing that
happens when a pup becomes too rough on other puppies. But depending on your puppy’s personality, he may react otherwise, such as biting more. In this case, use a more aggressive approach.

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