DOG TRAINING 

Tips for Training your Dog

When you set out to train your dog, it can seem like an insurmountable task, particularly if you have never trained a dog before. Whatever you are trying to train your dog to do, whether it be dog training to housebreak your dog, dog training to learn tricks, or dog training to teach your dog general behavior, most approaches will be similar. The first thing to keep in mind when dog training is the age of the dog. It is best to begin training when your dog is only a couple of months old because dogs of this age are the most impressionable. The phrase “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” exists for a reason, and the older a dog gets, the harder the dog training process will become. Not only is the age of the dog important, but so is consistency. If you are trying to teach your dog to never jump on the couch, you should be sure to reprimand your dog every time it happens and reward them when they come close but don’t do jump. This type of dog training will be much more successful than if you only worry about it when company is over or at other sporadic times. When training your dog for housebreaking, it is best to pick one type of surface and take your dog out often to this surface (this can be grass, gravel, etc.). Every time they go on the carpet, take them out to this same type of surface, and they will eventually associate it with the act, and will only go in an area that feels the same on their paws.

When training your dog in relation to food, there are also many tips. To keep your dog from harassing you while you eat, filling the dog’s bowl with dog food just before you sit down to eat will often help. Another type of dog food training is getting your dog to not growl when they are eating. While this may seem like a small detail in the world of dog owning, it can be an issue, particularly for people with small children. Instead of teaching children to stay away from the dog while he is eating his dog food, you need to teach your dog to let his guard down about his food. Remember that it is in a dog’s nature to protect their food, and you will need to start young in training them to not do this. The easiest way to do this is to start as soon as you come home with the dog. Fill the dog’s bowl with dog food, and let him start eating. Then have each child in the home take away the dog food while you pet the dog, reprimanding him for growling and rewarding him for good behavior. Do this every time you fill the dog food bowl, and slowly begin to do so without the petting. This will ultimately lead to a situation where the dog understands that no one is stealing his food, and it will achieve security for your dog as well as your children.