Dog
Training 101: Keys to Raising a Well Behaved
Dog
Hi everyone,
I've set up this website as a helper to anyone who has a dog
or intends to have one and is looking for a Dog Training
strategy guide.
You'll find inside numerous tips, tricks and strategy advice
designed to help you train your dog, as well as build a
better relationship with your dog.
The key factor in transforming that adorable puppy into a
well behaved dog the whole family will enjoy is proper dog
training techniques. Dogs, like children, need to know the
rules of the house and they need to respect the authority of
their owners. Many new pet owners fall in love with the cute,
scruffy face at the breeders, only to be disillusioned and
frustrated when that adorable ball of fluff chews up the
furniture or makes messes on the carpet. While all puppies will
find their share of trouble, a responsible dog owner will
utilize plenty of time and patience to raise that pup into a
well behaved dog that is a joy to all. This article will
provide some dog training basics to help you and your puppy
develop a happy relationship.
Establishing Rules
The first step in dog training is to establish the rules of
the household, and the sooner you begin, the more successful you will
be. This means that if you don't want your 70-pound Golden
retriever hopping up on your bed at night, you should not
let your 10-pound puppy up there either. Not once; not ever.
It is never too early to teach your pup to stay off the
furniture or avoid jumping on guests. Before you bring your
puppy home, make sure the entire family understands
and are prepared to enforce the rules that the dog will
be expected to follow.
Maintaining Consistency
Once the rules have been set, it will be up to you to
maintain consistency in enforcing them. Every time your puppy
breaks a house rule, he should be reprimanded with a sharp
"No!" and shown the proper behavior. This applies to all
aspects of dog training, such as house breaking and chewing on
his toys instead of your shoes. Just like kids, dogs will learn
the rules quickest when they are enforced without fail. The
problem is that consistency takes time and plenty of patience
on the part of the dog owner. However, good, consistent dog
training at the beginning will save time, effort – and your
shoes – in the long run.
Offering Positive Rewards
When Scruffy does follow the rules appropriately, it is
important to reward him for his good behavior. Effective dog
training will use positive reinforcement much more often than
punishment to produce desired results. At the beginning of the
process, rewards might include an edible treat. As your pup
gets the hang of the dog training process, rewards can move to
praise and positive attention when your dog obeys your
commands. When you provide positive reinforcement on a
consistent basis, your puppy will soon learn that it is to his
benefit to listen and obey your instruction.
Dog training is not particularly difficult, but it does take
time, patience and consistency to produce the desired
results.
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