3 Helpful Tips to Train Your Dog to Be Well-Behaved
Everyone knows how annoying it is to be around a dog that constantly jumps, barks and growls at you for no good reason. Yet we all know that the problem is not the dog itself, but the lack of training. Luckily for you, this is something you can fix regardless of their personality and energy level. Here are some tips you should keep in mind when teaching your dog to “unlearn” bad habits and learn new ones:
- Patience is key
Consistency is a very important aspect of dog training. As most dogs learn through repetitive actions, they could only grasp your command and do it correctly if you train them frequently and as consistently as possible. This means making time for training every day and using the same commands at all times. Unfortunately, progress doesn’t happen overnight, so you need to be very patient with your dog throughout your training sessions. It’s going to be worth it.
- Remind your dog who’s the boss
A lot of dogs can be feisty, hard-headed and very domineering. Yet, this strong personality shouldn’t be an excuse for them to do their own thing during training or be lazy. When they start slacking off, don’t praise them or give them attention. You are the boss and your dog should learn how to obey your commands, whenever you want it to. To do this, you need to be firm about your commands and consistent about your rewards.
- Use words wisely
Never underestimate the power of words in dog training. It is your way of telling your dog it’s done a good job or it’s made a mistake. So, make sure not to scrimp on the compliments when your dog has successfully obeyed your command on cue. In the same way that you shouldn’t call your dog’s name first and then punish him. This makes your dog associate its name to a punishment, and that’s not always a good idea. Instead introduce verbal cues such as “uh-oh” or “oops”, so your dog can associate these words into actions they shouldn’t be doing.
In conclusion, training your dog does not happen overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort, but the results are surely going to be very rewarding. Just make sure to follow these very basic tips and your family and friends will reap the joys of being around a well-behaved and good-natured dog!