Training your dog can be an overwhelming undertaking. Everyone hopes to have a well-trained dog that listens and reacts when a command is given. Yet sometimes new owners have no idea where to begin. There are many options for dog training and several will be discussed as you continue to read.
Dogs are loyal and will typically work hard to please their owners. This is especially true if you can offer some type of reinforcement for the behaviors you most desire. While some dogs may consider dry kibble an excellent treat at home when performing for their owner. This may not be true in other more exciting places. You may be receiving a great deal of advice if you are preparing to train your dog. Yet it all boils down to two very simple rules. Reward the behaviors you want and make sure those you do not want, are not rewarded. It seems simple and many times it is very simple, but other times your dog will try your patience and take a great deal of time to learn a new trick.
How to Train Your Dog
How do you start training a dog?
Dogs learn through immediate consequences from their actions, not necessarily based on the words you say. The word association should be consistent, but the rewards are what create the training. A dog does not understand English so the word associated with what you want will take longer than learning that a simple action leads to a reward. If you do not want to reward a behavior then physical punishment is not necessary, but ignoring the unfavorable behavior can be important. Think of it this way, a dog jumps on people because it gains attention. If that attention is removed as a reward, then the dog will stop jumping. This basic technique will work with most dogs.
Some dogs are easier to train than others. Dog breeds such as Border Collies, Retrievers, Shepherds, and Dobermans are considered easiest to train. On the other hand, dogs such as the Pit Bull Terrier, Mastiff, German Shepherd, and Husky are among the hardest to train, mostly due to size and activity level. Regardless of dog breed, training should start early. Though a six-week-old puppy may not be able to cause much damage when jumping, it should be trained not to before it gets too large. More extensive training should be based on your dog’s ability and size with bigger breeds being trained at earlier ages.
