Easy to Teach Pet Behavior Lessons

There is nothing worse than coming home and realizing your dog has destroyed yet another pair of your favorite shoes. Your feel like you are at your wit’s end with this dog. But do not give up on Fido just yet. There is hope.

The first step in teaching a dog behavior lessons is to remember who is in charge. A dog is naturally programmed to listen and obey a leader or master. If you do not provide him with knowledge that you are the master or leader, he will try to take over. In order to show him that you are the master, do not let your dog tug on the leash. If you are going for a walk, make the dog sit quietly before you put the leash on him or her. Never allow your dog to bite anyone. Whenever you enter a room, be sure to walk through a doorway before the dog does. Once your dog sees you as a strong leader, he will quickly learn to respect you. Along with respect will come the desire to want to please you.

Next, train your dog daily. Like humans, the more your dog practices a new behavior, the quicker he or she will learn it. Try working with your dog around 15 minutes a day. Stick with one area of learning for approximately a month. Most dogs are born with a need to work. Therefore, if you don’t give your dog something to work at, he will quickly become bored. A bored dog will eventually get himself into trouble.

When teaching your dog obedience, give him praise and treats. Whenever your dog acts in an appropriate manner, it is important that you praise him and let him know he has done something right.

Never yell or hit your dog. Kicking and hitting a dog has the same effect that it does on a child or spouse. It will quickly ruin your relationship and break down any trust your dog has with you. No matter how upset you become with your dog, it is important that you never hit him. Yelling at your dog stresses him out, which, in turn, can make the behavioral problems even worse.

Appropriate medical care is crucial for your dog. Be sure to get him regular checkups with your veterinarian. By taking him to the vet annually, you are helping to keep him healthy and free of diseases. It is important to see the same vet when you go. By seeing the same vet regularly, he is able to monitor your dog closely and can take note of any possible problems.

Dogs are naturally quick learners. So the next time you come home and your favorite pair of shoes has been gnawed on, remember there is hope. There are some simple steps you can do right in the comfort of your own home to change your dog's behavior for the better.

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Puppy Training

A fun and enjoyable experience is on the way. To become a team, you and your puppy will have to learn a few of the basic skills. You have to carefully mold your dog into the kind of dog you can be proud of. A trained puppy causes much less friction in the home.

Tips for Training Your Puppy

Training with the Reward System

The reward system is the most positive method of training. Food and treats will be the main reward in the beginning. Little cut up pieces of hot dogs treats are used most. The other reward is an awful lot pf praise and love. Staying up beat and positive is very important to remember for keeping your puppy happy.

The Training

The basic heel, sit and down commands will be taught to your puppy. Once your puppy learns these commands you will have much better control over him. When you have a well trained puppy, socializing him to different situations will become much easier. Ten to 15 minutes sessions at the beginning will be enough because they are just puppies. As the puppy learns and grows, the training sessions can get a little longer.

Puppy Training Advice

Leash Training

Leash training your puppy will begin by holding your treats in your left hand and the leash in your right, just hold the treat in front of your puppy’s nose. Using your happy voice, say the puppy’s name, then say heel. The best way to keep the puppy walking beside you is with lots of encouragement and treats. If the puppy should stop, just continue to hold the treat in front of him and gently tug the leash. It won’t be long and the leash and collar won’t bother the pup at all.

Teaching The Sit

The best way to get a puppy to sit is to hold the treat in front of his nose and then gently lift it over his head. Every time you practice this, use the word sit. The sit can be taught anytime, just take one or two minutes and practice it during a commercial.

The Down

To begin teaching the puppy the down, he should first be sitting, then while holding the treat by his nose, bring your hand all the way down then forward. Say down every time you start to lower the food.

If you stay consistent and patient, training your puppy should move along rather smoothly. Don’t worry if it seems like it is taking a little longer for your pup to get the hang of it, he will. What we’re after is for the puppy to do these things with all verbal commands. Just stick with it and the results will show up. A happy puppy is a well trained puppy.