Training Basics For Dogs

A dog is a man's best friend. How many times you heard that line? It sounds very cliché when you think about it, but then it's also very true (if you know how to do that, of course). Dogs, much like humans, are very social creatures that require training to behave properly according to a human being's standards. Think about it, if you weren't trained to behave in a civilized manner you'd certainly be living in the mountains like an ape. In a manner of speaking, dogs are very much like that. If you want to train your dog or puppy to behave accordingly and turn him or her into a lifelong friend, then this article is for you.

Proper Discipline

Here's the thing, forget about the punishment if the dog has committed something that you've found out an hour later. The dog will only get confused and think that he or she didn't do anything wrong, since they tend to not dwell on things. In short, they don't reason. Scolding your dog for running away when he/she returns after a few hours, will only demoralize your dog into thinking you're always angry most of the time and will then shrink away from you. Here's a better way to instill discipline; act at the exact moment when your dog is doing something bad. Scold the dog when he or she's tying to pee on the floor. If that's a little late, tie him to a leash or put him in a crate. Avoid pain as punishment.

Patience and Consistency

It takes time to train a dog. It doesn't happen overnight. One of the important things to know when training your dog is to be consistent and patient at all times when training begins. Consistency means that you have to follow up your commands. If you're training your dog to come to you, the words Come, Here, or To Me, can get confusing if you use them randomly. Stick with one phrase for your dog so he or she will get what you mean. If you meant for your dog to come to you, then let him/her do so. Don't change your mind in the middle of the command and tell her to stop. It simply confuses him/her. Always be patient with your dog and reward it every time it obeys a command. If you think things are getting out of hand, always stay calm and stop the dog physically without saying a word. As much as possible, avoid inflicting pain.

Never Bore Your Dog

Puppies, and even mature dogs, have short attention spans. If you want to train your dog, don't spend hours everyday just training. Here's a tip, keep it under 10 minutes. But if you want to do more time, make it fun at least. Playing catch or Frisbee is very enjoyable for them and for you also.

Those are the basics, but here are a few things to keep in mind when you're training your dog. If you want to end a session for the day, end the training with praise. Never leave the dog confused with a negative vibe after every session. Never praise your dog too much. Over-praising will only lead to some confusion on the part of your dog. And also, as a final tip, ask yourself if you really think that you can train your dog yourself. If not, and you know you don't have the patience, consider getting a professional dog-trainer.