The Most Effective Dog Training Methods

Dog training is not that mysterious. It takes persistence and a willingness to keep trying until your dog understands whatever lesson you're imparting. It's best to start off with the simplest commands, such as teaching your dog to sit and come, and then move forward from there. It is very easy to train a dog. You just need to know the right strategies to use. Use the following tactics in this article to help you begin.

As long as you have a dog collar and the leash, you are ready to begin training your dog at any time. Using a clicker is also a very useful way to train a dog. When you are training your dog, simply click the device. A sound will come out that the dog will appreciate. When your dog does something you want, you give a click, followed by a treat. The treat is a much better reward system than with verbal praise. Dogs understand food and not the human language. The clicking sound will be all that you need when training your dog. The conditioning will be set in place. There is the necessity of providing reinforcement from time to time with treats so that the dog remembers that the clicking is a good thing. Training your dog for long periods of time may make you feel like you're dedicated, but it's not usually helpful. Puppies in particular can only concentrate for so long, so it's best to have brief training sessions. Another factor is that the longer the session lasts, the more likely it is that you'll become frustrated or impatient. A training session that lasts up to fifteen minutes can be very useful; beyond this is usually counterproductive. Sometimes you'll have to call it quits even though you didn't accomplish as much as you'd hoped. It may not seem obvious at first, but shorter sessions will be more effective in the long run.

Although it was once considered acceptable to hit dogs, such as with a rolled up newspaper, this is something almost all modern experts on dog behavior would tell you not to do. For proper training purposes, the dog should not be afraid. The discipline of your dog, even if you are upset, should never include yelling at your dog in an angry way. The best dog trainers are in control of their own emotions, and are therefore able to get the best response out of their dogs. A frightened dog may obey, but he's also more likely to turn aggressive at some later time. Whenever possible, stick to positive reinforcement, and when discipline is necessary, restrict it to verbal rebukes or confinement. Dog training is a process that anyone can do, but it demands a steady and consistent approach for it to succeed. Dog training sessions must be done frequently, as otherwise the dog will forget what you last taught her. Remember that training may seem tedious at times, but once it's successful you'll have a content and obedient dog.