Dog Training Secrets From The Experts

Regardless of whether you have a new puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to dedicate a little bit of time training them. And while there is an abundance of information available about how to train your dog, you can't go wrong with dog training tips from the experts.

1. Positive reinforcement is vital. Although there are many theories on the way to train your dog, the majority of dog training experts acknowledge that positive reinforcement works best. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise good dog, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It doesnt involve yelling at your dog, smacking or punishing them.

Positive reinforcement works due to the fact it builds a relationship of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards particularly food rewards.

2. Consistency is very important. If youre working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then attempt to train them at the same time each day. This helps your pet know what to expect. The majority of dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn much faster once they understand whats expected. If youre training using food rewards, try to train your dog before mealtime so theyre a little bit hungry and motivated.

3. Have patience. Dogs often learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up easily then the following day it seems like you have to start again from the beginning. Be patient. Begin each new trick with very small steps and be clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks like sit you will need to break it down into smaller steps.

4. Use hand cues in addition to verbal cues. Some dogs have an easier time understanding and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.

5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Trying to train them for twenty or thirty minutes isnt likely to work. Theyre likely to become frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to no more than five minutes.

At first, you may want to train for only a minute or two until your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.

6. Always end on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. Finish every training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they know how to perform and end with a food reward and plenty of praise.

7. Keep your dog healthy. Last but not least, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog a quality dog food, giving them plenty of fresh drinking water and making sure they get adequate sleep. A healthy dog is a happier dog and will learn desired behaviors much more quickly.