Who Says You Cant Teach An Old Dog New Tricks? Just Follow This Advice.

There are many reasons people want their dogs to be trained. People train dogs to protect people, to hunt, for pleasure or to work for them. Dogs are known to have a strong desire to please their owners. This is why most breeds of dogs make wonderful pets. Use the following tips and advice for ways to make it easier to train your dog.

If you have a focal point for your dog to pay attention to, he will ignore all other distractions he would normally be tempted to watch. If you get your dog to focus on you, it will help his behavior.

As your dog becomes increasingly more responsive to training, you can begin to give him more freedom. The balance between freedom and obedience can give dogs a great life. Avoid giving too much freedom early on, as this can easily counteract your training.

When training a dog it is important to teach him good habits from the start. It is easier to teach a dog good habits right from the start, rather than trying to break bad habits that have already been learned. To avoid a dog that begs for table scraps, never give it table food to begin with.

Try using the "shake-can" training method. Place a couple coins within an empty can of soda, and then seal it. If your dog exhibits an incorrect behavior, give the can a shake. Your dog will be startled by the sound and will cease the behavior. After a few shakes, the dog will stop doing anything bad. Do not shake the can too much, as this will teach your dog to zone out the sound.

Be ready with a favorite treat when your dog successfully completes a command. It is important that your dog is able to establish a connection between the command and the action that gains a reward. Doing so leaves no question as to whether a behavior is considered acceptable or strictly forbidden.

Accidents are bound to happen while housebreaking your puppy. Get rid of accidents immediately to improve training efficiency. If your carpet retains a smell, your god will be attracted to this same spot. Look into different cleaners, especially enzyme cleaners, available at any pet store.

Consistency is really the key to successfully training your dog. You must be consistent in the commands you use, the tone of your voice as well as the rewards you offer for good behavior.

It is best to guide your dog to the correct behavior, rather than punish bad behavior. This is a time to show the dog what he should be doing in place of the behavior you are trying to correct. Use positive reinforcement. Training is about building your pet up, not breaking him down.

Don't forget to exercise dog's brains as well. Dog puzzles are a great way to stimulate brain development in dogs. Puzzles can help your dog to build confidence and release excess energy.

An older dog can learn new things, but you need to be aware of health issues that might cause his ability to be somewhat limited with certain things. For instances, dogs with arthritis should not be asked to crawl for extended periods. Training your dog keeps his mind going, and older dogs benefit from this. On the other hand, you need to make certain that exercise and training are not causing your older dog pain.

As you've witnessed from the above article, training your dog is crucial for having a well-behaved and cool dog. After reading the above advice, you should feel a lot more confident about your own potential as a dog trainer.