There are quite a few dog owners who cannot imagine their lives without their furry and four-legged friends. They admire their companions because of their playful exuberance, unconditional affection, zest for life and loyalty. However, dogs and people are very different. While they are “man’s best friend,” dogs have a number of irksome behaviors, such as jumping to greet someone, barking and chewing that can make it quite difficult to live with them. In order to make the most of the relationship you have with your dog, you have to teach them some important skills. Learning the right way to train your dog will help to improve your life, as well as your dog’s life. It will also help to enhance the bond between you and your pet. The fact is, this training does not have to be all work, it can actually be fun, which will make it more enjoyable for both you and your pet.
Get to Know how Your Dog Learns
One of the most frequent issues that are heard from pet parents is that their dogs “just don’t listen.” However, think about this from your dog’s point of view. You are essentially speaking a foreign language to them, which means they are not going to pay attention to you for extended periods of time. This means you need to speak to the dog in their “language.” Dogs will learn best when there are immediate consequences for their behavior. The actual consequences selected will determine how they are going to behave in the future.
When they demonstrate positive behavior, they should be rewarded with a treat, playtime or even a belly rub. However, if the behavior is undesirable, then an undesirable consequence should be given – this will help to prevent the dog from repeating the behavior. When you get to know what will help your dog learn, chances are you will be able to expedite the training process. If you don’t take the time to do this, chances are you will not get the desired results for your training efforts.
Rewarding Behavior You Like
There are some methods of obedience training that utilize punishment – such as leash corrections and scolding. This is done in an effort to discourage the dog from doing anything but what you want them to. The other method is to just teach dogs what you want them to do. While both tactics will work, teaching the dog the proper behavior is typically the most effective.
To teach the desired behavior, consider using healthy treats, praise, and games. This eliminates the need for pain and intimidation, which may eventually have detrimental effects on your pet. If your dog exhibits a behavior that you don’t like, then you should take the rewards away. Doing this will discourage any unwanted behavior, without having to use any type of intimidation or pain. Dogs are not extremely complicated or mysterious – they are going to do the action that leads to the reward they want. It may take some time for them to fully grasp the concept, but with consistency, they will perform how you want them to.
Adapted from The Happy Pooch
