Top 8 Tips on How to Train a Dog

Jan 03, 2009 in Dog Behavior

Dogs aren’t called man’s best friend for nothing. However, the fact remains that dogs don’t speak in the same language as you do; in the same manner, human dog owners don’t always get what their dogs are trying to mean. Excessive chewing, aggressive dog behavior, jumping on people, broken house rules are just some of the issues between master and dog that need to be resolved as early on as possible.

The only way to bridge the gap between bad dog behavior and a human master is to train the dog to make it follow house rules without curbing its natural instinct to be what it is: a dog.

1. Teach your dog basic commands such as “sit”, “heel”, “stay”. If you don’t have the basic skills of training a dog, you can enroll him in basic obedience training class or get a trainer’s manual on effective steps on how to train dogs.

2. Be consistent in your training language. Don’t confuse your dog with different words and different rewards.

3. Use positive reinforcement and encouragement instead of punishment.

4. Use food to motivate your dog. Food and dog treats are one of the best rewards in positive reinforcement.

5. Don’t expect your dog to learn overnight. Training should be a gradual process. Give time for your dog to understand new commands and associate positive reinforcement with new positive behavior or response.

6. Keep training your dog at various times of the day. It is important for him to understand that behaving well should be done throughout the day and not just at particular times of the day (ie in the evenings when watching TV; in the morning during walks).

7. When dog training, keep your dog’s environment distraction-free. It’s easier for your dog to concentrate on his training and behavior if there are no other stimuli in the vicinity.

8. Don’t overuse dog treats as motivation and reward for your dog. While it is one of the best rewards, too much treat can also be unhealthy for your dog.

Need a step-by-step detailed guide on how to train a dog? Click here to check out Sit Stay Fetch, an extremely effective dog training manual.