Dog Training Fundamentals

As an experienced dog owner, new dog owner, or potential dog owner, you have probably already put some thought into training your dog. For many of us, few experiences are quite as annoying as being pestered by an untrained dog. Without training, dogs engage in a variety of unwanted behaviours from toileting on the carpet to barking incessantly at guests. Whether you currently have problems with your dog's behaviour or you want to avoid potential problems, dog training is an important aspect of being a dog owner. But where do you start?
Dog training is actually quite a vast subject and there are tools and techniques designed to solve just about any problem behaviour. Still, there are some dog training fundamentals that can help you understand whydog training is important and how to achieve the best results from your training.


What Are the Origins of Dogs?

All dogs are descended from wild ancestors, and in many cases they are closely related to modern day wolves. This means there are some predictable behaviours you can expect from your dog, even though domestication has softened or eliminated many of their wilder traits. Nevertheless, dogs still maintain a pack mentality which means they are social animals familiar with routine and social structure. Your dog will thrive on interaction with other dogs and people and without this social experience dogs often become anxious, unhappy, and agitated. Moreover, dogs need routine. When they know when they are likely to be doing certain things, they feel more relaxed because they know what to expect.

You can use this knowledge about the origins of dogs to facilitate training. Reward your dog's good behaviours with play time or other social interaction. And when training, you need to create a routine that is consistent so that your dog may more easily understand your expectations. Furthermore, as pack animals, dogs will want to have a good secure leader, so as his leader you need provide clear, fair and consistent behavior for you dog to understand this hieracrchy.

What Does a Dog Remember?

Dogs tend to have shorter retention spans so training must be focused in the now. If your dog soils the carpet but you don't deal with that behaviour until several hours later, 
your dog will not make a connection between the punishment and the unwanted behaviour. Training should be focused on current unwanted behaviours so that your dog is more likely to make that connection.


Language


When training, your commands should be consistent and easy to understand. One or two word expressions should be repeated with every action you are attempting to teach. Common words should be avoided as to not confuse your dog when those expressions are used in everyday speech. 

Most importantly, choose an expression to associate with a particular activity and be consistent.

Reward vs. Punishment

Today, the fundamentals of dog training principles focus on the benefits of reward. All animals, dogs and humans included, learn more effectively when presented with a reward rather than punishment. Positive feelings created stronger associated memories and are more likely to ensure that good behaviours will repeat.

 So, instead of punishing your dog for what you don't want him to do, reward him for those good behaviours. For example, if you are house training your dog, give him a treat and verbal praise ("Good boy!") when he toilets outside, and try to avoid drawing attention to mistakes indoors.

Have Fun!

Ultimately, one of the most important fundamentals of dog training is to have fun. While training needs to be structured and consistent, it should also provide an opportunity to bond with your dog. Even if you plan to undergo professional dog training, it should be an activity you undertake with your dog. Not only will that help establish your dominance in the relationship, but it will help you to build a deeper and more loving bond with your dog.

Learn How To Train Any Dog With These Great Hints

Training your dog is an absolute necessity, there is no doubt about that; but how can you do it and enjoy it? Please read on for some very valuable information and advice on how to make dog training, and also staffordshire bull terrier puppy trainingeasier and a more successful endeavor for you! Soon you will have a smarter and better behaving dog and the two of you will be much happier for it!

To relieve separation anxiety in your dog, give him plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a happy dog. Slip in and out of the house without making a big dealout of it. Sometimes saying goodbye to your pet increases his anxiety. If you notice that your pet has associated something like picking up keys with leaving, then start doing the action several times a day to quell negative feelings.


Even if you think that you have taught your dog everything that he needs to learn, find something new to train him. Dogs will never stop learning and the more training you provide them, the more the dog will feel accomplished and happy. Training should be reinforced for their entire life.

It is important that you get to know your dog well. Dog training is not a "one-size-fits-all" proposition. A lot depends on your personality and capabilities, your dog's personality and capabilities, and how these traits mesh. Something that may work well for one trainer with one dog may not work with another trainer and another dog. Or it may not work for the same trainer with different dogs. Everyone is different!

Housebreaking a dog takes time. The key is to be consistent when teaching him where it's not acceptable for him to relieve himself and consistent in the message that you send as to where you expect him to go. This may be on a pad inside the house, on a lead when you take him outside or running free in a fenced yard.

Training doesn't only happen during designated staffy training sessions. Every time you interact with your pup, you are training him. Make sure to stay consistent in your commands and requests and to continue to reinforce those good behaviors. If you are training him to stay off the couch, don't let him jump up there while you are watching a show. Stay consistent at all times with what you want him to do and you will see the rewards.

Appropriately crate training your dog can prevent separation anxiety. Start by allowing the dog to move freely in and out of the kennel. "Bait" the kennel with special treats or toys. When the dog is familiar with the kennel, try closing the crate. Allow the dog longer periods of time in the crate with the door closed. As the dog begins to associate the crate with pleasant experiences, and the assurance that you'll return, he'll be happy and comfortable waiting in his "den," while you are away.

If possible, position your dog's crate next to your bed. This is a critical step in teaching him that is where you want him to sleep. Since you are still within sight he isn't as likely to panic about having to stay in the crate for an extended period of time.

Sometimes it may be necessary to physically establish yourself as the Alpha in the pack. If your animal is being aggressive to another animal or a person, hold them by the scruff of the neck and put them in a prone position on the ground firmly, not violently. This lets your dog know you are in charge and exhibits behavior they would expect from another dog.

Any dog you adopt should go through at least a basic obedience class with a professional. The skills you can learn from a professional course will more than outweigh the cost of the course. Also, a course gives you and your dog a chance to socialize with other dogs and their owners.


After reading this article you should be a little more prepared to tackle the task of staffy puppy training. Take the tips and tricks you have learned from this article and apply them to a basic routine that is the same every time you work with your dog. Although it may not be the easiest task in the world, training your dog is of great benefit to him, everyone he comes in contact with and more importantly it will really enable you to enjoy life more .

Tips And Tricks For Training Your Dog Well

When your dog isn't listening to you when you tell him to sit and you're at the end of your wit, so what do you do? Simple, you read some tips and trickson how to get your dog's attention and teach it some obedience. The article below will give you some great ideas on how to train your dog in a friendly way.

Start training your dog as soon as possible. Even young puppies respond well to training. Attention spent on proper behaviors at a young age can prevent later problems. For a young puppy, you may need to reduce the amount of time spent in training activities, but the investment in training staffies early pays off as your dog grows.

If you want to help your dog succeed in his 'training staffordshires' program, take a moment to try and think like he does. Understanding how your pet views the world can help you make better training decisions for him. The better suited your program is to your dog's personality, the more success you will have while training.

It is a good idea to take your puppy out to as many places as possible as he is growing up and throughout his lifetime. Ongoing positive socialization experiences are important as they can keep him from becoming timid or afraid when he meets new people and other dogs.

It is important to keep your dog training sessions short, it is better to have three ten minute sessions than one thirty minute session. Your dog is not a human and they will tend to lose interest quickly, by making sessions shorter you will make more progress in your training efforts.

When you are house training your puppy, remember, what goes in, must come out. To keep your puppiestoiletry habits regular, feed him a high quality food 2-3 times a day at the same time each day. This will give you an idea of when to take your puppy out and lessen the chance of accidents.

It may be difficult, but you should always exercise patience around your dog. Your dog does not understand English, nor is he a person. He will only pick up on your physical gestures and your tone without knowing why you're acting such a way. Keep your cool, and take breaks if you find yourself too frustrated to continue a training session.

To teach your dog how to walk on a leash, you should start by getting your dog used to the leash at a young age. Walk around your yard or garden with your dog on a leash at first. Reward your dog if it does not tug on the leash. Use a command such as 'come' and tug on the leash at the same time. Your dog should quickly understand that you wish it to follow you .

Your dog is the product of many generations of domestication and breeding. If you have a purebred or mixed dog, tailor your training efforts to your dog's personality. For example, herding dogs may need more work to release energy that would otherwise go to herding efforts to make something like taking leashed walks easier.

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety and gets restless when you are about to leave the house, you should feed your dog right before you leave. This will keep your dog busy while you prepare and distract it from the stressful situation. This should make the separation much easier.

Dogs are happiest by your side, so remember that staffordshire training requires a commitment from you as a pet owner. Your dog is a commitment for the rest of his natural life, so your training sessions should be a time to bond. Make them fun and rewarding for you both, and training will never be a chore. Training should be a joyful time!

If your dog is being destructive when unattended, it is likely a sign that he is not getting the physical exercise that a dog needs. Find a class that you and your dog can enroll in together and you are sure to find that it is fun and he will be far less destructive when you leave him.

Most dogs respond well to home training, however, some high-energy and aggression prone breeds may need formal training. Take the following tips from this article and apply them to give you an easier time when training your dog.