Any dog owner must train their pet, regardless of its breed. It is an essential aspect of being responsible for a dog and is a process that can begin at any age. When you train your pet, set up a positive reward system, and approach it with tolerance and patience, your pet will adopt a better behavior. It will also grow closer to you and be your companion for years on end. If you want to easily obedience-train your dog, read through our article to find out the 7 things you need to do.
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Establish Ground Rules
Dogs are much like children; if you want them to listen to you, you must establish ground rules for everyone at home to follow. Setting a basic set of rules is vital. This means that all family members must be on the same page when it comes to the pet’s behavior. For instance, if you tell them not to chew on the furniture but another family member allows them to do so, your pet will end up feeling confused. Since “bad” behavior is typically natural dog behavior, it will continue to listen to those who give it consent, even when the action is undesirable.
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Housetraining
If you are bringing your puppy into your home, it goes without saying that you need to housetrain it. This also applies to older dogs, even though it requires more time and patience on your end. Teaching your dog where to eat, pee, drink, defecate, and sleep is necessary. As we mentioned above, you need to stay consistent with your decisions. Don’t keep changing the spots in which you expect your pet to take care of its needs as this can spiral confusion as well.
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Choose Their Name
It must be clear by now that consistency is key when it comes to raising and taking care of your furry friend. This sense of uniformity also applies to your dog’s name and what it responds to. All family members and visitors must agree to call it by the same name. You should also avoid using other signals, such as finger snapping and whistling if you want to call them. Not only does this make them listen to you but it also helps avoid disorder when you’re in public. If you’re in the park and a stranger starts whistling, your pet may think that they’re calling for it. A well-trained dog only responds to its name and ignores other stimulating sounds.
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Barking Collars
While they are incredibly friendly creatures, their barks can be extremely disturbing. Unfortunately, not all neighbors are understanding of a dog’s behavior, especially when yours starts barking in the middle of the night. If you live in a residential area or a quiet neighborhood in Australia, having a loud pet can be problematic. The reviews from fellow fur-parents about eDog barking collars suggest that advanced dog collars can be really helpful. These devices work by assigning signals and are then sent remotely to your dogs in case of unacceptable behavior. They are completely safe and worth looking into if you’re looking to make the obedience-training process easier.
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Fundamental Tricks And Commands
While fancy dog tricks are always fascinating, your pet doesn’t need to know any of them. Going old school and teaching it the basic “sit,” “stay,” and “down” is all you need to ensure that they are well-behaved. Before you start training them, you may think that these cues are easy to teach. However, once you get started, you’ll realize how much time, effort, and patience this requires. Don’t underestimate the power as well as the challenges that come with teaching your dogs the basic tricks and commands.
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Keep It Short
It can be really hard to determine how much training is enough training. Many people prefer not to go easy on their dogs, which is why they tend to extend their obedience training sessions. However, you must know that every one of them is different; they each have unique attention spans. Experiment with different techniques until you find something that works for both of you. You must remember that a short yet efficient session is much better than a longer one in which your dog gets bored and loses interest.
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Use Treats Strategically
Whether you are raising a human child or a pet, positive reinforcement is always the way to go. This almost works immaculately, because you’re teaching your dog that when they do something that you consider desirable, they will receive something they like in return. Doing so helps them understand the concept of “good,” and promotes consistent preferable behavior.
Training creates an inseparable bond between a dog and its owner; it is the stepping stone for a lifetime of trust and communication. Training your furry friend serves as the needed mental exercise to keep it stimulated. It also instills patience and a sense of confidence in your pet.
