Dogs are wonderful but they are not always obedient. They might be so excited to see you after a long day at work or because it’s their nature, but there are ways to train them. Training your dog will help establish boundaries and keep your dog safe. Teaching your dog obedience is one of the best gifts you can give to them. It can also save you from being frustrated with your pup for years to come. Here are some ways to DIY obedience training your dog!
Understand How Your Dog Learns
Dogs don’t understand English and they can’t read, so you need to teach them basic commands like Sit and Stay. They also learn through repetition.
The more time you spend repeating these commands, the more your dog will learn them. This is because your dog will follow what he sees. Dogs are naturally curious beings, which means they want to know why you’re repeating something repeatedly. This is how they learn!
How do you teach your dog obedience? Most people think that it’s all about punishing inappropriate behavior, but this isn’t true at all. Canines will act on what they think is right in their current moment of time, not understanding the consequences of their actions at that point in time.
If you punish inappropriate behavior or give food when your dog obeys a command, he’ll link these two things together – the consequence of disobedience and the reward for good behavior- and may be quicker to react accordingly next time. He’ll understand that if he does what you ask him to do, then there’s a good chance he’ll get rewarded with some food or petting!
Tools Needed For Dog Obedience Training
There are a few tools you will need for obedience training.
One of the most important items is a leash. It’s one of the most basic tools you’ll use when training your dog. It also lets your pup know where they’re allowed to go and what they can’t do in certain areas. You’ll want to have a leash that is long enough so you don’t have to bend over too far when walking your dog.
You’ll also need a crate or a small space where your pup will go when they’re being naughty. This is where the pup needs time out or if they simply can’t handle being out in public anymore. Read more about crate training a dog here.
Additionally, you will need treats! Your pup needs to learn that good behavior brings good things and unacceptable behavior gets nothing at all, so it’s important for them to learn this lesson early on. Dogs love food and it’s an easy way for them to relate what they should do with what doesn’t work out well for them.
Train Your Dog with Treats and Food
Dog training is a lot like human child training. It requires consistency, patience, and rewards.
First, get your dog’s attention. Getting their attention will make it easier for them to learn what you want them to do. Luckily, there are many ways of doing this. You can use food or treats as a reward or a distraction if they aren’t paying attention to you.
There are several kinds of dog breeds that are more difficult to train than others because they require more patience and persistence. These types of dogs might not respond well to your treats and food because they don’t always associate that with good things happening in the future. That doesn’t mean that it can’t be done, but it means that you’ll need to be patient with these breeds.
Praise Your Dog Every Chance You Get
Dogs are one of the most loving creatures on earth. They’re always there to show you love and affection when you need it most. But dogs are also great at making their owners feel bad when they don’t obey commands or misbehave.
It’s important to be patient when teaching your dog obedience because if you try to rush the process, it will take much longer than necessary. The best way to train your dog is by praising them for good behavior or any attempt at doing the right thing. When your dog sees that they’re being rewarded for good behavior, they’ll want to do more of it!
Give Commands with Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a way to encourage your dog to do something by giving them a reward. It might be pets, treats, attention, or anything else your dog likes!
Positive reinforcement can help with any training technique like teaching your dog not to jump on the furniture or teaching them not to bark excessively. You can also use positive reinforcement when teaching your dog not to chew on things they shouldn’t.
Positive reinforcement is a good way to teach your dog obedience because you are providing them with positive experiences and encouraging them to behave.
Control Unwanted Consequences Effectively
You’re going to want to teach your dog some basic commands. This will help you control your dog when they’re in a public space, like a park. You’ll also be able to keep them from doing undesirable things like getting into trash or chasing a squirrel.
Teaching your dog obedience is a really important life skill for them. It can make them safer and it will make it easier for you to have daily interactions with them.
One of the easiest commands for your dog to learn is ‘sit’. You can use this command when you need your puppy’s attention or when they are trying to get up on the couch.
You may have seen someone say “sit” in a commanding voice and then push their hand down on their knee. That motion can work as an anchor point if your dog doesn’t understand what’s happening at first.
Another way you could teach a ‘sit’ command is by putting one hand on top of their back legs so they know which direction you want them to go in, while using the other hand to slowly but firmly push their backside towards the ground until they sit down.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve learned how to train your dog, you’re ready to get started. The key to training your dog is to always keep consistency in your routine. Remember to praise your dog for good behavior and use rewards for training. And once you’ve finished this guide, don’t forget to share your knowledge with others who are looking for some helpful guidance.