A Dog Trainers Guides To Basic Dog Training

training your puppy

When training your dog, concentrate on the end result you're after, as against the patterns you're trying to eliminate. When you begin each training session, imagine the end result and create a clear image of what you're planning to create, and hold that image through the session. Don't waste any time pondering over the negative behavior you're trying to avoid.

If you're not sure what you want, how are you going to get it? That's true of most things in life, particularly when it comes to dog house training tips as well

It's very easy to fall into the trap of concentrating on things that we don't want. This is particularly relevant with regards to training dogs as well. We definitely don't want our pet to pee on the carpet, or chew our shoes, or to carry on running when we call him back to us, or start barking incessantly when older members of the family come to the house.

But think about it. Especially if you're thinking of getting a new puppy in the home. Are you actually considering spending the next eight to fourteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, "No no no"? Do you agree it's a better approach to channel your dog towards acceptable behavior from the start?

A prime example springs to mind is when we think, "The dog had better not chew my shoes, or furniture," try, "I will encourage him to play with his toys." Instead of, "I hate it when the dog harasses and jumps up on people who visit the house," how about, "My dog should greet and welcome my guests controlled and quietly."

Simply by wording your aims in a positive manner, you'll better appreciate how to achieve what you want. What better way to start your training program.

Reward Good Behavior

One of the best things to happen in puppy house training in the past few years is the shift from emphasizing correction, or penalizing mistakes, to rewarding obedience and favorable actions.

Using rewards is a whole lot smarter for most trainers - especially for potty train puppies. Perhaps the most important reason is that if you use punishment, regardless of the reason why, the effects could be very demoralizing for both of you. If your dog is of a particular temperament, he might respond with aggression to being overly punished. Other dogs shut down. They simply lose their bounce and energy. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.

The good thing about reward based training is that it also makes you feel good as the trainer. Heaping praise and treats on your dog gives a powerful sense of achievement.

But the icing on the cake is that rewards based dog behavior training works a treat. Primarily because rewards training techniques build strong relationships which are key to good behavior. When he learns that a particular behavior gets rewarded, your dog will associate one with the other and learn to repeat the behavior when called upon. As you practice the best way to use this technique, this technique will have your dog behaving like the perfect gentleman (or lady).