Many puppy owners will tell you that if they could accomplish one thing in their life, it would be some high-quality dog behavior training! Puppies seem to have a mind of their own and while they are certainly trainable, some seem as if they are purposely doing everything they can to drive their owner absolutely insane with their behavior.
But there is no need to despair, help is at hand. Believe it or not, training can be quite easy, if you know how to do it right, so stay with me.
My first tip can be summoned up in 3 words – Reward, Reward, Reward.
Sounds simple, and it is. When you train you dog to do some sort of activity, and they get it right, then reward them with a treat. This is positive reinforcement, and it works.
It works with everything including toilet training. When they do their business outside make sure you congratulate them, and reward them.
And this way they will start to associate doing the right thing, with getting their owners approval.
Tip # 2 – Taking it one step at a time.
I know that you want to get your dog to sit, stay, come, and do all the other things that you have in mind, but please avoid the temptation to get into everything at once, just take it one step at a time.
For dog behavior training you need to slow yourself down and concentrate on one thing at a time.
Teach him how to sit and practice this for at least two weeks before you introduce another command.
But don’t be too rigid about this time scale. Some dogs will learn in a few days, but others may take a few weeks or a month, it does not really matter how long it takes, just master this first command before moving on.
The training which you are giving your dog can at times be a bit overwhelming for your dog, especially if you are trying to achieve too much, too quickly, so slow down a bit and take your training at a leisurely pace.
Tip #3 – It’s fun time!
And it can be fun. But if you let it get on top of you, so that you start to dislike doing it, then its time to stand back and re-think.
Just take your time and remember the reasons why you got your faithful friend in the first place. Remember that patience is a virtue, so please try and show it.
So if you find yourself resenting your dog or thinking that perhaps you’ve made a mistake, take a deep breath, and then take yourself and the dog out for a long walk – and have some fun along the way!
