Being able to train your dog on your own is one of the most rewarding
experiences any dog owner can have. Not only will you get your dog to
be the “good boy” (or girl) you want, but you will also strengthen the
bond between you and your pooch.
It’s important that you remember that with any dog training program you
want to approach it as though you are a teacher to your dog. You don’t
want to be a ruthless enforcer just as much as you don’t want to let
your dog think that he or she is in charge! Remember – you are teaching
your pooch how to behave and become a well-behaved dog that will make
any dog owner jealous.
Who’s the best person to train your dog? You of course! It’s a great
way to strengthen your bond and make your pup the best behaved dog on
the block.
You need to enter your dog training with a mapped out plan. We included
a link for you at the bottom of this article with full details on a
couple programs you can use at home. In the meantime, here are a couple
of tips you can use when training your pup.
The first thing to always keep in mind is that you want your dog to be
in the right frame of mind before you start any “training session”.
Make sure they have gone to the washroom so they aren’t distracted. You
also shouldn’t start training right after they have ate – it’s easy to
get sleepy after eating.
Why do this? So that your dog isn’t distracted during your training. You want him or her to be completely comfortable.
It’s also a good idea to have a quick “play time” directly before your
training. It’s a great way to relax your dog and make him comfortable
with you.
Make sure that you have some treats ready for your pooch so you can
reward him – just like humans dogs will continue to behave a certain
way when there is something in it for them! Of course you don’t want to
give away too many of these as this can confuse him. Reward your dog
only when appropriate.
If your dog runs off during a training session, don’t chase after it.
Simply use an authoritative voice and call him back; then reissue the
command you are working on when your dog returns.
Don’t let yourself get frustrated if your dog appears to be lost at
times. Sometimes they just won’t understand what you are trying to
teach them at first – however getting mad won’t solve the problem. You
should look to improve the way you communicate with your dog instead.
During your training there are going to be some times where you
actually have to show him what you want him to do. It might be a tad on
the frustrating side, but over time it will get a whole lot easier – I
promise!
Training your dog should be the first step you take in forming a strong
relationship between you and your pooch. Whether it’s a new dog or one
that you have had as a friend for a while now, there’s no better person
than you to train your pup and make him the “good” boy or girl you want
them to be. All the best!
