You thought you were bringing home Lassie from the pound, but some days it feels more like you might have brought home Cujo! The good news is that, with just a bit of basic training, your dog can become better behaved within just a short amount of time.
Gradual increments are easiest on your dog when going through crate training. If they are uncomfortable with the door closed then try to feed them snacks to reassure them that they are okay. Start small, like at 10 seconds per approach, and then gradually increase the times. If the puppy becomes upset, you may be progressing too quickly.
Look at it in your dog’s point of view. Things that seem simple to you may not be as simple to your dog if he is having a hard time learning them. Try to think the way your dog does. Try to see the world through their eyes.
Your dog should always give you its attention when asked. With enough repetition, your dog will focus on other things less and less, opting to wait for signals from you.
If you intend to use a crate in puppy training, make sure the crate is an appropriate size for your dog. Don’t forget that puppies get bigger. Get a crate that is the right size for your dog when it gets older. The dog should have plenty of room to turn around and lie down without being crowded.
Continue training your dog so he doesn’t forget how to learn. Often, people feel that they don’t need to continue working with their dog after it has finished training. But pets and humans actually share the same types of habit learning systems; if they don’t practice they will forget! This shows that you need to do periodic refreshers so that your dog continues to follow the rules.
Many times dog owners are surprised to see they can easily train their dog on an everyday basis and promptly see the results. So if you are looking to change any of your dog’s wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success!