When you brought home your dog you were expecting Lassie, but sometimes it feels like you brought Cujo home instead. However, there’s still hope! A bit of training goes a long way in reducing bad dog behavior.
Make sure that you use control to reward your dog’s good training behavior. Give your dog a treat after they properly respond to your commands, but only if they are nice and calm. While you may be overjoyed with headway you are making, showing excitement causes the dog to become excited and makes you lose control. Stay calm and bestow rewards calmly too.
When potty training your pup, remember that whatever he eats must come out. To help regulate your dog’s bowel movements, feed him 2-3 times per day. That way, you will know when the dog likely needs to go out and can prevent accidents.
Select an appropriately sized crate to foster solid crate training results. Keep in mind that puppies grow big. Select a crate that is large enough for them to fit in when they are older. Your dog should be able to easily turn around and sleep without being overly crowded.
Try not to reinforce bad behaviors from your dog. Avoid giving them any rewards they haven’t earned. For instance, do not pet the dog lovingly if it jumps on you the minute you arrive home if this is something you are attempting to cure.
When training your dog, one of the first commands they should be aware of is the “drop” command, which lets them know they should drop any items they have in their mouth. This simple command will get them to stop chewing on household items or furniture, and can keep them away from dirty or potentially dangerous items outside the home.
People are often amazed about how easy it can be to train your dog and how quick they see changes. So if you are looking to change any of your dog’s wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success!