Shadowlea

Whether you have a new puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to invest a little time training them. And while there is an abundance of information available about how to train your dog, you can go wrong with dog training tips from the experts.

What are some of the pitfalls of not training your dog? Well, people who come to visit can be trampled on, climbed on, and maybe even knocked off their feet if your dog is very large. They are unable to carry on a conversation because the dog is licking them, barking at them, maybe even trying to nip at them, and, generally, causing a nuisance of themselves. A well behaved dog will become useful and rewarding portion of the situation rather than a time-consuming and disturbing distraction.

Be patient: Dogs tend to learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up quickly and then the next day it seems like you have to start over from the very beginning. Be patient. Start each new trick with very small steps and be clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks like "sit" you will want to break it down into smaller steps.

Always end on a positive note: Learning a new trick is hard work. End each training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they know how to perform and end with a food reward and plenty of praise

Keep your dog healthy: One of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog a quality dog food, giving them plenty of fresh water and making sure they get enough sleep. A healthy dog is a happier dog and will learn desired behaviors much more quickly.

Chewing: Socks, shoes, belts, electric cords, candles, dog dishes, the kids toys... these are all just waiting to be enjoyed if your dog is a chewer. Some of these are also very dangerous for your dog. Take steps to minimize what your chewer can get to while training them to leave your things alone.

If you have taught your dog the basic things, you may want to graduate to teaching tricks to your dog. In order to get your dog to start doing tricks, you need to find a trick that you know he could easily adapt to. That is to say, if your dog likes to fetch things you could teach him to fetch the morning newspaper.

Your guests will be in awe if you teach your dog to sit down and shake hands with them. Dog training experts say that this is the easiest of tricks to teach your dog. After you teach your dog how to sit you can start teaching him how to shake hands. This can be done by saying the word "shake" while holding his paw and shaking it. Be sure to reward him. If you repeat the word while you hold his paw he will start putting two and two together and associating the word with the action. Repeat the action everyday and he will be able to do it on command anytime you'd like him to.

A dog usually chews and digs when it's bored. This is often the result of the owners working long hours away from the home, leaving the dog to entertain itself. One solution is to purchase a second dog, which will keep the first dog company. But this can also lead to two dogs chewing and digging, especially if they are only pups. A better solution is to keep the dog entertained by giving it something to do. This can be achieved by hiding treats in the yard, designating a play area (like a small sandbox) or by giving the dog special toys.

An extra step that enhances the use of dog toys as a dog training reward, or to break dog boredom, is to alternate or swap toys on different days, so the dog thinks it is getting a new toy to play with. Yet another option is to smear some edible paste onto the toy, like Vegemite, Marmite or Promite. This is a method used by many animal shelters to give dogs something to do whilst confined to their kennels.

Your dog's training rests squarely on your shoulders so if you don't want any problems such as barking, potty training, digging, chewing, and walking issues, then learn from the experts how to train them.