by Steve Davies


A happy dog is a well trained dog and just choosing to make this happen is a step in the right direction! Too many dogs are left untrained and jump on everyone, chew end tables and bark all night! Your dog will be better off once trained and of course, so will you. So read on for some fabulous ideas on how to make the job of training your dog a little less hectic!

Anxious dogs might benefit from having music played when you leave. Classical music is proven to be soothing for a variety of species, and dogs are no exception. Calm, soothing classical music played at a mellow volume might be a benefit to your dog and keep the house from being silent while you're gone.

Make sure that your pooch is obeying commands. If Spot is ignoring you when you tell him to sit, do not give up. Follow-through until you get the action that you expect. If you are going to give up without getting the action that you requested, don't bother giving the command in the first place.

Your dog is the product of many generations of domestication and breeding. If you have a purebred or mixed dog, tailor your training efforts to your dog's personality. For example, herding dogs may need more work to release energy that would otherwise go to herding efforts to make something like taking leashed walks easier.

If you are aiming to train your dog in the best manner, you should always make sure your dog gets enough exercise. Dogs are very hyper creatures who need constant exercise in order to release energy. If they do not get enough exercise, they will likely use all of that stored energy to do something bad.

Your anxious dog should have something to do when you're not home. Many people have success with food-based distractions. By appealing to a dog's natural love of food and chewing, food shoved in a rubber toy can make a world of difference for anxious dogs that are home alone. Make sure this food cannot be choked on - there are many dog-safe recipes to be found online for various types of chewing toys.

If your dog does not respond well to you during training you should not get mad at him or her. You are the teacher and he or she is the student, so if they are not responding very well to you it could be the fact that you are not such a good teacher.

When training your dog make sure you never stop training. This may sound silly but it is actually very sensible. Your dog may learn tricks quickly and not forget them, but dogs never stop learning so you need to take advantage of this by teaching often. Also, it never hurts to reinforce what has already been learned.

If you are tired of finding that your new pair of shoes has become a chewed up drool-covered dog toy, it is probably time to invest in chew toys. Chew toys are a great way for dogs to fulfill their urge to chew, while not ruining your things. For an even more enticing chew toy, buy one that you fill with peanut butter or treats, which will make him more likely to choose the toy over your shoes.

Dogs are happiest by your side, so remember that training requires a commitment from you as a pet owner. Your dog is a commitment for the rest of his natural life, so your training sessions should be a time to bond. Make them fun and rewarding for you both, and training will never be a chore. Training should be a joyful time!

Consider the advice you have read in this article very thoroughly and write it down if necessary. A training manual would be a good aid to working with your dog, and this article would make a great beginning for it. Hopefully you have learned a lot and are now prepared to produce a smarter, well behaved dog you will not only be very proud of, but have a lot more fun with!




About the Author: