Have you taken your dog to any pet training classes? Have you considered it, at least? You may not think that your dog needs them, but taking him to pet training classes could make your relationship better, could make your interactions more controlled, and make the overall ownership of the dog less stressful.
- Basic Dog Training Tips
- Dog Crate Training Tips
- Potty Training Tips
You can start with just some basic tips. For starters, always teach your dog through positive reinforcement. Swatting with a rolled up newspaper or using a choke or pinch collar are not ways to properly train a dog. When a dog feels pain, or knows that it can happen, it is constantly on edge. That makes it quick to react instinctively.
Meaning that it cannot think through what it has been trained, it is just always ready to react. When this is happening during something like a walk, everyone is at risk. The dog could bolt unexpectedly, or could react negatively to someone or a dog walking by.
Contrary to common practice, a crate should never be used as punishment. Ever. You should only be using a crate to hold the dog while you are not in the house. You do not want it to equate the crate with punishment while you are home, because when you go to put it in the crate when you leave, the poor thing will think that it is being punished.
It should also be kept in a spot that is not completely out of the way. While the dog is getting used to the crate, keep it in your bedroom and have her sleep in the crate. Once again, praise and reward for her going into the crate is a great way to teach her that it is a good place to be.
As far as potty training tips for puppies goes, I must harken back to the very first tip. Positive praise is the only way. Rubbing a dog’s nose in its mess is no way to teach it anything. It does not know what it has done is wrong, and by the time you punish it, the dog will not be able to relate the punishment to the mess.
If you happen to catch the dog in the act, make a loud, but not angry, noise to startle the puppy into stopping, and then quickly usher it out the door. Vigilance is the key. Look for signs that it is considering going to the bathroom. Sniffling around the edge of the room and looking in corners are both good indicators.
Those are just super simple basics, and in no way replace pet training classes. If you want a firm grasp on your pup and its obedience, going to train through a professional is certainly the best way to do it. Do not be one of those terrible pet owners too lazy to train their dog. Be smart and prepared, and invest the time a dog requires.