Dog owners, this is for you! Don’t be a dog parent without knowing what to do.
Training your pet dog can be time-consuming and overwhelming, so it’s best to start when they’re young. Puppies learn better than adult dogs. The key in any type of training is consistency and positive reinforcement. It is important to show your dog that you are the alpha leader for them to follow suit — if you don’t, how else will they know? Here are some tips on how to get started with home-based pet training for dogs.
Types of Dog Training Methods
There are two main methods in dog training:
Positive reinforcement or reward-based
The most commonly-used method, this training relies on positive rewards for desired behavior rather than scolding or punishing bad behavior. To teach your dog how to behave properly, it’s important that they trust and respect you in a way that makes them comfortable listening to your commands. One of the best ways to do this is to reward them with their favorite treats. With positive reinforcement, you can train your pet dog to walk on a leash, stay put when they’re told to, and even perform simple tricks such as rolling over when you ask for it. The basic principle of this method is that you reward and praise your dog every time they do a great job.
Aversive or punishment-based
Opposite to positive reinforcement, this method is not very-welcomed by a lot of dog owners as it uses some punishment and loud noises that usually train dogs to follow because of fear. This also means teaching your dog to do as you say by correcting them physically and verbally scolding them when they don’t follow instructions.
Dog Training Lessons
There are different dog training lessons that pet parents usually give their dogs. Each type of lesson can help you in your journey to train your own dog.
Crate Training: This is a method for teaching your pup where he belongs when he isn’t with his family. This teaches your dog to be comfortable and even enjoy in his crate. It’s an important training for dogs to be on his own place while you’re at work or out running errands.
Potty Training: It may sound like something only human children need to learn but puppies need it too! The trick is training them while they are young before bad habits are formed. Unlike cats who easily familiarize themselves to their litter box, our canine buddies would need to be trained early where to potty. It will be helpful for everyone to teach them how to poop and pee only in the designated area to avoid all the mess it may cause.
Obedience Training: Once your dog is housebroken, it’s time to teach them some new commands. These training lessons help you work with your furry companion on improving their behavior and obeying simple orders that could be very useful in your everyday lives. These are basic commands like Stay, Sit, Come, and No, that teach your dog what they should do when around other people or animals in order to keep everyone safe and happy.
Leash Training: Many dogs have issues when it comes to being on a leash. These training lessons can help you teach your pooch how to be a good dog while walking alongside you, and at the same time, know how to behave properly when taken outside for a walk. Also this avoids your dog from dragging you.
Clicker Training: This is a form of positive reinforcement that uses a clicker for an audible sound to reinforce your dog’s good behavior. It is very straightforward — the trainer uses a clicker or a whistle to signal the dog that he did the right thing and is immediately followed by a reward. This is one of the most popular dog trainings used by dog owners.
Advanced Training: These are many specialized training lessons for certain dog breeds like hunting, agility and protection. You could also teach your pup some cool tricks to show off in advanced training.
Get Professional Dog Training Help
If you’re interested in learning more about canine training, it’s important to know that there are several techniques involved depending on what would best suit you and your dog. You should consider factors such as breed, age, sex, and past behavior before choosing a training method for your pet.
Remember to be patient with your dog because training takes time!
It won’t happen overnight —it’s important that you stay positive and consistent with them during the process. If you’re ever having trouble training your pet, seek professional help from a certified dog trainer in your area who can work with both of you individually to get them on the right track. The more time and effort that you put into training your pets, the happier you’ll both be!
If you need help, there is professional dog and puppy training in Cedar City, Utah! Visit the Cedar City Pet Supply website for more on dog and puppy training!
