Friday, 22 April 2011

Key Concepts For Effective Pet Training

By Adriana Noton


There are several important aspects to consider for pet training, especially when you have a new dog or puppy. Keep in mind that any attempt to change behavior takes time and patience. It will not happen immediately. Be prepared to spend adequate time and train on a regular basis for best results.

No two dogs are the same. Their actions and ability to train depend on breed, temperament, and nature. Certain dogs tend to be very eager to please and engaged with their owners while others hold back and respond more mildly. For rewards, some like food and treats while others respond to praise. Some pets work better with verbal commands versus hand signals. By spending plenty of time observing behavior and reaction, you can determine what works best in your situation.

It is important to establish yourself as the pack leader or authority in your home. In a natural environment, dogs look to the pack leader for guidance and direction. It is a position of dominance, but should not be established by negative means. Speak with authoritative tones. Since you are in charge of the food supply, this is a good way to show you are in charge. Set a regular schedule of feeding and stick to it.

Good behavior is more effectively reinforced by positive feedback. Recognize those times when your dog exhibits good behavior by generously rewarding and praising him. When he does something bad, ignore the behavior rather than yelling or punishing. This is best way for your dog to learn what actions get rewards compared to actions that get nothing.

Anger and negative punishment are ineffective teaching methods and do little besides alienate your pet. It is not acceptable to beat or strike an animal. This type of reinforcement causes the dog to view you as an adversary. Not only does a positive approach result in more training success, but it also helps build a strong and long lasting bond between you and your dog.

Keep in mind that learning commands may take longer than you first expect. Set small goals at first which are easy to achieve. Try various techniques to see what works best for your pet. Unrealistic goals, like expecting the dog to learn something in one or two sessions, result in frustration for both of you. Start small, by teaching a simple sit or down command, then work toward more advanced commands over time.

Timing is important. When you see your dog starting to exhibit bad behavior, address it immediately. The same is true when you see him do the correct thing. Reward or praise him immediately. Dogs will not understand if scolding or praise happens after the fact. If you return home and your shoe has been chewed, getting angry and scolding has little effect because the bad behavior probably happened hours ago. Dogs will cower and act guilty due to your negative language, but they are not able to connect your scolding with the activity that prompted it. This situation mainly confuses them.

Keep in mind that consistency and patience are crucial for successful dog training London Ontario. Set a regular schedule for all your pet's activities. Use the same hand signals and verbal commands each time. Using the concepts discussed here can lead to a great program to train your dog.




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