Why Physical Dog Obedience Training Will Get You Nowhere
While no one wants a dog that is aggressive, wild and out of control, you have to be careful with how you train the dog. There are certain methods of dog obedience training that will do nothing but harm. Unlike what some may think, physical obedience is going to accomplish nothing but place further fear into your dog’s eyes.
There is no need to hit your dog regardless of how badly they have acted. You never want to hit, spank or kick your dog no matter what the situation is. The only time you should come in contact with them is to pet them, stroke them and give them love and care.
Obviously the reason people hit their pets is to get their point across while releasing any anger or frustration. However, all this will do is teach your dog to shy away and fear you whenever your hand rises. In addition, you may get the opposite effect and your dog may begin to snap back at you for protection.
Of course, dogs cannot tell you to stop or say they are sorry. For this reason, their only response to physical dog obedience training is shying away or stepping up. You cannot blame an innocent animal no matter what they did. Peeing on the carpet, knocking over the trash can, or tearing apart shoes does not deserve a slap or kick.
Instead of being physical, you are much better expressing your anger through tone of voice. With the correct tone of voice, you can stop a dog from doing whatever it is they have done. They are far more likely to get the message and learn from your displeasure if you use your words.
You have to remember that you are the leader and a dog respects someone that will treat them as a child. If you really want your dog to listen and learn, it is up to you to act responsibly and voice your emotions as opposed to spanking or hitting them.
The last thing to keep in mind if you are going to train your dog properly is to use a solid and steady tone rather than yelling at them. Emotional abuse can be just as harmful as physical abuse. For this reason, make sure you have a point to what you are saying and you get your point across in a subtle manner.
The only type of physical contact you should ever have with your dog is love and care. No matter how angry you are with them regardless of what they have done, you will get nowhere with physical abuse.
Why Crate Training Is So Important To Training A Dog
There are several vital things you will want to do with your dog when first getting it. You will want to socialize them, begin basic training, and simply introduce them to your home. Something else that is extremely important to training a dog is practicing crate training.
This is one of the most effective ways you will introduce your puppy or dog to the new home. The reason this is so efficient is because it uses the natural instinct of the dog to achieve what you are hoping to accomplish rather than you forcing them to do something.
In order to get the best results from crate training a dog, you need to get into a good routine. Having a routine to follow will help the dog learn when it needs to go to the bathroom while avoiding going in the wrong places.
Throughout the process, it is vital you praise your dog every time they go to the bathroom at the right time in the right spot. This will help them understand they have done a good job which will lead to them doing it the right way every time.
The idea behind crate training is to confine them when they are unsupervised. You will want to place them in their crate whenever you leave the house or at night when you are sleeping. As soon as you return home or wake up, you want to immediately remove them and take the outside to go to the bathroom.
Leaving a dog in its crate for too long of a period can lead to them going to the bathroom in their crate. After all, they cannot hold it forever. You want to use the crate as a tool to train them, not to abuse them by leaving them in it forever. Leaving them in too long will certainly be a setback.
Another tip to get results out of your crate training is to associate pleasant rewards and good things with good behavior. If you provide them with a treat or a toy after they have gone to the bathroom in the right spot, they will learn that good things come from going to the bathroom at the right time in the right place.
You have to understand that you are going to deal with accidents in the beginning phases as it takes time for them to learn. Make sure you do not punish them too harshly, but firmly let them know what they did was bad. This way they learn but do not become afraid of what you will do to harm them. Just understand that crate training is an extremely effective way to go about training a dog.
Tips To Help With Potty Training Your Dog
No matter what kind of dog you have, one of the most difficult tasks you will be faced with is potty training your dog. As with kids, it takes time to potty train your dog and help them learn where the appropriate place to go to the bathroom is. If you are going to have any luck at all, you have to start by taking them out frequently.
When first getting your puppy or new dog, you want to get in the habit of taking them outside as much as possible. This will help them learn that outside is where they go to the bathroom. Instead of just going inside, they will quickly realize where the appropriate place to go to the bathroom is.
Although we all wish our puppies could hold it for an eight hour period, the fact of the matter is they cannot. It is up to you to keep an eye on your puppy as all it takes is a few seconds for them to do their business. By watching any warning signs or hints that they may need to go outside, you will be able to stop them before they go.
It is important you do not vary their diet while potty training your dog. This will create a change in their system which will ultimately fluctuate their bathroom cycle. Maintaining a consistent diet will help them get used to the food they are eating allowing their stomach to properly digest the food.
Although every parent wants to give their little puppy treats for being cute, make sure you are only giving them treats for going into the crate. Too many treats will mess with their diet as well. For this reason, keep your treat-giving to a minimum.
Something that many people do not do is associate their dog with the words “go outside.” It is imperative you take your dog on walks to give them more exercise. Every time you are going to take them for a walk, you want to ask them if they want to go outside. In addition, learn to say this every time you let them out to go to the bathroom. This will help them realize it is time to go to the bathroom.
The last tip to help you with potty training your dog is praising them every time they do go outside. Reinforcing good behavior will help them realize where the appropriate place to go to the bathroom is. Punish them for going inside and praise them when they alert you that they need to go outside.
Carolin Shadler’s Blog
