Did you recently have your adorable young puppy or rescue dog and are new to pet parenthood? You must understand that training is an essential part of pet ownership. Training enhances the human-animal bond and provides psychological stimulation and confidence to canines. Dog training comes with many more surprising advantages. But before you begin training your puppy, we’ll discuss the basics of doing it to make your sessions less stressful and more productive.
Dog Training Basics
Training a dog or young pup may be annoying and challenging. However, you must overcome this to improve your pet’s safety and ensure they develop good behavior. Below are five pet training guidelines you must know to maintain smooth-sailing training sessions and keep problems to a minimum.
1. Be consistent
Consistency in dog training is necessary. This includes regularly using the same word, intonations, and skills they’re good at. It’s also essential for your household to know that your pet is being trained. Dogs need consistency when learning new behaviors, so if you never allow your pet on your bed or couch, but your partner does, your canine will only get confused.
One way to avoid this is by taking professional courses focusing on effective dog training in Brantford. Your pet will learn proper behavior, and you’ll be comfortable taking them anywhere without feeling embarrassed about their attitude.
2. Allot an area for training sessions
Pick a spot in your home or yard that your pup can associate with training time. It must be a safe, distraction-free zone and a dog-proofed area with enough space for your pet to move freely.
3. Maintain short sessions
Most dogs do not have a long attention period, so keeping training sessions short is ideal. Maintain a 15-20 minute training session where your furry companion can learn single or several skills. Try teaching a skill in repetitions before shifting to another set. The short sessions can mix new and old skills you’ve already taught your canine.
Make sure to end the sessions well by making your pet do the tricks they’re good at. Need help knowing where and how to start training your canine? You can give puppy group classes a try to understand how it’s done correctly and expertly.
4. Train them to come upon your command
” Come” should be one of the first basic commands your furry buddy needs to master. Always call them by their name when saying the command, then follow it with positive reinforcement techniques such as a tasty treat or praise. When your pet grows and continues to learn, try getting them to come in cases where their attention is elsewhere. Train them to respond even if something more interesting than you have their attention.
Want to have some fun with your four-legged buddy? Try engaging your pet with dog agility courses. Not only will they enjoy the fast-paced course, but they’ll also benefit from exercising and burning some energy.
5. Reward them with treats, praise, or affection
Rewarding good behavior with positive reinforcement is vital to get your fur buddy to behave well during training. Whether it’s a toy, treat, pat on their head, scratch in their favorite spot, or belly rubs, your pet will greatly appreciate being awarded when they do the trick right.