One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to be sure to never discipline your dog for bad behavior when he is ill. This will only confuse your dog and might cause him to not respond to discipline in the future. Examples of this would be, if your dog vomits or defecates in a manner that is not typical to his normal behavior.
Remember that training your dog to do tricks should not only be fun for you, but fun for your dog as well. Don't force her to learn tricks if she is not having fun learning them. You will be able to tell if she is enjoying them by gauging her pleasure from your praise after she successfully completes a trick.
Don't force your dog to go into his crate. Instead, profusely praise him when he enters his crate on his own. Young puppies, in particular, might be somewhat afraid of the crate when it is first introduced. If you force them to enter it their fear might turn into terror. Their natural curiosity will eventually override their fear.
When house training your new puppy you need to follow a strict schedule. Get your puppy outside to eliminate first thing in the morning, last thing at night, and every couple of hours in between. This will help him to learn that elimination happens outside. It also prevents pee scents (which are attractive to your dog) from being in the house to begin with.
Start training your puppy as soon as possible. When you bring your new puppy home, it's never too soon to start training. The first thing you should do is take him outside and let him know where he should use the bathroom. Do this after every meal. Try to keep potty training pretty short to begin with - no longer than 5 minutes at a time.
Try not to repeat commands. It is human nature to repeat a word or in this case, command when we're frustrated. However, repeating yourself around your dog will get you nowhere. Every time a command is repeated, your dog learns that listening to you is optional. Be firm with commands and be stubborn by waiting him out.
Calling your dog over to you then punishing him will teach him to fear you. Telling him he was bad or did wrong from a few feet away will definitely get your point across and the dog will understand your meaning without feeling threatened by you. Keep in mind the dog wants your approval and that alone will motivate him to do well.
Never punish your puppy for bad behavior. A puppy doesn't know when it's behaving badly - it's up to you to let it know. But never use punishment, as this can cause the puppy to become fearful and resentful of you. Instead, firmly tell your puppy when they have misbehaved, and only react strongly to positive actions by giving a lot of praise or maybe a small treat for good behavior.
Before you begin training your dog, make sure that his diet is the best it can be. Just as humans can feel lazy after eating junk food, a poor diet for your dog will affect his behavior. A healthy moderate diet will give him energy and concentration to learn what you are teaching him in training.
When looking to hire a dog trainer, finding someone who uses positive training techniques can be very beneficial. Your dog will respond better to praises, treats, and encouragement than to physical or mental agitation. Negative training methods can be very ineffective and cause harm to the animal as well.
Get in the habit of only giving your dog a direct command one time. It will seem easy to just repeat it over and over until he responds, but don't do that. Instead, revisit the training until your dog understands that you expect him to react the first time you say something.
It has been said that dog training is an important part of providing for your dog. By reading this article and taking action, you can create a happier and well-behaved dog. He will be happier because he understands what you want him to do. You will be happier because he knows what you expect.