Tried And Tested Dog Training Methods   by Sandy Rutherforde

in Family / Pets    (submitted 2012-01-31)

Training a dog is one of those skills that seems very simple, but never seems to go right when amateurs attempt it in their own home. The most common problem pet owners make when it comes to dog training is that they forget that each and every animal has its own personality and its own likes and dislikes - just like humans. You cannot train a dog by working from a book and then get demoralized when these dog training methods do not seem to work.

Use the following tried and tested dog training methods; some will work with one dog and not with another. Methods involving treats will need to be adapted to involve something that your pet actually likes. And the most important thing to remember when training any animal is to have patience. They do not understand why you are shouting at them when they do something wrong and in the same way that shouting at children can be counterproductive, shouting is only likely to get dogs over-excited and unwilling to respond to commands.

One of the most widely used methods is to use positive physical contact when your pet follows an instruction correctly. No matter how smart an owner thinks their animal is, a dog does not understand the words "good dog." He does, however, understand that lots of attention and patting is a pleasant experience, and he will eventually begin to associate that with the positive language commands that owners use.

Sometimes that love of attention can cause problems for owners who have not employed dog training methods properly. A vicious circle can start to form, where the owner only seems to pay attention to their pet when they do something bad, such as run off with the newspaper. So the dog will continue with that behavior because it is the only way they get the attention that they crave, almost like a naughty child playing up to get mom and dad's attention. Always make sure that you only reinforce positive behavior with contact and attention, and ignore the animal when he is doing something he should not be doing.

Dog toys can be an excellent aid in training, but make sure that the animal does not have access to his playthings all the time, or their effectiveness when it comes to training will be reduced. Some owners spend a fortune on fancy toys for their pooches, only to find that their pet is more entertained by a length of rope or an empty box. Make sure your pet's collection is a good mix of toys that he can play with by himself and those that you play with together.

Finally, all dog training should be fun for you and your pet. If either owner or animal is becoming distressed during training sessions then something is wrong, and it is perhaps time to try another method. Even if the dog needs to be disciplined during a training session or while out working, always make sure it is followed with positive praise and perhaps a treat; there is no point in having a perfectly behaved pet if he is afraid to be around his owner.

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Are you looking for tips to more effectively train your dog? Be sure to visit Dog Training Answers for puppy training tips and dog training methods.