Dog Gone Doggies

Dogs are considered to be man's best friend and having a dog as a pet is proven to help owners be happy and live longer. In addition to companionship, dogs can prove helpful, but only if they are trained appropriately. Whether you want to train a dog simply for obedience or for a specific function, read on for some tips.

Remember that you must respect your dog's boundaries. The fact is that you cannot change a dog from being a dog. Your dog does not speak English, and you cannot rationalize his behavior with him. Some dogs will have issues so severe that you can only minimize the impact of the issue on their lives. Consult with a trainer about your dog's specific limitations, and what you can reasonably expect.

Pay careful attention to your timing as you train your dog. It is much more effective to correct him just before he has misbehaved rather than after; if you are able to catch him while he is still thinking about what he should do, your redirection is much more likely to have a lasting impact.

Be consistent when you're training your dog. Your dog doesn't understand what your praises mean. Pick one form of praise to use such as: "Good Girl" or "Well Done" and use the same phrase every single time. This will teach your dog that you are praising him or her, and when your dog hears the chosen phrase, he or she will understand it is a compliment.

Some dogs have enormous reserves of energy that can cause the dog to act crazy through out the day. For dogs like this a fenced in yard or electric collar fence can be a useful tool to allow the dog to run around in a contained area. The dog will have more exercise and be more relaxed when it comes inside.

Focus on your body language when training. Dogs respond much easier to non-verbal cues. Pay attention to how they respond to different actions and facial expressions that you make to learn what affect they have on them. Keep your words short and too the point and reinforce it with bodily actions.

Consider hiring someone to help you train your dog. Just like playing a sport, pet training is a skill that takes time to develop. Everyone has their own style, and it may be that the way you are interacting with your pet is not quite working. Another person can help you see how to tweak your training sessions to make them a better fit for you and your pet.

Train you small furry friend to get along with other dogs! Small dogs need socializing too! Many small dog owners forget that their dogs need exercise and social time just like large dogs. Small breed puppies should be socialized early, so they become comfortable with many sizes and temperaments of dogs. Furthermore, they should become comfortable with walking outdoors at an early age.

Be aware that you are not going to have a perfectly trained dog overnight. Changing behaviors is a lengthy process that will involve a lot of successes and a lot of setbacks. If you are not training from a puppy, the process can take even longer as your dog will need to both unlearn bad behaviors and learn new ones. Be patient and you'll start to see results.

Teach your dog to smile! Dogs sometimes bare their teeth not just when they are being aggressive but also when they are excited and happy. You can reinforce that behavior by repeating the command "smile" every time they behave in that manner. Just make sure people that they are around realize they aren't being aggressive.

Find a suitable trainer. Ask your vet, other dog owners, or a local shelter or rescue organization for recommendations. Also, check out the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, which has a list of approved instructors on their website. When finding an instructor for your dog, be sure to sit in on one of their classes. If the dogs in the class seem to be happy, then it's a good sign.

As was alluded to earlier, dogs are great companions, either as simple pets or for specific uses. Now that you have read this article, you know a few things about training your dog to do the things you want but not other things you don't. Keep these tips in mind and make your pet relationship a happy one