Author: Kenny Johnson
Nothing is more wonderful than getting a new and furry family member. Taking care of a dog is quite a huge responsibility. There are a lot of things you need to look after including their grooming, feeding, and activities. The most important thing to look at is their training. Dogs need to be trained early in order to make it more effective. As a new dog owner, training might be a completely new concept for you. You might be overwhelmed by all of the information out there on the internet. We have curated a list of the best training tips and techniques to help you get an obedient dog in no time.
Start using dog obedience tricks
You can choose to go for a dog training class, or even hire a professional to help you train your dog. If you want to train your dog by yourself, it can be a better option. Self-training helps create a better bond with your dog and helps you cut down on costs. If you decide to do this, remember to gather up some equipment, learn a few things about training, and set up a schedule. You need to be ready for a regular commitment if you want to effectively train your dog.
Use clicker training
One of the most effective forms of obedience training is clicker training. This is quite a simple method, but don’t let that fool you. It is a great way of training your dog and has shown a lot of effectiveness in numerous studies. For this, you need a clicker, which is usually made up of a metal strip and a plastic box.
This ‘click’ is actually faster and better than you saying ‘good dog’, or even just training your dog with the help of treats. A treat should be given immediately after clicking in order to make your dog associate the treats with clicks. Once the dog learns this, the sound of the clicker will be a conditioned reinforcer of their good behavior.
Use positive reinforcement
One of the best methods to help you train your dog quickly is to use positive reinforcement. Punishment is not always an effective way of obedience training since your dog might not even know what they did wrong. Positive reinforcement in the form of treats such as jerky for dogs, and praise in the form of words and affection can go a long way. This can also strengthen your bond with your dog if used correctly. Just make sure not to overdo it, or it will lose its efficacy.
Use games to make training fun
Training does not have to be boring all the time. Dogs usually have a natural instinct to catch and fetch. Using soft toys for a game of fetch can help mentally stimulate your dog, get them some exercise, and can also be used for training purposes. You can teach your dog to sit, let go of the ball, and stay till you give the command to move.
Training your dog is quite important. This is an ongoing process that can never be truly finished. You can always teach your dog a lot more. Remember to keep working on this for their whole lives.
