Dog Pound

Repetition, consistency, practice and correction are what it takes to train a dog to be happy and responsive. If you follow these simple steps you will find that your puppy can grow into an obedient well-adjusted dog.

Gentle training should begin the moment you take your puppy home.

Repetition
It is amazingly important to be consistent and repetitious with the training. Failure to be repetitious will prevent the dog from remembering the lessons.

Always give the commands the same way, and do it often until it has been learned and remembered. Once a pup has mastered a command reinforce the command by using it consistently and repetitiously.

Consistency
Use consistency in commands. Failure to be consistent will prevent the dog from learning the appropriate cues. Always use the same command when requesting a dog behave in a certain way. Give the dog the command once, not twice or three times. You do not need to repeat the command. Give it once, and if the dog fails to obey then correct. The dog should not optionally obey commands. If you give your dog a command make sure they follow it, or correct them immediately.

Use verbal cues to make the dog understand. When correcting bad behavior, make sure the dog knows you are unhappy with their behavior. Be loud and let the anger be evident in your voice. When giving a command, do it authoritatively. When praising your dog, let the happiness come through.

Be consistent with your expectations. For example when toilet training your puppy you should always take him to the same spot in the garden so that he eventually recognizes that this is the spot he should use to relieve himself. He will also recognize that this "surface" is an okay surface to soil. Consistently reward the puppy when he sits but never reward him when he jumps up on your legs. Otherwise your visitors will struggle every time they come to visit.

Practice
Practice frequently, and in different places so that your dog learns that commands always apply, regardless of location or distractions. Practice, every day, several times a day. Just like when you learn something, frequent practice for short periods are much better than infrequent long study sessions.

Correction
It is important to consistently correct bad behavior. To stop any undesired behavior that the dog has learned use your voice. One of the most crucial dog training tips is to never use physical punishment and never reprimand your dog for not performing correctly.

Submissive urination: Some pets will squat and urinate as they are greeted by friends and family. Never scold them for this. The problem is typically due to nervousness or excitement, and scolding will make the problem worse. If your puppy does this, instruct people not to be overly excited and not to pet the puppy when greeted. Also, do not bend over the puppy as this triggers the puppy to signal submission to you by urinating. If problems persist, you should consult your local animal trainer or vet.

Always end training on a good note and Finish the training with an obedient dog. This will make training more fun for both you and your dog, and it will reinforce that good behavior is rewarded.

In addition to training your puppy at home consider enrolling in a local puppy obedience class. Puppy School is an excellent inclusion to a training schedule. It helps with initial training and will help socialize new puppies.

About the Author
Francesca Black works in marketing for Dog Pound http://www.dog-pound.net and Horse Stall http://www.horse-stall.net leading portals for pet management.