Simple Dog Training Really Is Possible

If you're thinking you want to start training your dog properly, but aren't sure how, then you're in the right place. The thing about proper dog training is that the more you know, the more you can use towards training your dog. Take note from this article and see what information applies to you and your dog.

When you are approaching an unfamiliar dog, be sure to approach slowly and offer the dog the back of your hand to sniff. This allows the dog to get used to your scent and makes him much more likely to trust you. Once the dog recognizes your scent, he will not be afraid of you and will be more likely to follow your commands.

A good plan when training your dog is to keep your sessions short. When you have multiple, short sessions of training, as opposed to one long set, your dog will stay interested and will anticipate more. Keeping your pet motivated by short interval sessions will be effective and have a stronger impact.

If you have problems with your dog digging in your garden, next year, try burying chicken wire in the ground before you plant your crops. Finding chicken wire when he digs can be unappealing to your dog and may entice him to find another outdoor activity, instead of digging up your plants.

If there is a behavior you'd like your dog to be able to do on command, make sure you praise him whenever he offers this behavior. This works well for tricks that you are actively teaching, as well as actions that he does naturally. For instance, if you think it would be fun to teach your dog to sneeze whenever you ask, simply say, "Sneeze," and treat him whenever he does sneeze. Sooner or later, he will learn the association between the word "sneeze," the action of sneezing, and the reward.

Your dog should know how to "sit" like he knows the back of his paw! The "sit" command is useful for a multitude of reasons, and is a behavior that can be built upon. Use a "sit" gesture that is intuitive for his body - in other words, he should always be looking up at your hand, which will help him sit instinctively.

When you are dealing with a barking problem, consider making a "safe space" for your dog to occupy when a guest visits. This helps anxious dogs by giving them a small territory of their own, and also keeps them calm during an otherwise exciting time. After introducing the space and training the dog to go to it, reinforce this behavior with new guests around.

One tip to keep in mind when training your dog is to stop your dog during the behavior you want to change. This is important to ensure that your dog knows when to stop a certain action and what to replace it with. An example would be to never allow it to jump on anyone, and always discipline and correct the dog mid-action.

Hopefully, after reading this article, you're feeling like you can start forming some good strategies towards training your dog. Remember that the information in this article isn't all there is to know about dog training, so be sure to always be on the lookout for new information to apply towards your training regime.