With so much information about dog and puppy training out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Our Okemos, MI, professional dog trainers have years of experience and can let you know the right and wrong .
Here’s what you need to know before embarking on your journey.
DON’T: Try to Do Too Much.
When training a dog, it’s best to focus on one or two commands at a time. Too many commands at once will confuse your dog and make the learning process much harder. Focus on the command that’s most important to you at first before branching out later.
Do: Be Consistent.
If you’re not training your dog regularly, they’ll quickly forget what they’ve learned. Any training you do must be regularly practiced and reinforced until it’s second nature to your dog. Aim to practice your training several times a day in short intervals (about 5-15 minutes.) Any longer than that and your dog will find it hard to focus.
Don’t worry, if you take advantage of our dog boarding services, we’ll be sure that your pet gets exercise and follows a similar routine to what’s been taught at home.
DON’T: Scare Your Dog.
When you’re frustrated with your dog’s behavior, your first instinct might be to yell. Many people also mistakenly think that swatting their dog is an appropriate way to punish them. However, you need to avoid these behaviors if you want to cultivate a happy, healthy relationship with your dog.
In addition, associating negative emotions such as fear with the dog training process will make your pet less receptive to training in the future. If you make training enjoyable, your dog will learn faster.
Do: Reward Good Behavior.
Positive reinforcement is a highly effective tool when it comes to training a dog, as treats and praise are great motivation for your furry friend. Rewarding good behavior is the best way to ensure it continues.
DON’T: Allow Misbehavior.
It can be exhausting to constantly redirect your dog’s behavior when they do something you’ve trained them not to do, like hopping up on the couch. However, allowing problem behaviors sometimes while cracking down at other times will only confuse your dog and make the behavior worse.
If you’re to stop a certain behavior, you can never allow them to perform that behavior. Allowing your dog to bark or jump on the furniture sometimes will make them think it’s okay to do that all the time, and they won’t understand what they’re doing wrong when you tell them “no” later.
Do: Ask for Help.
Some dogs are more resistant to training than others. If you need help, our professional dog training classes can show you what to do. Professional dog training can teach you and your dog the skills you both need to enforce proper behaviors both in and out of class.
Looking for Professional Dog Training?
Even the most diligent dog owner can benefit from professional dog training. Our , are designed to help you see your dog be on their best behavior for life. For more information, contact us online or call (517) 657-4300 today.
This blog post has been updated.