To understand the behavior of a pet, you need to remember a few rules. They will help you train your dog in the near future. Training a dog and understanding its behavior can become more effective. To do this, the puppy must see you as a leader to look up to. Therefore, to achieve this goal, you do not need to try to “suppress the character” of the dog. And you should try to predict her behavioral reaction to any actions on your part. But in order to properly start training a dog, you need to correctly assess the capabilities of the baby. Very often people make a similar mistake, trying to “humanize” their ward. This approach is fundamentally wrong. After all, the puppy is still small and it is difficult for him to perceive and analyze information and commands. You need to start with the simplest.
To train a dog means to make contact.
To start training a dog as a puppy, it is very important to establish contact with it. As early as possible, you should teach your puppy to receive various rewards. It can be a treat, affection or praise for performing certain actions. Strengthen the contact of walking and feeding. You have to be kind and fair to him.
With good contact, the puppy is happy to see you when you come. He tries to follow you everywhere, does not avoid hands and is not afraid when you raise your voice. If such contact is established, then it will be much easier to train the dog. In the initial training, try to engage with the puppy playfully, with encouragement, without punishment.
Dog Training 101: How to Train ANY DOG the Basics
Trust and consistency.
The dog’s trust in you arises when you yourself are quite predictable and consistent. When training, it is important to be consistent in your actions. It is categorically unacceptable to train a dog without this. This means that if something is impossible today, it is impossible always!
For example, if you give pieces from your table today today, and tomorrow you will drive it away, then he will not understand you. Or you allow the puppy to jump on you. And tomorrow you will be in a ceremonial suit and he will get a thrashing for this. What trust can we talk about then? Yes, in the future you will sometimes have to prohibit what was previously allowed. But you can’t punish for it. It is better to distract the puppy with a toy. Evaluate opportunities and atmosphere. And try not to submit the command if you are not sure that the puppy will execute it.
Individual approach.
An individual approach is no less important, taking into account the temperament and the features of the nervous system of the puppy. For large breeds with a strong nervous system, more rigid, persistent training is permissible. If the nervous system is weak, then give the puppy more affection and rewards. After all, the dogs are all different. It is difficult to determine the type of nervous system of a small puppy. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at adult dogs of the same breed.
Dependence on the breed.
There are easily excitable breeds (for example, Dobermans), they are easily trained in new commands. But with endurance and complex commands they have problems. Slow, phlegmatic dogs (mastiffs) are studying for a long time, but they develop persistent reflexes. They remember the commands for almost a lifetime.
There are independent and independent breeds (Caucasian shepherd, Alabai, some hunting breeds, chau-chau). To train a dog prone to make independent decisions, you need a lot of experience. You must be patient, strict, understanding the essence of the psyche of the dog. With excessive severity, they become stubborn, with excessive softness “sit on the neck”.
Age factor.
It is necessary to take into account the age of the puppies. Their nervous system is weaker than in adult dogs. And therefore, you need to handle them as with dogs with a weak nervous system. You can start training the simplest commands from two months. In the period up to one year, training is most effective. Although, and this is not at all unfounded, it is believed that you need to start training the dog as soon as possible. This is especially true for those dogs that are preparing for future sports.
Duration of classes.
Lessons with a puppy should last no more than 20 minutes. For one lesson, 5-6 repetitions with an interval of several minutes. And you need to look at the dog. If the puppy performs the command reluctantly, then he is tired. The break between classes should be at least two hours. We teach only one command per session. But you need to train your dog every day. As they grow older, the time of classes increases to 30-40 minutes, and then up to an hour and a half.
Where should you train your dog?
Start training your dog at home, where there are no distractions. Change the place, time and order of classes. It is necessary to train a puppy according to the principle “from simple to complex”. You can change the terms later. In the yard, on the dog playground, at different times of the day, in different weather, except for rain and extreme cold. Then you can train the dog in a park or in a forest where there are few people and no cars. And only then work out all the skills on a noisy street. At the same time, there is no need to rush. It is possible and necessary to change the situation and tighten conditions. But only when the acquired skill is firmly fixed in gentle conditions. When the command is executed flawlessly the first time.
Weather.
When training a puppy, weather conditions should be taken into account. Up to three months in cold and rainy weather, you should not train a dog on the street. A small puppy will be cold and uncomfortable. His little body will work for heating. And he will not think well what they want from him, the first impression of the classes will be spoiled. And to train a dog – the process should bring pleasure to both the dog and the owner.
So, after six months, you can complicate classes with different weather conditions. Exercise at a temperature not lower than-15 and not higher than +20 degrees, without heavy rain. In the future, an adult dog must follow commands in any weather and in any situation.
Teaching a puppy to a nickname.
This is the very first thing you need to do in order to train your dog in the future. When accustoming a puppy to a nickname, you need to pronounce it affectionately, accompanying it with stroking and giving it a treat. Also repeat the nickname when you carry a bowl of food to feed him. Every time you affectionately pronounce the nickname if the puppy runs up to you to play. This is where you need to start training your dog at home. The nickname for the dog is the conditional meaning of the “Attention! ” signal. It should be short, sonorous, with a clear ending.
Train your dog on a collar.
Acquaintance with the collar of the puppy should take place as early as possible. This does not mean that you should immediately put a collar on it by force. Buy a collar in size, such that the baby is not afraid of its size and brightness of jewelry. Of course, at first he will be frightened by such an “insult”. But over time, the puppy will get used to the collar.
First you need to give the puppy to sniff a collar, get acquainted with it. Then, affectionately pronouncing his nickname, put on a collar on him and take him a game. After 3-5 minutes, remove the collar, praise and give a treat. So do several times, gradually increasing the time of being in it. If you put on a collar before meals or a walk, then the puppy will associate it with pleasant events. And he will wait for the collar to be put on him.
You should ensure that the collar is not very tight or too free. Under the right collar on an adult dog, 2 fingers freely pass. It is desirable to train a dog in a collar.
Tarling the dog to the leash.
Then the puppy is accustomed to the free movement on the leash. This element also needs to begin to train a dog at home. Initially, the leash is attached at home for a short time, with encouragement. After a few days you can take a puppy on a leash. If the puppy is resisted, it must be distracted by the gamen with him a little and give a delicacy. You can not at first make sharp jerks with a leash and greatly limit the movements of the puppy. You can’t let the puppy to play with a leash, bite it. Replace it with a toy. Soon, the leash will be a signal for a walk for the puppy. Games with a pet during a walk will help to quickly accustom him to a leash.
To teach a dog to a muzzle.
To accustom a puppy to wear a muzzle from 5-6 months for large breeds, and from 7-8 for decorative. This should happen gradually. The main task is to associate a muzzle with positive emotions.
To familiarize the dog with the muzzle, you should also start training the dog at home and in a relaxed environment. Let me get acquainted with the novelty, sniff it, but stop trying to nibble it. When the muzzle ceases to interest the puppy, put a treat in it. So that it can be reached only by sticking the muzzle inside. When the puppy gets used to it, start fixing the muzzle on the muzzle. First for a short period of time, then gradually increase the interval. And continue to actively praise and reward with a treat after removal. You can also associate the muzzle with a favorite activity, such as walking. First, just demonstrate it before going out. Then put on at home during the training camp, also gradually increasing the time of wearing.
At some point, you can’t avoid protest. The pet may try to remove the muzzle with its paws or start to crawl its muzzle on the ground. There is no need to immediately resort to punishment. Try to distract the dog, calm it down. But in case of an excessively violent reaction – strictly pull up. Wait a few seconds and remove the muzzle, returning to the accustoming one step back. Remember – more tolerance at the initial stage of training. After all, visiting public transport without a muzzle is strictly prohibited. Of course, on walks you can avoid this “unpleasant” subject. But it is better to take courses on raising a dog from a qualified dog handler. So that the dog learns without restrictions not to pick up anything on the street and not to frighten passers-by.
Teaching the command “Come! “.
The command “Come” should also be performed from an early age. First you need to prepare in advance. Initially, lightly pull the puppy on the leash, repeating the command. Don’t expect the puppy to learn in two or three days what the owner wants from him. Be patient, rewarding your dog with a small treat each time. Then you should proceed directly to training, already without a leash.
Take a treat in your hand. Say the puppy’s name. When he pays attention to you, command “Come! ” and show treats. When the puppy runs up to you, sit him down, praise him and give him a treat. If he reluctantly and slowly approaches you, take a few steps away from him. And again give the command, showing a treat. For better assimilation, start on a leash to avoid repeating the command. Instead of repeating, just give the leash a little tug and show off the treat. For one lesson, repeat the command 5-6 times, with breaks. In dogs of hunting breeds, training may take longer.
It is necessary to train the dog so much in order to pronounce the command only once.
How to train a dog to sit “sit”.
The “sit” command is also important. It is not difficult to train a dog for this command. To begin with, the puppy must be made to understand what is required of it. That is, he needs to connect your command with his actions. For example, we give the command “Sit! ”, Click on the cereals and show him a treat, lifting him above the puppy’s head. Instinctively, the puppy will sit down and get a piece for this.
In the future, he will understand that on the command “sit! “You need to sit down soon. And then get a treat. Then the command is worked out to automatism. Next, they teach the puppy to maintain an exposure, perform it at a distance, in motion, along the gesture.
Puppy of German long-haired shepherd
Training every day for half an hour, in a week your pet will give out brilliant results, rejoicing himself and giving pleasure to his owner.
To continue to train a dog, it is best to sign up for training courses. And engage in the guidance of an experienced instructor. Then it will be possible to immediately decide on the right type of training. The instructor will teach you how to control the dog, understand it, will help you in difficult situations, will be your assistant. Of course, you can train the dog yourself, unless you have experience and you know how to do it. Otherwise, you can make such errors that will then be difficult or impossible to fix.
Contents
- To train a dog means to make contact.
- Dog Training 101: How to Train ANY DOG the Basics
- Trust and consistency.
- Individual approach.
- Dependence on the breed.
- Age factor.
- Duration of classes.
- Where should you train your dog?
- Weather.
- Teaching a puppy to a nickname.
- Train your dog on a collar.
- Tarling the dog to the leash.
- To teach a dog to a muzzle.
- Teaching the command “Come! “.
- How to train a dog to sit “sit”.
