Everyone wants a well behaved dog that is easily controlled. People will spend hundreds of dollars on trainers, but trust me you can train your dog too. In fact it’s better if you do, your dog will form a stronger bond you and your family. Just remember a few key dos and don’ts and you will be happy with the results.
Dos:
Encouragement!
Encourage your new dog whenever he/she does something you want the way you want it done. Be consistent, there are no bad dogs just confused dogs. Pay attention to what the dog is doing right before and while you are praising her/him. Be careful not to praise while the dog is doing something undesirable. For example if the dog is barking do not pet him/her in an attempt to sooth. This will only confuse the dog into thinking that she/he should bark. Remember your attention it the most valuable training tool.
Bond!
It is important to trust you dog but it is also equally important for your dog to trust you. When there is mutual trust training will be much more efficient. A few ways to bond with your dog are walking, playing, training, and controlling meal time. Make sure you are in control of your dog’s food. You should be able to take any food item away at anytime. While your dog is a puppy you should get him/her used to their food being taken away by every member of the family. Also having a feeding schedule is best as well as not leaving food bowls on the floor.
Socialize!
If you want a friendly dog, introduce him/her to many people and others dogs at a young age. Them more a puppy is exposed to the more confident he/she will be as an adult, which means a warm welcoming personality and attitude. Also they will be more comfortable with and open to new experiences in adulthood. Remember to encourage and praise them when they act appropriately meeting new people and dogs. You can do this with a combination of treats and attention.
Things to avoid:
Punishment
Harsh punishments will not help train your dog, so don’t do it. Actually punishments are usually what create those bad behaviors. If the dog has an accident in the house clean it up and go about your regular business. Hitting, putting the dog outside, or rubbing their nose in it will not get you the results you want. The dog won’t understand that you want them to do that outside. For example if you were coloring a picture and some angry person speaking a foreign language ran at you screaming and slapped your hand would you automatically assume that person wanted you to color in a different room? No, you wouldn’t. You would probably assume that you were not allowed to color at all and it’s the same with dogs. Some dogs are so loyal that they will eat their own feces in an attempt to please you.
Inconsistent Training
Make sure that everyone in the family is using the same commands and knows when the dog is fed. Inconsistent training will produce an inconsistent dog.