10 Proven Puppy and Dog Training Methods for Good Behavior

Hello. In this article we are going to show you 10 good and proven dog training methods that will help you in raising and training your dog. You should learn your dog how to behave in different situations, you can’t just expect good behaviour from your dog. So, let’s start…

1. Jumping

Stop jumping dog

It is not the least bit uncommon for your dog to want to jump up on you. This is his way of saying he loves you and wants attention. However, you need to let him know immediately that this is not a way to do so. This being said, you must remember that negative attention such as yelling and pushing away are still forms of attention, and your dog may not be able to distinguish this from positive attention. So, the best thing you can do is simply turn and walk away, ignoring your dog’s attempts. Instead, teach him to sit when he approaches you, and reward him once seated. Unless you teach your dog not to jump, he will continue to think it is appropriate behavior.

Other

dog training methods

of curbing this behavior which you may find helpful are: firmly extending your knee into his chest as he jumps, or putting him on a leash and jerking downward if he tries to jump. If you choose to give a command, an appropriate one would be “Off!” Remember that with adequate training, “down” should mean lie down, not “get down off me.”

Finally, you may also try holding his front paws as he jumps and gently kick in a forward direction behind his back knees, causing him to fall on his side. While this may look bad and be slightly painful, it will quickly teach your dog not to jump. This is particularly effective on larger breeds. This is one of the best dog training tips as this is the most efficient way to teach your dog to stop jumping. Remember to use different dog training commands to your advantage, and require that your dog sit (and stay) when greeting people, receiving treats, or doing just about anything else. If he is sitting still, the dog cannot lunge at visitors, knock things out of your hand, eat off the table- you get the idea. One of those bad dog training methods is to think that your dog knows what to do in every situation. NO! You must be in control of your dog, not the other way around! And, remember to reward him with verbal praise or treats for any and all good behavior. This will reinforce the behaviors you want him to keep, and eliminate the ones that are not acceptable. Be consistent!

Finally, as dogs do not have the complex emotion and reasoning that we do, you will find it is often useless to yell and scold repeatedly. Rather, rely on a system of rewards and praise to reinforce good behavior.

2. Biting

Aggressive dog behavior

Biting is a dog behavior which is natural to a dog in order to establish ranking within a pack or litter, and thus your dog may try to use biting to establish his place within your home and family. However, it is very important that you never allow your dog to bite at human skin. House training your dog is a really important step and you have to pay attention to it. If you take care of your dog since it is a puppy, then it would be much easier as those puppy training tips are quite simple! The idea is to teach it what YOU expect IT to do! Of course give it freedom, but show it what’s right and what’s not…

Most puppies will try to bite. While you may think he is playing, he is actually testing his limits, and this behavior should not be tolerated or encouraged. This article could be useful if you would like to learn how to raise a puppy. Your puppy will need something to chew on, as he grows in teeth and develops jaw muscles, just as babies need to chew on something when they are teething. You might consider buying a sturdy rubber toy, too large for him to swallow, such as a KONGtm or a NylaboneTM. Be sure the toy is strong enough to stand up to your puppy’s sharp teeth, as you do not want him to tear it apart and swallow pieces. If you can’t follow this one of those dog training methods and choose the best dog toy for your puppy, be sure to ask another puppy owner, or ask in a dog forum online or contact us. We are always ready to help you.

Just like puppies, young adult dogs (around one year of age) should also not be allowed to bite you (or any other people around you). If you find your dog’s biting behavior is persisting, you may consider formal dog obedience training with a professional to help you resolve this problem. Also, do not encourage vicious behavior in your dog, such as games of “tug of war” which reinforce a biting behavior.

Biting can be an indication that your dog is in pain, in which case it should be considered as a response to your touching in a place that hurts. This is an important step to learn

how to train a puppy

… Remember that some breeds may be more aggressive than others, so consider this when choosing your puppy, and ask the breeder about aggressive behavior in your dog’s lineage.

If you are in doubt about your dog’s aggressive behavior, consult veterinarians or animal behaviorists for their opinions about whether your dog can be rehabilitated or should be euthanized.

3. Digging

How to stop a dog from digging

There are many reasons why dogs dig. They may be trying to create a bigger space in a small yard, a warm spot in the winter or a cool spot in the summer. Or, they may simply be bored from having been left alone for a long period of time. Another reason could be dog separation anxiety. Your dog may also be trying to escape from a yard to get human contact or to look for a mating opportunity. The dog may be hiding or seeking buried treasure, or chasing prey, real or imagined. There are many things you can do to rid your dog of this behavior, or redirect him from an inappropriate to an appropriate place.

For one, do not leave your dog alone in the yard. If possible, consider installing a doggy door to give the dog access to the house as well as the yard. Again, remember that punishment is not usually the answer. Rather, reward your dog for not digging, and provide him with plenty of alternative uses for that energy, such as regular exercise and toys. This is another one of the best dog training methods. Sometimes digging may indicate discomfort with long nails. You should check closely and trim them accordingly. Please see chapter on nail care above.

4. Barking

Stop barking dog

While barking is normal communicative behavior for dogs, excessive and unwanted barking can be resolved.
Some triggers for barking may include excessive confinement, excessive tension (which can be alleviated by regular exercise), or a response to sounds around the dog. As with any other undesired behavior, remember that by giving the dog negative attention in the form of yelling, you are only reinforcing this behavior, even if you do not realize it. You may even be increasing his level of excitement, and also his noise level.

When training your dog not to bark, keep three goals in mind. For one, it is a good sign if you can decrease the number of barks within a given time frame. Also, you may be able to increase the amount of time during which your dog is silent between barks. Finally, you should strive to minimize the situations that seem to trigger barking for your dog. Keep in mind too that it is unreasonable to assume that you can prevent your dog from barking altogether. In fact, many owners find it useful to own a dog that barks when threatened by an intruder or other potentially dangerous situations. If you would like to learn more about dog barking, check our article “How to stop dog barking?”
Again, the same basic dog training techniques discussed above can help you decrease your dog’s barking behavior. Praise the dog when he is not barking. By reinforcing this positive calm behavior, you can in turn decrease the undesired barking. After the dog barks a few times, give the command “No Bark”. Speak softly but authoritatively, and let the dog know that you are in charge. Those dog training methods are usually working unless you overuse those dog training signals. Don’t use them for everything, but to show that you are NOT HAPPY with your dog’s current activity/behavior. Again, physical punishment or abuse is greatly discouraged, as well as ineffective. And, just as before, you can use your “Sit” command to get the dog’s attention and put yourself in control. If your dog barks when you leave the house, consider exiting in a nonchalant way. Rather than making a big deal out of it, simply say good-bye, and walk out of the room/house. Try the same when you return. This may help alleviate some of your dog’s stress associated with being left alone.

In the event that your dog has already developed a bad barking habit, try leaving and then returning to check up on him. If he is quiet, praise him a lot! This will reinforce quiet behavior. If he is barking when you return, try interrupting him with a loud horn beep or a whistle. Then command him to stop barking and apply the above strategies. Just with any other training, remember to be consistent, and keep it up until he learns the lesson.

5. Begging

Dog begging for food

If your dog begs for food, it is likely that the problem started with you, not your dog. Here you should learn more house training a puppy tips like simply refrain from ever feeding food to your dog outside its regular meals, especially at the table, and you will likely prevent this behavior altogether. It is ok and encouraged to use treats when training. If your dog is aggressive when or before you feed him, then you should read more information about dog food aggression.

6. “Off!”

Dog training methods

As discussed in a previous section, this dog training command can be used to keep your dog from jumping on you, or your guests. Keep in mind the aforementioned strategies. Also, remember that calm behavior on your part can help reciprocate this behavior in your dog. Greet him in a calm, quiet manner when returning home, and be firm about your “no-jump” policy. I also think that our article aboud the best dog gifts will be really useful and informative for you.

Where furniture is concerned, it is important that you decide ahead of time what, if any furniture the dog is allowed on. Then, you can give him the command “okay” to let him know it is okay to get up on the furniture. Remember to reward any behavior you want to encourage. Then, when you want him off, you can use the “Off” command. If you do not want him on any furniture, simply avoid the “okay” command, and make sure he understands “Off!”. If you follow these dog training methods, your puppy/dog should now KNOW what to do when it hears the command “Off!”. If you have trouble keeping him off surfaces such as furniture or counters, consider purchasing a motion-sensor vibrating or tonal alarm that will startle him and hence discourage this behavior. There are many products that help modify behavior in dogs.

7. Heel

Dog training leash

To successfully train your dog to heel on a leash, you will need only a few key tools. For starters, make sure you have a collar (or choke chain) and a leash. Braided polyester rope is recommended because of its smooth texture and nonabrasive quality. Be sure to select one that is at least ½ inch thick, and select a length of 6 feet (non-retractable) to get optimal control over the dog.

The dog may try to fight the apparatus by jumping around. Ignore him until he is still again. Now, you can begin to use your ropes to steer the dog in whatever direction you want him to go. He will quickly learn how this works. This is another of those good dog training methods that are recommended by many dog trainers worldwide. As you walk, command the dog to “heel” at regular increments. If he tries to pull away past your legs, give a slight, firm tug, and repeat the command. Your dog should walk alongside, not ahead of you. Remember to reward good behavior with pats or verbal praise. Consistency is still the key. Remember to keep the dog’s leash short, so that he is constantly at your heels and does not have room to move (remember, give a dog an inch, and he’ll take a mile!).

Only once you have great control over the dog on a leash should you try to get him to heal without a leash. Also, do not try this until you are sure your dog is comfortable with “Sit” and “Stay”, or he may get away from you!

8. Sit

Teach your dog to sit

When teaching your dog to sit, have lots of healthy treats on hand. This is an important first step to any training regimen and also one of the key dog training methods. To begin, hold a treat level with your dog’s nose. He will likely inch toward it. Once the dog smells the treat, slowly begin to move it over his head and toward his hind end. He will arch back. As he does, repeat the “Sit” command. Most of the time, this will be a natural progression to the seated position, in an effort to reach the treat. Be careful not to raise the treat too high, or the dog may instead rise up on his hind legs. As soon as your dog is sitting, praise him wildly, and give him the treat. Make sure to convey a great sense of excitement at your dog’s accomplishment, and be sure that he associates the action with the command by repeating this procedure often. Make it fun for him, and remember not to scold. You may be surprised at how quickly your puppy picks up on this basic trick! This is one of the most important puppy training methods as this will help your puppy learn what to do in order to get a reward.

Then, it can be modified to a sit/stay command by making him stay put until you verbally release him, once he is sitting. This is an another key step that will show you

how to train a dog

… Once the behavior has been mastered, be sure that all members of the household are capable of making the dog sit successfully. Then, you can and should use this command often to control the dog’s behavior. For example, be sure that the puppy remains seated while all others exit a room or go through a door, as this will teach him his place on the chain of command- last!

9. Come Here

How to train a dog to come

As you learn more and more tricks and commands for your dog, remember that his attention span (like ours) is short. So, training sessions should be kept to a maximum of fifteen minutes, preferably much shorter. Your dog’s first tricks will likely include sit, stay, and come, as they are closely related. It is also very important for your dog’s safety that he come when you call him, and that he stays when you want him to. Again, he has to know that you are in charge.

If conventional methods do not work, try this (it’s also one of the recommended dog training methods): Tie the dog to a stake in the ground, tethered by a 35 foot rope. Stand by the stake, and release your dog. Just before he runs out of leash, yell “Come!” This way, if he does not stop and turn on his own, the rope will stop him for you. Then, reward him with a treat when he comes back to you, pull him in close, and repeat this training method during daily sessions. Finally, remember NEVER to call the dog to you and then scold or punish him for any reason. If you do this, he will certainly not want to come to you in the future, as he will associate pain, not reward, with the “Come” command.

10. Licking, Itching

Dog excessive licking

While it is quite normal for cats to lick their fur, the same is not true of dogs. So, if you observe your dog licking or chewing, it could be caused by any number of things. Another of those dog training methods that are important both for dog training and your dog’s health is: Check a licking dog for skin irritation, a hot spot, fleas, and/or ticks. If you observe some on the skin, remove them. Then, bathe your dog with a medicated shampoo, and provide him with some medicine to ease the itching and irritation. Your dog may have a paw injury. Check for cuts and bleeding, and if necessary, clean, treat and cover the wound to stop the licking. Finally, the source of the licking and biting may be a serious allergy, in which case you should consult your vet to find out what to do next.

If you feel you can rule out health problems as the source for licking and chewing, it could be a behavioral trait. This trait is often found in dogs that are shy and withdrawn, often a sign of abuse, neglect, or too much attention. So, you should reexamine your relationship with your dog (this is maybe one of the most important dog training methods – the relationship between you and your dog!). If you are over-attentive to your dog, try reducing the amount of praise and petting you give him, and reserve it for times that you are exercising your dominance, or for training times.

In the case that you are a neglectful dog owner, you simply must spend more time with your pet, or consider finding a better home for him. Also, it is a great idea to exercise with your dog, as this may improve or rid him of the licking habit.

We hope this article about dog training methods was useful and you learn how to train your dog in the best way possible. You can finally check if your dog managed to learn the dog training basics.



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