BKC Solutions Corner

Educating yourself about dog training is the first step you take prior to actually training your dog. There are plenty of sources you can go to, but sometimes it just results in information overload.

Dog training isn’t really all that hard. An important thing to remember is that almost all dogs just want to make their owner happy. The problem can be communication. Obviously there is a language barrier, and you need to get your pet to figure out what you want.

Dog training can be summed up with just a few tips. Lets take a look at some of the things that I have used in order to train my dog, making both he and I happier.

Try to avoid the negatives that often come with training. Hitting or striking your dog, either by hand or with an object will only teach the dog to fear you. A stern verbal NO, is OK, but don’t go any further than that, or you risk alienating the animal. Focusing on praise and rewards when your dog behaves as it should is the better way to go.

Praising your dog reinforces correct behaviors. Loving or petting your dog for acting positive behaviors is of course nice, but experience has shown even better results occur when food treats are given out at the time the behaviors observed. Think about it, food motivates humans, so to it works with our four legged companions.

Body language can also influence your pet’s reactions. Many canines can actually can actually sense and read your body language before any verbal communication is given. A method that works well in doing this is to match a verbal command with a particular movement of either the hand, arm, or even leg.

Refusing to give up is the final key to successful dog training. Sure at times it is frustrating. It would certainly be easier to give up, go sit on the couch and watch your Direct TV, but you need to be consistent in your training. Your dog is not going to train himself, and training always takes longer than you would like. It is so important to keep this in mind when things are difficult with your dog. Things won’t always fall into place, so don’t give up at the first sign of trouble.

Training your four legged companion can be both a difficult and rewarding experience. Keeping these brief tips in mind will help you keep on track in your natural dog training efforts.