Dog Training Uncovered
Training your dog is no easy task; any pet owner can tell you that. While many dogs are very eager to please their owners, the bottom line is that they really don’t always understand what it is that you are saying and they have very, very short attention spans. These factors can make things difficult for even the most patient of owners, but before you are tempted to throw in the towel, let us consider some simple and basic dog training aids that you can use to help you along the way.
One of the best dog training aids that you can employ is to emphasize rewarding your dog for what he or she does right rather than simply punishing your dog when he or she does something wrong. Dogs crave attention and approval from their owners and will do just about anything to get it. If you want your dog to learn potty training, reward her when she goes in the right spot in the yard just as much as you scold her for going anywhere else. Many people neglect to include this positive reinforcement as part of their dog training aids arsenal, but that approval and affection can go a long way toward getting your dog to do what you want her to do!
Are there any training aids that we can purchase in order to help us with our dogs behaviour? Yes there are a number, and a visit to your local pet store will be quite an eye opener. Some of course are much better than others, as you would expect. Take for example dog leads. Nowadays, the experts tell us that choke chains and collars are not a good idea because they are of little benefit when training, but, a good study lead and collar on the other hand can work wonders when trying to get your dog to obey an instruction. Muzzles are another aid, not something that I like, but some people say that it help control a dogs barking both indoors and out.
One of the things that I find very satisfying is to sit down and groom my dog with a simple grooming brush. They do not cost much at your local pet store but they can give big rewards. Not only will your dog look good, but it will help them to develop a calm nature. Give it a try and see what I mean. While you are at the pet store purchase a couple of chewy toys, you will be amazed at how much fun both of you will have playing with them, and the bonus is a tired dog that does not get into mischief!
One last thing to say and that is about bathing. If you start this when they are quite young then it can be an enjoyable activity for both of you. Make sure you only use proper dog shampoo, and follow up he bathing with dog conditioner as this make it easier to comb your dog later on. Use a good size towel for drying them, and be prepared to get a bit wet yourself!
Tags: animals, behaviour problems, dog training, dog training aids, dogs, family, home, pets
dog training | John Savage | 09 April 2009 |
