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Dog Training’s Most Important Step: Crate Training

Categories: Dog Training | September 3rd, 2010 | by | no comments

A vital part of dog training is use of a crate, or kennel. It is most important to crate train puppies at a young age. Crate training satisfies a dogs need for a den-like enclosure. Dogs evolved from wolves, which have lived in packs and dens for hundreds of thousands of years. Having a crate taps into this desire that all dogs have inherited from their ancestors. On top of being good for the dog, it is also an effective housebreaking tool, and it helps to teach the dog that it is located at the bottom of the family pack hierarchy.

The best time to start crate training a dog is whenever they are puppies. A dog that is crated as a puppy is will be more comfortable in a crate later in life. This is useful when a dog has to travel in a confined space, such as a car.

When you first start crating a puppy, it is sometimes necessary to throw treats in the crate. Some puppies are naturally afraid of getting inside a crate. However, if they often find treats at the bottom, this fear will quickly go away. Be sure to praise and reward your puppy when it goes in the crate. You may also want to start crating for short periods of time until the puppy gets more used to being in such a small, confined space.

Along with treats, it is also important to have some type of toy or bone for a dog chew on. This will help to satisfy the dogs natural predatory instincts while it is in a crate. Bones and chew toys can also help to improve the dog’s dental hygiene.

There are a few other things to keep in mind when putting a dog and a crate. Make sure that the crate has a sufficient water dispenser. You’ll also want to make sure that a dog’s collar is removed. If there are any loose hanging loops around a dogs neck that can get caught on the crate, it can cause a choking hazard. If a dog’s collar gets caught on a crate, it can twist and turn and cause strangulation.

Crates are supposed to be a safe haven for a dog. They are there to help you keep control of your dog whenever you are unable to let him roam around the house, and they helkp to satisfy a dog’s natural den instinct. For these reasons it is important to never use the crate as punishment.

Following these crating guidelines will help you along in your dog training path. But you should consult a more complete and thorough dog training resource, like the ones found at http://www.dogtrainerpro.info before taking your dog training any further.

Just Brought Home A New Puppy? Try Out These Puppy Training Techniques

Categories: Puppy Training | September 2nd, 2010 | by | no comments

Teaching your new puppy what action is desired from him or her should be conducted with love. Training should be one thing that entails both the pup along with trainer. This must be completed in a manner that encourages and sustains trust. Puppy training done under tension or even discomfort will instill fear and is likely to create behavioral problems in adulthood. Rather than a well rounded dog you could possibly wind up with an hostile, disobedient or uncontrollable dog.

Positive rewards

Probably the most frequent way of training and one that will produce the best final results is positive rewards, or positive reinforcement. Each time the pup accomplishes something you wished, it is rewarded for that good behavior. Punishment is withheld, especially physical punishment. The positive reward technique is especially effective as it inspires the puppy to deliver appropriate behavior.

The best puppy training techniques involve treating a pup in a humane and loving way. However, training is also about teaching your puppy that he or she will be safe even if they do not immediately perform to your wishes. It is the basic element to all good communication. Reward good conduct while correcting the bad.

There are masters who resort to smacking and shouting. All this will worsen the situation. No good comes from these actions. A puppy has to be treated along with compassion and understanding if you want them to behave well. An abused puppy will not grow up into a well adjusted or happy dog.

It is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that this can not happen.

Obedience training with love

Many puppies are intelligent and because of this they are easily trained if you use a gentle and loving touch and vast reserves of patience. Unless you have adopted a puppy that has behavior problems, most puppies are naturally confident and ready to please. The aim during puppy training is to maintain their disposition and the only way to do this is to establish a bond based on love and trust.

If you want a well behaved dog you have to earn its respect and love. To do this your commands must be firm and calm. To guide your puppy to the desired action you want from him he needs to understand what you are asking. Commands needs to be given clearly and confidently and when your puppy accomplishes a task they must be praised lavishly. Most puppies are going to get this wrong in the beginning and if so they need to be reprimanded. However, training a puppy properly means reprimanding must be appropriate to the misdemeanor and must follow certain rules. You need to protect your relationship together with your puppy while showing him the error of his ways.

The correct way to reprimand

While lavish praise cannot cause harm no matter how much you give, just one inappropriate reprimand can undo all the training if the puppy has a sensitive disposition. Understanding your breed of dog will help you assess its levels of sensitivity. While one breed will benefit from a stern rebuke, others may need a gentler approach.

Reprimanding should only be given if you are sure that your puppy has understood your command and has just not done it. It should never be accompanied by any form of physical threat. This should focus on the specific command and not be carried into the remainder of the training. Reprimand appropriately and move on. The principle of reprimanding is to achieve the desired result. This requires patience and understanding, kindness and love. Inappropriate reprimanding can create fear and damage the trust and love your puppy has built up for you.

There are many aspects to training a puppy. It needs to be taught obedience as well as housebreaking. It needs to be taught how to walk on a leash and to stop barking or biting. Puppy training ought to be started as soon as you bring it home. Remeber you are going to be asking quite a lot from your little adoptee. If your relationship is based on anxiety or fear from the beginning, your puppy will not excel.

If you have a constructive mindset during all the work that is involved, are patient, and show your puppy lots of love, you will create a bond based on trust and safety. Your little puppy will do anything and everything he or she can to please you. And, most importatntly, you will help your puppy to grow up into a well-behaved and well-rounded dog that will be a pleasure have around.

Everyone would agree that training a puppy is definitely an important aspect in its life. The right training can quickly add a deep bond between the master and the puppy. This isn’t hard, but it does require large amounts of patience and a positive frame of mind.