Pet Health And Care >>  Articles >>  Dog Care
Dog Care

Dog Training Secrets

 Submitted by Michael Adams on February 25, 2010


There are several approaches to dog training and new methods are still being developed every day. However for any method to be successful there are certain key elements that must be kept in mind. Here are three simple dog training secrets that can be used to significantly improve the effectiveness of any training technique.



Much like humans, dogs too are better able to learn new behaviors when they are taught to them at a young age. One of the most essential dog training tricks is to start young. This does not mean that older dogs cannot learn new tricks.


Dogs of any age can learn and acquire new behaviors. However training that begins earlier tends to be more effective. This is because young dogs do not need to unlearn old habits and behaviors when being taught new ones.

As such any type of training is bound to have more success when done with puppies, rather than older dogs. If you haven’t been able to train your dog at a younger age, there is still no reason to fret. You can also achieve success when training older dogs with consistency and dedication. The second secret to dog training is to be gentle. Dogs are vey sociable beings and easily become attached to their owners. This bond between a dog and his master plays an important role in dog training. Dogs are more responsive and efficient in learning new tricks when they trust their owners and want to please them. Behaving harshly with the dog when he is not able to perform correctly will hamper the trust between him and his owner. All methods of dog training are based on positive reinforcement and as such aggression does not find a place in such training.

Most often dog training methods involve repeated corrections for unsuitable behaviors. This affects the enjoyment and effectiveness of such training. The emphasis must instead be on preventing unsuitable behaviors, thereby eliminating the need for corrective steps. Emphasis on prevention is the third secret of dog training. This involves ensuring that a problem does not occur in the first place, rather than responding to a problem when it does occur. Prevention also saves time by eliminating the need to engage in correction. Frustration is also avoided and the entire process is likely to be more pleasurable for both you and your dog.  So whichever training strategy you decide to implement, adhering to these three simple principles will ensure success.

 
Pet Health Instructor
Read more articles from the Dog Care Category.

Explore Pet Categories
  • Dog Care