Daily Dog Care|Dog Day Care|How to Take Care of a Dog

Training a 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 you’re saying and have very, very short attention spans. These factors can make it difficult for even the most patient of owner, but before you throw in the towel, consider some simple and basic dog training aids you can use to help you along the way.

One of the best dog training aids you can employ is to emphasize rewarding your dog for what she does right rather than simply punishing a dog when 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!

There are some actual items you can purchase that can be used as dog training aids and some are more effective than others. Choke collars and chains are being discarded by dog training experts as not only abusive but downright ineffective. However, a good leash and a sturdy collar can be counted as dog training aids because dogs will respond to their owner when he gives them a slight tug. This shouldn’t be anything that would hurt the dog, just a gentle reminder of how she needs to respect a stranger’s boundary, when she needs to stop barking, and so on. Some may also want to add a muzzle to their list of dog training aids, but these should be used sparingly and only in certain situations. Some dogs just will not stop barking no matter what you do, and keeping in mind that barking is just a part of their instinct the way humans have an instinct to talk to one another, an owner may not be able to do anything other than muzzle their dog when she’s out in the yard or if the dog is kept in an apartment where the neighbors may be bothered.

Believe it or not, a good grooming brush and some toys can be considered dog training aids. When done right, dogs love to be groomed and they love to have their owners play with them. These activities can help a dog to remain calm and assured and keep her from barking incessantly, chewing on furniture, and so on. And of course the more you play with a dog the more tired she is so she’s less likely to have the energy to misbehave! So be sure to add these to your dog training aids list and use them often!

It’s important when you get a new puppy to start your dog obedience training as soon as she is old enough to interact with other people and the family; usually this means about eight weeks of age. While some dog owners have a tendency to get a bit overwhelmed with this entire process, you don’t need to if you start with the basics and remember to keep you dog obedience training simple and easy for the dog to learn.

Most trainers and professionals will tell you that dog obedience training should start with a very easy command, usually “sit.” The reason this is a simple command is because you need to demonstrate to your dog every command you give it; remember that dogs don’t speak English and don’t know what the word “sit” actually means. But you can easily push the dog’s behind down as you say the word again and again, and then give her a small treat or reward. If you do this a few times you can then say the word on its own and the dog should perform the action. However, break up your dog obedience training in manageable steps by not introducing a myriad of commands all at once. Practice the “sit” command with her for at least two weeks before you move on to another command, perhaps “come.” If your dog is in the other room and you use the “come” command, give her some petting and attention when she comes to you. Do this a few times as well while still practicing the “sit” command; if you do this your dog obedience training is off to a good start.

A mistake that many new dog owners make when it comes to dog obedience training is to rush into all the commands you want her to learn all at once. An experienced owner can tell you that you need to take it slow and let her learn at a moderate pace. It’s very confusing for a dog to hear many different commands all spoken with a sense of expectation and yet she has no idea what you mean or what you want from her. This is why it’s also important during dog obedience training to demonstrate or otherwise show her what the command means. Say the command over and over while she’s performing the command and then gradually work toward just saying the command and waiting for her response.

And be sure to reward her generously as you go through dog obedience training. This doesn’t necessarily mean a fattening treat that is bad for her health; just some petting and a few minutes with a favorite toy can be reward enough for her to understand that her actions are a good thing.

If your dog obedience training is really a problem for you and the dog, don’t hesitate to talk to a pro or back up a little bit and go back to a basic command or two.