How to Train a Dog Effectively
I. Why Train Dogs
We keep dogs because we love them and enjoy their company. However, during the process of raising dogs, we often encounter some mischievous situations, such as Huskies loving to tear things apart, and Teddy dogs barking indiscriminately. If at this time we happen to be angry or in a bad mood due to some things, their behaviors might provoke our rage. Therefore, we need some training to make our dogs behave more gentlemanly.
However, some people will question, the original intention of raising dogs is to make them comfortable, and we can also find joy from it. If we train them all day, isn’t it treating them as tools? So why do we train dogs?
The German literary master Goethe said in his work “Faust”: “A well-educated dog can be compared to a gentleman.” This sentence reveals the importance of training dogs. Dogs are like children. If they are not properly educated and trained, they may develop some bad behaviors, or even become a social hazard.
Therefore, training dogs is not treating them as tools, but helping them to better adapt to society and get along better with humans. At the same time, through training, we can better understand our dogs and enhance our feelings with them.
II. Test Your Tacit Understanding with Your Dog
You can test your tacit understanding with your dog in the following ways:
Command test: You can try to give your dog some simple commands, such as “sit”, “lie down”, “shake hands”, etc., to see if the dog can execute quickly and accurately.
Toy test: You can shake a toy in front of the dog, then throw the toy out, to see if the dog can quickly find and pick it up.
Walk test: When you take your dog for a walk, try to change your pace or direction to see if the dog can immediately keep up with you.
Emotion test: You can try to show different emotions in front of your dog, such as happiness, anger, sadness, etc., to see if the dog can sense and respond to your emotions.
III. Dog Training Tips
There are some small tips for training dogs to help improve training effects:
Create a positive training environment: Dogs need to learn in a stress-free, fear-free environment. Keep the fun of training and let dogs enjoy the training process.
Use rewards: Rewards are key to training. When dogs complete your commands, give food, toys, or praise as rewards. This will make dogs more willing to obey your commands.
Commands should be simple and clear: The commands to dogs should be simple and clear, try to avoid using long sentences or complex words. Generally, a one-word or two-word command is most effective.
Short training time: Dogs have a short attention span, so the training time should not be too long. Train for 10-15 minutes each time, several times a day.
Patience and consistency: Training dogs requires a lot of patience and consistency. You need to persist in training every day, and use the same commands and rewards each time.
Socialization training: Exposing dogs to and getting them used to a variety of people and environments can help them better adapt to society and reduce fear and anxiety.
Avoid punishment: Try to avoid punishing dogs, as this may cause fear and resistance in dogs, which is not conducive to training.
IV. Find the Best Training Method for Your Dog
Finding the best training method for your dog requires considering the following factors:
Dog’s age: Puppies may need more basic training, such as how to sit, how to walk, etc.; adult dogs may need more behavior training.
Dog’s personality: Active and lively dogs may need more exercise training, such as chasing balls, jumping, etc.; while introverted dogs may need more social training.
Dog’s breed: Different breeds of dogs may need different training methods, such as search and rescue dogs may need more smell training, while sheepdogs may need more dog obedience training.
Of course, there are also some of your own situations, such as:
- What level you want to train it to
- Your time, energy, and ability to choose the training method.
Hope all dog owners can find the most suitable training method for their dogs and train our dogs better!