Who Says You Can’t Teach An Old Dog New Tricks? Just Follow This Advice.

Decide on a single phrase to use when housebreaking your new puppy. Each time you let your dog out to relieve himself, use a phrase such as “go potty” so that he associates going outside with going to the bathroom.

Every puppy in training will make some mistakes in the potty department. Any accidents should be cleaned up as soon as possible to help with the training efforts. If the mess stays on the area for too long, it can leave a scent behind that your animal may return to in the future to do his business. A pet shop in your area will carry products specifically for this problem.

Dogs will focus on something and ignore all else unless something breaks that attention. Dogs learn by repetition so with continued training, your dog will immediately focus on what you are saying.

Encourage your dog to be as active as possible. Dogs are easily bored. If you do not have the full attention of your dog, they will be difficult to train. If you have a happy, exercised dog, they will listen better. Walk or run your dog frequently.

If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. This type of behavior can lead to your dog misbehaving by jumping on people or your dog attempting to establish dominance.

When you discipline your dog, your tone is an important factor. Dogs are great at understanding how their trainer feels. Back up your discipline with a stern, but not angry, tone of voice to communicate your displeasure.

If you are thinking about hiring a professional dog trainer, conduct a thorough interview and ask for referrals. These professionals follow different theories about animal behavior. When you interview one, ask about his theories and the actual techniques used. Be sure these are not ones you wouldn’t want used on your dog!

Your whole family should be involved with training the dog. Regardless of who is doing the actual training, your dog needs consistency around the clock. Every family member will be seen in control, if all are consistent.

Use this information to accelerate your own dog training efforts. Remember, training is a daily process; start out small and build from there.

If you are enthusiastic about dog obedience training, we strongly recommend the resources at Dog Obedience Site. Be sure to check out their handy tools and academic materials.