A Well-trained Pet Is a Happy Pet
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A Well-trained Pet Is a Happy Pet

After I adopted my first puppy, I didn't train him very well. I was too afraid of him getting "mad at me" to scold him when he did naughty puppy things, like chewing up my shoes. I thought he would grow out of some of his bad habits, but it didn't seem like he was. I asked another dog owner at the dog park for advice, and he told me that dogs really enjoy being trained, and proper training actually makes them happier. After that conversation, I started taking my dog to a local training center and he seemed to really love being there! He soon stopped his bad habits and even learned fun tricks. I want to share my dog training tips with anyone out there who needs them and help everyone learn that a well-trained pet is a happy pet!

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A Well-trained Pet Is a Happy Pet

The Homeschooled Canine: How To Reinforce What Your Dog Learns In Obedience Class In His Everyday Life

Cameron Thompson

Your dog can learn a lot at obedience training; however, it must be backed up at home, lest your dog forget or simply not take seriously everything they have been taught at school. For the training to be successful, everyone participates, from the first class to the last and well beyond.

Ask The Dog Obedience Trainer For Specific Advice

Every dog is different, and your canine may have specific issues that require special considerations. Keep tabs on the training so you know where your dog is at with each challenge and how you can best support their progress at home.

Be Consistent 100 Percent Of The Time

Your dog can't go to school, where they are instructed to behave, and then come home and slack off. Maintain the same expectations as the training professionals all of the time so that it's clear to your dog how they should behave. They'll advance much quicker when everyone in their life is on the same page with training.

Exercise Your Dog's Mischievous Energy Away

One serious obstacle for a canine in training is their abundance of energy. If your dog hasn't had enough exercise and positive playtime, all that energy will spill over into training, usually with less-than-favorable results.

Reward With Praise As Much As You Possibly Can

While most professional dog trainers do use treats at least some of the time, it's important that your dog not expect a food reward for every good thing they do. Not only could the extra fat and calories add up to unwanted weight gain eventually, but praise will lose some of its value. Dogs love a pat on the back and a scratch behind the ear more than anything, so use praise as a reward whenever possible.

Use Short, Simple, And Concise Commands

Even adding small words to regular commands, like "come here" instead of "come," can confuse your dog, especially when they're first starting to learn. "Down" works more efficiently than "sit down" or "lay down," and the single-word commands are most likely what the obedience trainer is using. 

Remove Opportunities For Bad Behavior

At least in the beginning, it's important to set your dog up for success by not inviting bad or unacceptable behavior, such as by letting a meal on the table sit unattended. Know your dog's weaknesses and then remove temptations from their environment until they're disciplined enough to resist them.

If you and others in your dog's life don't reinforce what they are taught in obedience class, training isn't likely to be successful. The canine will simply choose to obey their professional instructor and no one else. Back up what your dog learns, reward them with praise, and use short commands as much as possible. For more information, reach out to dog obedience training professionals.


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