BHG Articles

Ever since the beginning of time, dogs have been the most preferred choice as pets by most households. Many have proven that they are proficient, steadfast, smart and trainable in diverse farm duties and simple household tasks. They can be charming and submissive to their owners but vicious to total strangers. These qualities make them an ideal escort for those who are single in life as well as to couples who are just planning to start their own brood. Babies to older adults will not have a hard time adjusting to their presence.

Studies show that a dog’s behavior as an adult is a result of his breeding and training. Because you can’t do anything anymore about a dog’s breed since it is an inherent part of his personality, you just have to make sure that he was trained well in his younger days so that you won’t be experiencing any attitude problems when he is already a full grown adult. This is a big consideration to mull over when you want to get another puppy in the future. Here is a list of puppy training secrets that you must know in order to have a well-mannered pet in the future.

Before anything else, you must first establish a good rapport with your pet. Do not immediately start ordering difficult tricks that will make him want to scamper away with his tail between his legs. Set the mood first by playing with him, cuddling him and stroking his tummy. When he seems to be well rested and relaxed, you can start the drill by taking away his freedom. This might sound harsh but you have no choice if you want to impose discipline in his life.

There are a lot of ways to do this but the most common includes putting a leash around his neck, placing him inside a kennel or positioning him in a crate. It is expected that your dog would howl in protest. At times, it may be too annoying that you would want to stuff his mouth with a ball of socks. However, remember that all this seemingly vicious acts will gain benefits. Try to be immune to this kind of suffering. Remember, you only want what’s best for your dog. The end justifies the means, as they often say.

Second, teach him a simple trick followed by a treat. The treat could come in the form of a small chewable bone or a piece meat. Just like the classic conditioning method by renowned psychologist Ivan Pavlov, they will learn to associate the new trick with food. This will stroke their interest and whet their appetite for more food.

Third, you can go the opposite direction and make your dog realize the power of negative conditioning. This is done by imposing the words no, stop and don’t in the training process. Use a powerful voice if possible. An example would be catching him rummaging through the garbage. So the moment you see him, say stop out loud and give him a slight slap on the tail area.

Fourth, you have to be consistent. When you give a reward or punishment, make sure that it is commensurate to the good task or the bad behavior. Variety is something that needs to be avoided like the plague in this situation because your dog will get confused if you can’t follow through with the initial rules you have set. The same rule applies to all the people in your household including your wife and kids.

Lastly, give alternatives. If there are tricks or chores that he can’t easily obey like not digging the flower patch or the plant box, then provide another option like another digging space within your yard. Don’t be such a strict disciplinarian all the time.