You know when you’re having a day, and all you want to do is cuddle up with your pups and watch Netflix? Or maybe you love going to the dog park and watching your pup run around with his friends? Or maybe it’s that time of year again when you and your pups get together for one last snowstorm before summer. Training your pup to behave can be challenging regardless of where you live. Dogs have an insatiable desire to please their human companions, which is why training them can be so rewarding. The problem is they’re also brilliant, which makes it difficult to redirect their wanderlust. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make sure they don’t return home after a fun day at the sledding hill covered in snow.
The Importance of a Well-Designed Behavioural Training Program
The most important thing you can do to train your dog is to prepare him for when he’s expected to perform a task. This may seem obvious, but many dog owners don’t do enough. They only prepare their pup for walks in the park, school runs, and car rides, leaving room for vital behavior to go undone. The result? Dogs that perform poorly on simple tasks can become aggressive or even when left alone. Others that perform well may be “trained to sit” or “trained to stay” when the time comes but never expected to perform a strange behavior.
Make training a snap with intelligent dog toys.
Smart dog toys combine psychology, behavior, and technology inputs to make training a snap. You can use a traditional dog toy or something more fun and engaging. Smart dog toys are designed with sensors that allow you to monitor your dog’s behavior and change the Toy’s attributes based on what he likes or doesn’t like. You can use the sensors to reward your pup for good behavior or give him a “thunderbolt” when he misbehaves. Smart dog toys are easy to clean and store, so they’re the perfect thing to take on walks or in the park.
Use a variety of training methods.
Behavior modification is a two-step process: teach your dog new skills and reinforce good behavior. You can also use positive reinforcement and praise to teach your dog new skills, but this is more effective when you use it multiple times a day. Some recommend using a combination of handling, tug (reward), and praise. Of course, any of these methods can backfire, so you have to use them correctly.
Don’t be afraid to play with your dog—and make playing with your pup a habit.
You may have heard that dogs are not meant to socialize, but that’s not the case. Being around other dogs can enhance a dog’s brainpower and make him more likely to learn new skills. After a busy day of playing with your pup at the park, sledding, running around in the snow, or at the beach, it’s time to play some more. All it takes is a little playing and a lot of cuddling.
Conclusion
Training your dog can be challenging, but with a bit of preparation and effort, you can make it easier. Before starting your training program, ensure you know where your dog likes to play and what he likes to eat so that you can plan your activities. It’s also a good idea to budget time for training every day to ensure your dog is being properly exercised and educated. Once you’ve set up your training program, training can be easy—and rewarding. Finally, remember to play often! Playing with your pup is what dogs do best, and having fun with your pup is the key to good dog behavior. Ready to get started training your pup? Play with your pup today! Image Source A dog’s sense of smell can be as strong as a human’s. What you smell may be different from what your dog smells, which can cause confusion and lead to miscommunication. To prevent this, use smell training. In smell training, your dog is presented with various smells—some familiar, some not. This could be your kitchen, your dog’s favorite food, or a new scent he’s just encountered. After your pet smells the smell, he has to respond appropriately by walking towards it or going away from it. If he doesn’t seem
to know what you want him to do, praise him and give a treat before moving on to the next smell. Keep in mind that smell training is a two-step process:teaching your dog new skills and then reinforcing good behaviour. Play with your pup today.
