Image courtesy:ย Pixabay.com/Chewing the furniture, soiling the carpet, digging holes in the yard- if you want to put a stop to some of these common behavioral issues in your pet then you want to start obedience training. Obedience training not only helps make your dogโs behavior suitable for a domestic setting, but also helps establish a clear-cut social hierarchy in the house. Let us take a look at how you can
train your pet.
Association and positive reinforcementPuppies are observant, and quick to learn; they also learn by association. One way you can reinforce good behavior is by rewarding him with kibble or treat; even praise will do. You do not want him to grow dependent on treats, every time you want him to listen to your commands. At the same time you want to discourage bad behaviors from the start. You do not want to use physical force with your puppy while discouraging bad behaviors, this will not help solve the problem, and may even worsen the behavioral problems, if anything. If he does something potentially dangerous, you want to stop him with a stern โno.โ You never want to lose your cool when your puppy misbehaves. You want to show your disapproval with an assertive calm tone.
Routines and boundariesThe first step is to teach your puppy what he is allowed and not allowed to do around the house. Do not just brush it off if you pet crosses the line; if you do nothing when your pet does not behave as told, then you will only be able to appreciate him for the right behavior and not correct wrong behaviors. Respect training is indispensable. You want to clearly demarcate the behaviors that are allowed around the house and set boundaries. If it is not potentially dangerous you can let it pass. Can your puppy shred paper? Jump on the couch? Set down the rules from day one, and this includes his routine as well. The time and place where he eats, where he relieves himself, playtime, all of it should be laid down.
Obedience training sessionsYou do not want to make your
obedience training sessions lengthy, or your puppy may lose interest. You can try and accommodate it into your everyday routine, so your puppy learns during the course of his everyday activities. For instance, you can teach your pup to โstayโ and โheelโ while you play a game of fetch with him. This makes obedience training sessions fun. In case you do not have prior experience with obedience training a pet, you can sign up for a local class, so you get some professional assistance while laying down the basics.