Dog training – How to train a dog?

 Have you recently welcomed a dog into your home and want to give it a solid foundation in training? We offer advice and guidelines to ensure your four-legged friend's learning goes smoothly. Discover three exercises to train your pet in this article.

What is the ideal age to train a dog?

Puppy training should begin as early as possible, ideally from the age of two months. So when your daughter asks with her sweet little face, "Daddy, can we have a dog at home, please?", choose a very young puppy. A puppy is like a baby; it needs to understand and learn from birth what it should and shouldn't do. Give it good habits, encourage it, and even scold it when necessary, to ensure it learns its commands properly. Furthermore, it needs to know who its owner is. Dogs are naturally playful animals and may get into a little mischief at first. But when they're so young, they're just so adorable!

How to teach your dog to obey?

In most cases, your dog jumps on you and your guests to show his joy and welcome you. There's no danger, so he's simply happy to see you at the end of the day and wants to play.

However, if on the day you receive guests with young children or babies and you feel he is a little too boisterous, or if you are at the beginning of the training process, it is best to put your dog in a closed room and go to see him from time to time.

How to train a dog at home?

The method must first and foremost be carried out with a great deal of love, calm, and firmness. Words are important, and so is the way it is done.

Use a firm tone if he doesn't want to listen, and above all, be patient. According to the American Kennel Club, training sessions should not exceed five minutes, or your dog risks becoming distracted or frustrated. Choose quiet places and begin.

Materials

A leash.

A few treats to reward him.

Your dog needs to feel happy during these exercises. This is important for their well-being and for building a trusting relationship between you. To reinforce this positive dynamic, use  appropriate rewards to motivate your dog to behave well. Here's a video that clearly explains the techniques to use to get your dog to obey.

Exercise 1: Attach him with his leash in your hand then open the door.

This exercise requires patience  for your dog to learn to calm down in the presence of guests. You can simulate the exercise for your guest. One person stays inside the house, the other pretends to be the guest.

Don't forget to ring the bell, it will excite the dog even more and make the exercise even more difficult.

According to Stéphanie Mantille, a canine specialist at Curiosity Trained, there is a way to stop a dog from barking. Simply reward him when he doesn't.

When the dog is about to jump, its owner must pull on the leash to make it understand that it shouldn't. At the same time, the person pretending to be the guest must take a step back.

Always accompany your actions with words, firmly ordering him "no, not jumping!" and "sit or lie down in the basket" while pointing to the place where he should lie down.

Exercise 2: Always reward him with treats.

After practicing the first exercise and the dog has finally sat or lain down on the floor or in its basket, praise it by giving it a treat accompanied by a little caress.

He will understand that this is the right behavior to adopt.

Exercise 3: Attach him with his leash, but without holding it in your hand.

Repeat the simulation, but don't forget the doorbell!

If your dog is about to jump out when the door is opened, step on the leash and pull it with your foot.

Furthermore, according to canine specialist Dale Buchanan, it is necessary to find the trigger that causes him to jump on you, on a family member or on certain guests, in order to be able to manage his behavior.

It's important to remember these exercises. Once won't be enough. It's like when your child took their first steps; you helped them up and comforted them more than once!

To supplement these training methods and learn about other training techniques, you can consult a specialist.

Training a dog is not easy and takes time. It's advisable to live in harmony with your dog and also to consult a canine specialist. For this, you can refer to the website of the 30 Million Friends Foundation, which provides information on dog trainers.

How long does it take to train a dog?

It all depends on the level of obedience you want! If your dog has developed bad habits, it will take more time to get him back on track.

But otherwise, a few minutes a day is enough; the key is to establish a daily routine with your dog, and don't forget his favorite treats!

How do you train a dog to relieve itself?

Potty training is quite a challenge too! If you want to avoid ranplanplan relieving himself all over the house, take him outside as soon as he wakes up and every time he has eaten or drunk.

Find him a nice little spot that will be his space to do his business and don't forget to always reward him with a treat and lots of affection.

So next time a dog jumps on you, don't run away. I hope these few exercises will help you in your relationship with your dog, especially when combined with lots of love and cuddles.

Read also:

CBD for the well-being of dogs and cats

55 small dog breeds that make good family pets

20 of the most elegant long-haired dog breeds