Listed below are the steps to take in home dog training. They include distractions, patience, consistency, and rewards. Follow these steps, and your pet will soon be on the path to becoming a well-mannered family member. These steps will also help you avoid a lot of frustration.
Distractions
Dogs are naturally distracted by many things. These can include other dogs, people, critters, and smells. Food is also a great distraction. The farther a distraction is from the dog, the less compelling it is. However, if a distraction is familiar to the dog, it will be less likely to be distracting.
The first step to distraction training is to create a distraction. This is a crucial part of the training process. It should be simple, but it must be fun for your dog. A distraction should be something that the dog can focus on without being tempted to look away.
Patience
Patience is an important attribute for successful in-home dog training. Dogs with a strong sense of patience are more tolerant of other dogs and are better decision-makers. In contrast, dogs without patience have impulsive tendencies. These behaviors can include jumping up, snapping, nipping, and crying. It is important to remember that patience takes practice.
Patience also helps in making better decisions and helps you focus on the goal. Rehabilitating a dog can be extremely hectic, but patience will help you achieve your goals. In addition, patience solves many behavior problems and can reduce destructive and excitable behaviors.
Consistency
Consistency is an important part of dog training. You must ensure your whole family is on the same page and use the same methods to train your dog. The same routines will result in more positive behavior. Consistency is also important for working through behavioral problems. For example, if your dog refuses to sit down when you call his name, you may want to use a kissy sound or hand gesture to refocus him. Consistency is key for successful training and behavior modification.
It is also important to enforce boundaries consistently. For instance, you should not let your dog jump on the couch or sit on your lap. This way, he won’t be able to sneak up on you and chew on your clothing. Your dog will know that it isn’t allowed.
Rewards
The use of rewards during dog training is a proven method to help your dog learn new behaviors and to enrich its life. It’s also a positive way to encourage your dog to engage in enrichment activities, such as training with toys. A study by Rooney and Cowan shows that positive reinforcement can increase your dog’s pleasure level and improve its ability to learn new tasks. To make this training process as effective as possible, start by making a list of rewards that will encourage your dog to perform the desired behavior.
Rewards encouraging your dog’s behavior can be as simple as a toy, a treat, or a piece of meat. These rewards should be as exciting as possible and give your dog a reason to perform the behavior. Some types of rewards are more fun for your dog than others, so be creative and experiment with what works for you.