Is your Dog well-trained?

The unwelcome, unsocialized dog was the topic of last week’s All About Dogs. This week we look at the untrained dog – who’s equally unwelcome.?

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What are the signs of an untrained dog??

He jumps on people, pulls on the leash, has his own rules for playing, wouldn't come when called, and is a nuisance when you have visitors. And he certainly wouldn't be welcome at the coffee shop.??

People tend to overlook untrained behavior in a puppy – but soon the cuteness isn’t funny anymore. Dogs, just like humans, need to learn basic good manners. The untrained dog needs to learn what acceptable behavior is and how to behave in different situations.?

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• Why should you train your dog??

The untrained dog is unwelcome company – even dog lovers don’t want her around.??

Most dog owners?want companionship from a dog, but they also want a well-mannered, safe, and happy dog. That means he’ll have to be trained.??

It takes time and effort to train a dog that will behave when you have visitors, and that you can take with you on coffee dates, to lunches, and even on holiday.?

A well-trained dog means you and your dog will have a better quality of life and a sense of well-being.??

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• When to train your dog.?

Like socialization, training a dog starts when she’s a puppy. We’re talking about basic stuff like no, leave, sit, wait, come. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how quickly she’ll learn. And you’ll be a proud owner - the envy of your friends.??

The secret is to ‘train’ the puppy without her realizing that she’s been trained. Make training?a fun game and work it into your everyday routine and interaction with her.?

It’s important to keep training, to reinforce good habits – particularly during adolescence when he will test your patience. When he seems to have forgotten much of his training, he’s just a typical adolescent! He’ll grow out of it, so be patient and keep training.??

Training and reinforcement should be a lifelong habit, whether your dog learns?basic commands, or whether you want to spend time on advanced training. Don’t despair if you get an adult or older dog – she can still be taught basic manners. Use playtime and make it fun. It’ll also help to build the bond between you and the dog.??

Finally, whatever your dog’s breed, you need the cooperation, input and participation of everyone in the household. While she’ll recognize you as the owner, all family members need to be on the same page and not undermine your efforts. ?

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• How to train your dog.?

1. Positive reinforcement is the accepted way to train a dog – remember he’s just a dog who wants to please you. When you get angry and impatient and scold him it only confuses him??Establish trust and be consistent. There needs to be trust between you and your dog, which may take time. Your behavior needs to be consistent, otherwise she wouldn’t know what is expected of her. And she wouldn’t know how to behave.?
2. Train often and in short spells. His attention span is short, particularly when he’s still a puppy. Train for a?short spell?a few times a day rather than one long training session.?
3. Gradually increase the training sessions – you'll notice if she’s still fresh or if her attention starts to wander. Avoid distractions, at least until she learns to focus on you.?
4. Use positive reinforcement. Praise and reward with a favorite treat.?
5. Be patient and don’t be discouraged if he doesn’t do the perfect recall in a week! Even the best service dogs spend years in training.?
6. Short of time? Use daily life to train him – like ‘sit’ before he eats, ‘stay’ when he wants to follow you to the bathroom, or ‘down’ when he jumps on people. Be consistent and don’t forget to praise.?
7. Make training fun and play games with your dog. She wouldn’t care how foolish you look!??

More training tips.?

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• The Benefits of a Well-trained Dog.??

Like the well-socialized dog, the well-trained dog brings peace of mind and makes life easier for dog and owner. The dog has boundaries, she knows what is expected in different situations. ?

He's welcome to stay when you have visitors and can accompany you to various places. Simply put, he doesn’t make a nuisance of himself. The fact that he can be part of different activities with you improves his well-being and confidence.???

It's fun to train together and get fit together! It helps to build a bond with your dog and strengthen your relationship.?

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Many dogs are surrendered to animal shelters – or simply abandoned - because their owners can’t cope with them. They're the so-called 'difficult’ or ‘naughty’ dogs. No, these dogs cry out for someone to take time and interest in them. To socialize and train them so that their hidden potential can be unlocked. Don't let your dog become a shelter statistic!??

What is your experience with training your dog, or do you have training tips to share? Let us know in the comments below. ?