Guide to training your dog ethically written by PetInsuranceIreland.com.
Training a dog can be very difficult, especially if you have never done it before. Unfortunately, a lot of people will give up after they fall at the first hurdle. If you are going to train a dog then you need to be prepared to have a lot of patience. This is one of the most important things to remember. Without patience you are going to get nowhere with your dog. The worrying thing these days is that there are a lot of people who use different things to train their dogs that are completely unethical. This is why we at PetInsuranceIreland.com have written this quick guide to ethical methods of training your pet dog.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is so important when training a dog. If you are trying to teach your dog to do something and you sigh or frown when they have done it wrong then they will pick up on the fact that you are not happy with what they have done. This will not encourage them in any way, it will leave them feeling dejected and like they have failed to please you. The best thing is to encourage your dog and praise them all of the time when you are training them. Try not to show them that they have done it wrong, but rather encourage them to keep trying.
Treats are a great way of training your dog. However, it is not good to give your dog too many treats. Instead of using dog treats or bits of meat, why not use their favourite toy? Nearly all dogs love to play fetch with their favourite toys. Every time they correctly follow the command that you have given them, you can throw their toy for them. This will keep them happy and teach them that learning new things can be fun. You should always try and turn it into a game, as this will make them eager to learn more.
Clicker Training
Something else that you could look into is clicker training. A lot of professional dog trainers actually use this method. It doesn’t harm the dog in anyway at all. Basically, a dog clicker is a little box. When you press it, it makes a loud clicking noise. If you are teaching your dog something then you need to press the clicker every time they follow your command and then give them a treat. After a while, your dog will associate the sound of the clicker with a treat. This is a great method as there is no negativity when they are trying to learn new tricks.
The most important thing that you can remember is that negativity is not going to help your dog learn anything. Most dogs are incredibly loyal to their owners, and all they want to do is please you. However, you have to remember that dogs are not going to instantly understand what you are asking of them. Being angry or upset because they will not do what they are told is not going to help them in anyway, it will put them off. Being happy and smiley will help them. Before you know it you will have an extremely happy and obedient dog.
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