Why Is He Digging?

If you want to stop dog digging then you have to try and figure out exactly why he’s digging. Perhaps there is a problem with your dog, either emotionally or physically, that you need to get checked out by a vet. If he’s just bored then it might be that you need to spend more time with him and get him more tired out.

What If Nothing’s Wrong?

If there’s nothing obviously wrong with him then it’s time to start training. When your dog does something like digging, he doesn’t know that you think it’s wrong – it’s up to you to teach him. You need to use obedience training, telling him no when he does it, and praising him when he does other less destructive activities.

Often dogs will simply do this just to get your attention. If this is the case then it’s a sign that you aren’t spending enough time with him. Just spend more time with him and you’ll probably find that the situation improves quite quickly.

Sometimes, a good obedience course, such as Secrets to Dog Training, is the best way to stop dog digging. It’ll help you understand the way that he thinks, and give you the tips you need to stop him destroying your yard.

Excessive Barking

Bad dog behaviour often comes in the form of barking. The main reason that dogs start to bark too much is simply because they get bored and try to communicate with other pets that might live nearby. If you want to reduce the barking then you can try taking him for more walks, playing more games with him and so on. Tire him out and he won’t want to bark any more!

Biting

It’s absolutely essential that you teach your dog that biting isn’t right. If he injures someone, then it may be that he gets put down. This is why it’s important to take action as soon as possible. You need to make sure that your pet knows that you are the alpha male of the pack. Always be firm and consistent and he will respect what you tell him to do.

Chewing

Like barking, dogs can often start chewing when they get bored. If he’s damaging things around the home then you need to give him alternatives to chew. Praise him when he chews what you want him to, and tell him no whenever you catch him chewing something he shouldn’t.

Bad dog behaviours are by no means irreversible. If you’re going to do the training yourself then it’s important you go about it the right way. Pick up a guide like Secrets to Dog Training for all the techniques you’ll need.

Finding the Right Manual for You

There are a number of different techniques used to train dogs, so when you’re searching for a dog training manual you’ll want to make sure that they use techniques that you agree with. In general positive reinforcement training is a good way to teach your dog without making him scared of you – and you’ll learn the correct way to tell him he’s wrong too.

When you do find a good manual, you’ll find that you can use it over and over again. As your dog grows, so will his abilities. You can teach him more advanced tricks when he’s a little older, making the manual a valuable tool to have in your collection.

Refresher Training

A manual will also come in very handy for refresher training. Sometimes things can happen that change the way your dog behaves. For example, dogs can become nervous if something changes in your routine, and your manual will come in useful once more.

No matter what kind of dog you have, a dog training manual is a great tool to have to use a number of different techniques and tricks to get him to do what you want. My favourite one, and the one I always go back to, is Secrets to Dog Training.

Is It Possible to Train Your Dog On Your Own?

Many people think they need to pay hundreds of dollars to make their dog obedient, but this simply isn’t true. It is perfectly possible to do all the training yourself, as long as you’re armed with the right information. And this can even be a great time for you and your dog to bond and have some fun together!

Some Tips for Obedience Training For Dogs

1) Don’t Make Him Scared: Your dog doesn’t need to fear you to be obedient. Usually, praising when he does the right thing is the better option for getting him to understand what you want from him.

2) Calmly Tell Him When He Does Something Wrong: To let him know when he’s done something wrong, you can simply tell him calmly and firmly, but only at the time he does the action. If you tell him afterwards, he won’t understand what he’s being told off for.

3) Be Patient: It’s crucial that you’re patient. He will learn but it will take time. And you need to be consistent, keep using the same sayings and actions until he learns.

Obedience training for dogs is much easier when you have a good guide to follow. For this, I recommend you use Secrets to Dog Training which also covers tricks, aggression and more.

Start With the Basics

Before you try any of the tricks I’ve mentioned below, it’s important that you start with the absolutely basics. This means teaching your dog how to sit, to come, to fetch and so on. These are generally the easiest tricks to teach your dog.

Shake Paw

Now you’ve got the basics out of the way, you can start with the tricks. Shake paw is a fun trick, and not to hard to teach. You need to begin by telling your dog to sit, and then take his paw and shake it. At the same time, you’ll say “shake paw” and praise him.

You’ll do this a number of times in a row to reinforce what you’re trying to teach him. Keep using the same paw, and your same hand. Keep doing it each day until your dog knows what “shake paw” means and you no longer have to pick up his paw.

Play Dead

This trick is a little more difficult than the shake paw trick. You need to start by getting your dog to lie down. Roll him on his side, and say “play dead” once you have. Reward him. Now keep repeating this a number of times a day until he understands exactly what you mean.

These are some fun tricks to teach your dog and the good news is that they aren’t too difficult! If you want more training tips then check out the Secrets to Dog Training guide, which is perfect for all kinds of training and dog breeds.

Ask Around

The first thing you can do is ask around to find any recommendations. People let vets and dog groomers are a good source of recommendations. You can also ask friends if they’ve used a course before.

Contact The People Who Run the Course

When you have a list of a few names for a potential dog training course, you can start contacting the people who run them. Speak to the trainer directly to help give you a feel for what they know about dog training and the way they tend to run their classes. You should also discuss any particular issues your dog could have.

Sit In On A Class

If you’re still not sure which class you want to pick, ask if you can sit in on a class to help make your decision. You’ll see exactly how it works and how good you think the trainer is.

The key to finding a good dog training course really is to do your research. However, you can save a lot of time and money by training your dog yourself. Just choose a good guide like the Secrets to Dog Training and you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to train your pet!

Not Rewarding Good Deeds

One of the most common dog training problems is not rewarding your dog when he does something right. Rewards are one of the best ways for your dog to learn what’s wrong and what’s right. Never forget to reward him when he performs the task you wanted him to!

Punishing Your Dog

Many people get frustrated when their dog isn’t picking things up. This is understandable, but you need to make sure that you stay calm and don’t punish him. If you do, he won’t enjoy the training, and he could become scared and aggressive.

Inconsistency

Your dog also needs you to be consistent. This means never backing down on what you expect of him, and always being firm. If you aren’t then he won’t look up to you as the top dog, and he won’t pay attention to what you tell him to do.

Dog training problems are bound to arise at some point, but as long as you keep your patience and rectify them as soon as possible then things should be OK. The best way to avoid these problems altogether is to invest in a proven training manual, like the one I use: Secrets to Dog Training.

Remember That Your Dog Learns From You

The top of the dog obedience tips is to remember that your dog is always watching you and learns from what you do. This is why it’s so important to remain firm in what you’re telling him to do, and to be consistent in the training that you give him. If you aren’t, he’ll start paying less attention and just do what he wants to do!

Using An Obedience Class

It’s perfectly possible to train your dog yourself, but there are also a number of obedience classes in existence. This teaches you about the way your dog thinks and why he does the things he does. You’ll learn how to teach him a number of different commands.

It Takes Time

The number one reason why people fail at obedience training is because they get frustrated and give up. Just remember that it won’t happen overnight. As long as you keep going, and try to do it at the same time each day, you’ll eventually see success.

So there are my top obedience training tips! It really isn’t as hard to do it yourself as you might think. I learned all my secrets from this dog training guide. Good luck!

Teaching Your Dog

Housebreaking a dog isn’t as hard as you might think thanks to the fact that dogs are very regular animals that get set in a routine. Your dog will like going to the bathroom in a similar spot where he can feel safe. So, whether you need to teach him to go outside, or at a specific area, you should be able to do it successfully.

Praise Him

When you’re training him, you need to praise him when he goes in the correct place. You should only ever tell him off when you catch him in the middle of the act. If you tell him off after the event then he won’t understand what he’s done wrong. Focus on positive reinforcement and you’ll work with your dog’s natural desire to please you.

It’s important to start the housebreaking training as soon as possible after you get your puppy. This means he’ll understand as soon as possible where he needs to go. And, each and every time you catch him in the act, you need to put it right straight away.

Housebreaking a dog really takes consistency until your dog understand just what it is you expect of him. It isn’t as hard as you might expect! For more advice on housebreaking and other training techniques, I recommend you take a look at the Secrets to Dog Training Guide.

Why is Your Dog Aggressive?

When training aggressive dogs, you need to try to understand why your dog has become aggressive in the first place. There are a number of reasons for dogs to become aggressive:

• They might be protecting their territory,
• They might feel threatened when something in their environment changes,
• They might lack confidence.

Some of the actions counted as aggressive include: barking, lunging at other people, biting and so on.

Training the Right Way

It’s important to realise that training aggressive dogs isn’t exactly the same as dog obedience training. Different techniques are required to protect the safety of everyone involved. You’ll find individual dog trainers specialising in this kind of training available to hire.

Look into the kind of methods that they will be using to train your dog – are they up to date? Some methods may be better for your dog than others. You want to make sure the trainer is experienced and has the best interests of your dog at heart.

Training aggressive dogs can be a real challenge, but it is possible to do it yourself. Be very careful and only use a guide you can really trust – and move slowly to get your dog to respond. I recommend Secrets to Dog Training, which has a whole section on aggressive dogs.