How to Train Your Dog in Granger, IN

Are you trying to train your dog? Do you want to teach him how to behave better, or how to perform tricks? Whether you’ve got a brand new puppy or an older dog who needs to learn a little bit better household behavior, you can accomplish this with some effort.

In this article, we’ll show you six tips to help you learn more about training your dog in Granger, IN. With this information to back you up, you should be ready to tackle dog training easily.

Use Positive Reinforcement

The most important factor to keep in mind when training any dog is positive reinforcement. Dogs work well with positive reinforcement in their dog training and are more likely to learn quickly when you stick to this method.

A good way to reinforce a dog’s behavior positively is with training treats. If you are potty training a new puppy, for example, give him treats every time he goes potty outside. Pretty soon, he’ll realize he gets treats outside but not inside, and he’ll be more likely to wait until he is outdoors to go potty.
Dog Training in Granger, IN

Praise Often

Did your dog sit for the first time when told? Be sure to praise him! Did he not quite sit, but at least start to sit down when you told him to do so? Give him lots of praise then, too! Praise can include scratches behind the ears, pats on the head, and lots of “good boy” language.

Dogs respond very well to praise and are quick to recognize when they’ve done something right. Additionally, they want their owners to be happy with them, so they will be more likely to repeat this action in the future if they realize it makes you happy.

Don’t Yell

Yelling at your dog may be a kneejerk reaction if you get frustrated or mad at him, but this is not a good idea—in dog training or in any other circumstances. When you yell at your dog, you’re teaching him to be afraid of you and making him realize you might blow up at him without much warning at any time.

If your dog loses trust in you, then there is not much hope for him obeying commands as you work on training him. For this reason, you should refrain from yelling and particularly refrain from hitting him.

Be Patient

Some dogs are very quick to learn commands. Some, on the other hand, take a long time to get there. Even if you have an extremely intelligent dog, there are always going to be bumps in the road and problems along the way, because that’s just the nature of pet ownership.

It’s extremely important to stay patient with your pet throughout the dog training in Granger, IN. If you feel yourself getting too tense or angry, take a break and come back to the dog training exercises another time. This will preserve your dog’s trust in you as well as your relationship with each other.

Teach by Example

Your dog is just that—a dog. He’s not a human, and he doesn’t understand the language you’re speaking to him. Therefore, he also doesn’t know what words like “sit,” “come,” or “no” mean until you show him. Teaching by example is the best way for your dog to learn to associate certain actions with these command words.

If your dog has a habit of chewing on household items, simply saying “no” isn’t going to teach him anything. But if you catch him in the act, remove the household item from his mouth and then say “no,” he is more likely to realize what the word means.

Work in Steps

If you’re trying to teach your dog a trick, you might need to start with the first step of the trick before continuing on. For example, if you want him to learn “roll over,” you should first teach him “lie down.” Once he has the first step solidly learned, he can add onto it with another command.

This works the same way for more crucial commands, too. A dog may not understand “stay” until he learns “sit,” so teaching him this basic framework is important. Think in very small steps when you’re trying to figure out the best way to train your dog in Granger, IN.

Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic Can Help with Your Dog’s Training in Granger, IN

As you can see, there’s a lot to keep in mind when you’re trying to train a dog. New puppies may require more patience than older dogs, but older dogs may take longer to get the hang of commands than puppies do. Overall, there are always going to be hurdles along the way when you’re training a dog, but you should be able to achieve your goals when you keep these tips in mind.

Be sure to talk to your veterinarian at Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic in Granger, IN by calling (574) 277-6533 for more information or if you have any further questions about your dog’s individual needs moving forward.

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Welcome to Kryder & Harr Veterinary Clinic! Our animal hospital has been a fixture in the Granger community since 1981, practicing full-service veterinary medicine for all our pet parents and their furry family members. At KHVC, we pride ourselves on our history, of providing excellent customer service for our clients, along with dedicated, compassionate, and exceptional medical care for all of our patients.