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Dog Training

Dog owner walks black Labrador Retriever puppy. Puppies have short attention spans and do best when keeping training sessions short and mixing obedience training with playtime.
Puppies have short attention spans and do best when keeping training sessions short and mixing obedience training with playtime.

Dog training takes time and effort. And it needs to start the day you bring your puppy or dog home.

Dog training should be a lifelong project for you and your dog. Make it fun and mix playtime with dog training.

To be successful, use these dog training tips: Be a leader, be firm, be humane and give praise.

Be a leader

Dogs are social, pack-oriented animals who respond best to a leader figure whether dog or human. The best pack leaders are the ones who are the most consistent. Dogs react to consistency because they know they can trust the consistent leader. Consistent leaders don’t invite the dog onto the couch one day and punish him the next when he jumps on the couch without permission.

Be firm

Good leaders are firm without being harsh. A good leader tells the dog to do something. He or she doesn’t shout at the dog, plead with the dog or scream at the dog to obey. The punctuation at the end of a good leader’s command is merely a period.

Be humane

Third, a good leader is compassionate. He or she doesn’t punish the dog for mistakes that were made by the leader.

Give praise

When the dog does something praiseworthy, deliver approval immediately. The good leader does not praise behaviors that are unwanted, no matter how unintentional the recognition may be.

If the dog is showing fear, aggressiveness, or timidity, the good leader either ignores the behavior or tells the dog to knock it off. The good leader doesn’t praise, and, therefore, encourage the response, by stroking the dog, telling him it’s OK, you’re a good boy, etc., while the dog is acting out.

A terrific way to help your new dog bond with his older companion is to walk them together.

Take steps to help older dog adjust when you add new dog

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Older dogs usually accept a new dog, but some struggle. Let the dogs work it out. Step in only if the situation could become violent.

Filed Under: Adoption, Dog Training, Puppies, Top Stories Tagged With: Petfinder.com, Two dogs

Happy Border Collie runs through tunnel on obstacle course. Training games strengthen bonds between you and your dog while providing mental stimulation, physical exercise, and positive reinforcement.

Use 10 fun training games to teach your dog new tricks

Posted May 27, 2023

Training games strengthen bonds between you and your dog while providing mental stimulation, physical exercise, and positive reinforcement.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Dog training tips

The most common warning signs to watch for in your puppy's behaviors include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominance, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and of course, biting!

Take action immediately if you spot 11 aggressive puppy warning signs

Posted May 25, 2023

The most common aggressive puppy warning signs to watch for include behaviors like snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, and biting.

Filed Under: Dog Health, Dog Training, Puppies, Top Stories Tagged With: Aggression, Dog manners

White French Bulldog wears a purple harness for a dog walk. Harnesses provide better control of your pup, helping to reduce the risk of dog walking injuries like falls or muscle strain due to sudden tugging.

Use 11 helpful strategies to prevent dog walking injuries

Posted May 24, 2023

Learn about common dog walking injuries and how to prevent them to keep yourself and your pup safe on your daily adventures.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Dog walks

Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

Posted May 22, 2023

Raising a puppy takes work and patience. Use DogsBestLife.com’s Puppy Training 101 guide to give your puppy the best possible start in life.

Filed Under: Dog Training, Puppies, Top Stories Tagged With: Crate training, Dog training tips, Neutering and spaying, Potty training, Socialization

Potty train a puppy photo illustration. You can potty train a puppy in as little as two weeks with consistency and patience. Full housebreaking may take up to three months.

No more mess: Understand how long it takes to potty train a puppy

Posted May 19, 2023

You can potty train a puppy in as little as two weeks with consistency and patience. Full housebreaking may take up to three months.

Filed Under: Dog Training, Puppies Tagged With: Potty training

Border Collie participates in flyball. Discover your dog's hidden talents. From problem-solving skills to an exceptional sense of smell, look for secret abilities.

5 surprising talents your dog has been hiding from you

Posted May 17, 2023

Discover your dog’s hidden talents. From problem-solving skills to an exceptional sense of smell, look for secret abilities.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Dog training tips

Raising a puppy can be challenging and it generally takes between 6 months to a year to fully train them, including potty training, crate training, basic commands and more.

How long does it take to train a puppy? Help dog master basic skills

Posted May 13, 2023

It generally takes between 6 months to a year to fully train a puppy, including potty training, crate training, basic commands and more.

Filed Under: Dog Training, Puppies Tagged With: Crate training, Dog training tips, Dog walks, Potty training

Photo illustration of a chihuahua biting a man's hand. Need help after a dog bite injury? An experienced lawyer can evaluate your dog bite case for free and fight for the money you deserve.

Dog bite: Is hiring a lawyer for your case expensive?

Posted May 12, 2023

Need help after a dog bite injury? An experienced lawyer can evaluate your dog bite case for free and fight for the money you deserve.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Biting

Happy Golden Retriever enjoys spending time in swimming pool. Basic dog swimming pool safety message: Never force or throw your dog into the pool. It is always better when the dog thinks getting into the pool is his idea.

Get your dog in the swimming pool in 6 easy steps

Posted May 10, 2023

Start when your dog is young and use lots of treats and patience to coax him into the dog swimming pool. Make getting into the pool a positive experience.

Filed Under: Dog Training, Home Page Tagged With: Dog safety

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