Begin training your pup early in life:
This is so since whatever is learnt early in life is easier to learn and teach. Besides, the older your untrained dog, the more difficult for you to make him “un-learn” all his bad habits.
Be gentle and humane while training:
Train your dog with gentleness and humaneness, and always use positive motivational methods. Make your obedience sessions upbeat so that he enjoys them, but if things begin to drag, try the play training approach by using games like Hide-n-Seek, Fetch, etc.
Does he demand or beg for your attention?
If your dog wants your food while you’re dining, that’s bad enough. And if he jumps on you while you’re lounging around, that doesn’t speak well of his training either. Does he demand your attention when you have visitors or does he ignore your commands? If he responds to you well at home, you can expect the same of him outdoors too, but if he doesn’t, he’s going to ignore you when he sees other dogs in the street or pigeons, passers-by or food scraps.
Give commands to him that you want enforced:
If you give your pet a command, see that he obeys it. But if it is not, then the message your dog picks up is that obeying you is really at his discretion.
One command must beg one response from him:
Make him learn that every time you shout out a command, it must be answered by one response from him. If you repeat your commands, your dog gets bored and doesn’t apply his mind to anything you say. It also teaches him that you’re calling his bluff. So, don’t say “Sit, sit, sit, sit!” if what you mean is “sit.” Once you’ve said the word, lure him into doing what you want him to, then reward him amply.
Don’t combine commands:
If you combine commands, it confuses your dog. So, either say “sit” or “down,” but never “sit down” as he knows that each of these words is for a separate action.
Speak in a calm and authoritative voice:
When issuing a command, neither should you speak in a loud nor harsh voice, but certainly speak in a calm and authoritative voice. Even if he is especially unresponsive, let your voice waft across to him calmly. Then, he will begin to respond. Sometimes, dogs don’t respond because they are confused as to what their owners really want and at other times they could be deterred by fear or nervousness.
Use your dog’s name positively:
Take your pet’s name positively rather than combining it with reprimands, warnings or punishment. Your dog should be confident that when his name is called, good things will happen to him. He should be able to respond to his name with enthusiasm rather than fear.
Correct his bad behavior, rather than punishing him:
Teach your pet what he should do, communicate this to him, but don’t beat him in order to teach him. This will not serve to teach him the lesson you want him to learn but instead will undermine your relationship, and keep all the fun out of your motivational training.
Time your training:
You need to catch your dog in time just as he is about to make a mistake in behavior and correct him in the act. For instance, just when he is poised to jump on the kitchen counter and grab some food, correct him then and there. In his mind, the action and your response combine to teach him the lesson you want him to learn. Now, he will never jump onto the kitchen counter for food.
Don’t give your dog attention when he misbehaves:
Don’t do this because this only reinforces this kind of behavior that you want out of his behavior pattern.
Be patient:
Your untrained dog may give you many occasions to lose your cool, but keep a handle on your anger. It doesn’t pay to be angry nor should you yell, hit or be harsh with your pet. This intimidates him and instills fear and stress in his mind where you are concerned.
