We have pets because we love them. We love being around them. Dogs love us and they want to please us. That's why it is crucial to train your dog. If you are unhappy and frustrated with your dog's behavior, they can sense this. It is important to train your dog so you can communicate with them. Then you'll have the freedom to be able to take them places and trust their behavior.

Dogs live in the present, so consequences must be immediate for their actions. When training, be prepared to reward your dog immediately for good behavior, whether it is with treats or praise. You need to be consistent with training. You and everyone she comes into contact with should respond the same to bad behavior. 

If your dog is very food motivated, then training with treats works well. However, treats can be higher in calories and can increase your dog's waistline. You may want to just use your dog's regular kibble. At Montana Veterinary Hospital and Boarding we use Hill's Science Diet t/d dog food for treats. This is a very large kibble, so it forces the dog to chew, which helps break down tarter.

Training with treats is a good way to get the whole family involved. It may be dangerous to have children give lease correction or other forms of punishment. Give your children a handful of kibble and teach them the commands that you are using. For dogs, punishment for misbehavior is not always clear. With positive reinforcement, you praise your dog and it is clear to them what you are trying to communicate. When training your dog, it's important to be consistent and patient. If your dog is not food motivated, just praising them and petting them can reward good behavior. 

Using a clicker is another form of positive reinforcement. It is a small clicking device that is held. When you tell your dog to sit, use your hands to make him sit, then you give him a treat. Most dogs catch on pretty quickly. When you use the clicker, you must give them a treat. If you do not give a treat, then it will lose some effectiveness. 
Some people choose to use e-collars as a training device. It is very important that you are familiar with the collar and the different settings. You need to find a level of stimulus that will get your dogs attention but will not cause pain.

The key to training your dog is to reward good behavior and make sure you do not reward behavior that you do not want. There are plenty of training tools out there, it's just figuring out what works best for you and your pet. 

For more information on training your dog contact our experienced team at the Montana and Boarding Veterinary Hospital in Bozeman, MT today by calling (406) 586-2019