Questions on Dog Training

Dog training is an ongoing process. There is always something new your dog can learn. The basics are most important for a happy and well adjusted dog. Pet dogs that don't know the boundaries are prone to constantly making mistakes. Consistently and compassionately correcting mistakes will gradually teach your dog what he is allowed to do. Inconsistency confuses your dog and leads to anxiety.

When Should I Begin?
- Professional dog trainer Cesar Milan advises that you begin dog training as soon as you get a new puppy. In the wild, puppies learn to follow their mother and copy her actions. In the domestic environment, you assume the role of pack leader. Don't attempt complex tricks and commands with a young puppy. Begin basic training such as showing verbally correcting the dog when he does something naughty.
Should I Punish Mistakes?
- Positive reinforcement is preferable to punishment.
  
  Punishing mistakes creates more problems than it fixes. Dogs learn by association, so give the dog a positive stimulus every time he does something right. This way the dog will seek to repeat the action. For example, if the dog has an accident and urinates in the house, punishing him is pointless. The dog will associate the act of urinating with the consequence of punishment. This can lead to anxiety when the dog needs the toilet. Encourage the dog into the yard and give him a food reward when he goes. If another accident happens, ignore it.
Is My Dog Ignoring Me?
- Wait for eye contact from the dog before giving a command.
  
  It's possible that your dog is distracted. Call its name gently and as soon as it looks your way, issue verbal praise. The key to successful training is gaining and keeping your dog's attention. Don't attempt to train the dog when there are lots of distractions. Conduct training in a quiet environment free from other people.
How Do I Reward My Dog?
- Know your dog's currency.
  
  Find out what motivates your dog most. Some dogs are greedy and will do anything for a treat. Other dogs respond better to a toy or physical contact. Monitor your dog's response to each stimulus so that you know what the best motivation is. Issue the reward each time your dog correctly follows a command. Ensure that you issue the reward quickly so that the dog associates the action with the consequence.
How Do I Train My Deaf Dog?
- Wearing sunglasses makes dog training harder. Dogs read our facial expressions.
  
  Your dog doesn't know it is deaf. A dog will adapt its other senses to compensate for the lack of hearing. By giving hand signals instead of verbal commands you can use exactly the same approach to training as you would with a dog that can hear. If your dog is distracted, stamp on the floor until it looks at you. Your dog will feel the vibration on the floor and will naturally look around to find the source.