How Do Puppies Learn?

When training a new puppy, you should understand how puppies learn in order to have successful training sessions.

* You want to make each session as pleasant and positive as you can.
* Repeat exercises, as the more you repeat, the more reliant you pup will be at the command.

How Do Puppies Learn?

The characteristics of how puppies learn is also pretty accurate for training older dogs, as well. I mean a canine is a canine, the difference being that puppies are typically more hyper. It can also take puppiese a little longer to catch on to new commands, but of course the all depends on your training method and how often you train.

Dog Training Tips

Dog training is the single most important aspect of raising a dog, well besides regular vaccinations. Basic obedience, alone, is a great way to keep your dog safe; by teaching simple commands like "leave it" and "wait," can really save your dogs life one day. "Leave it" can stop your dog from snatching up medication or another toxin that has either fallen on the floor or that has been left behing; "wait" can stop your dog from progressing further, such as running out into the road or out the door when you're not ready.

Positive training is the most effective form of dog training; but using the clicker and positive reinforcements will teach your dog what behaviors you want him to repeat with certain commands.

Once you tackle basic obedience, you can move onto fun tricks and agility, which will help stimulate your dog's mind and keep him exercised (if you opt for agility).

For more information, check out:
Dog Training Tips, Help, and Techniques

Tips for Getting a Puppy

Before bringing home a new puppy, whether you already have a dog or not, you need to consider everything.

Training.

Housebreaking.

Vet Bills.

Feeding.

Exercise.

Etc.

Who will take on these tasks?

You need to make sure that you are prepared to bring home a new puppy, or dog.

Read Owning A Dog: Tips, Tricks, and Help

Remember that training starts as soon as you bring a new puppy home. So make sure that you are prepared in how to properly train a dog.

Reinforcement Training
Clicker Training
Dog Training Tools

Make sure that you are, also, aware of basic obedience commands:
Basic Obedience Training Part 1
Basic Obedience Training Part 2

Dog Tricks

Dog tricks are fun for you and your dog. There are so many tricks that you can teach your dog. Show them off for friends, too. Try teaching your dog wave and spin. Why stop there? Why not try teaching your dog to put up his toys and to say he's sorry?

Correcting Problem Behaviors

Dog problem behaviors can be rough to live with. Whether they be digging, chewing, barking, jumping, or any other nuissance behavior. You can untrain your dog of these problem behaviors as easy as you trained him. Yes, more than likely you unwillingly trained your dog to jump.

When you dog was a puppy, and he jumped on you, what did you do? More than likely, you pet him. Right? The you just rewarded the behavior. From that point on the dog associated jumping on you, or any other person as getting pet, so anytime he wanted your attention or to be petted, he would jump on you. But, now that the cute 10 pound puppy is no longer 10 pounds, but 60, what do you do?

Find ways to solve the problem behaviors. That's what you do. Once you have found the cause to the problem behavior, you can begin to fix it.

But, not all problem behaviors are as simple, as you'd think. Some behaviors are caused be some fear or emotion within the dog. Yes, dog's can be scared, too. Some dogs are scared of thunder and storms, whether it be because of the loud noise, the rain, or the change in barometic pressure. But, either way, you can fix... Well, unless it's the change in barometric pressure, otherwise, I have a few tips. Try drowning out the should with loud music or television. Occupy the dog during the storm. On a sunny day, play a recording of a thunder storm, slowly raising the volume, until the dog doesn't care.

In any sense, you CAN fix the problem behaviors that are ruining your lifestyle. In many cases may even be embarrassed of your dog's behaviors. Well, fix them. Don't hide or crate the dog, that's a quick fix, truly dig deep and fix the problems. It'll be worth it in the end.

Dog Agility Training

If you've decided to train your dog agility. Awesome choice. It's a great way to run the energy out of you dog and loose a few calories while you're at it. You want to learn the basics of the sport, as yes, it is a sport. Learn the history behind today's competitive dog sport. Learn what each obstacle is and looks like.

Then, find out how to best train each obstacle from the jump to the tunnel to the seesaw. The best and quickest way is to target train mixed with a little clicker training. Have the dog target a plate of some kind of object in order to clear the bar jump obstacle or to properly run over the dog walk.

Next, learn the course. Learn the faults. Know how to run it. Get used the the ever changing agility course. You won't have a problem as long as you dog knows how to perform each obstacle. At that point, you'll be able to run the course with ease and efficiency.