5 Skills To Teach Your Dog
Who says you can’t teach an old dog a new trick? No matter the age of your dog, you can certainly teach them new skills.
Dogs are creatures of habit. When you are patient with them and repeat various commands over and over, you will have a well-trained dog. Training is an ongoing process for dogs, and as the years go by, you can teach them anything from sit to play dead.
Well-behaved pets make your time more enjoyable with them. If you recently got a puppy, adopted a shelter dog, became a home for an elderly dog or are looking to improve skills for the dog you already own, you’ve come to the right place.
Here are five skills to teach your dog so he or she will be the most well-mannered pet.
1. House Training
If you’re going to keep your dog inside, they should be house trained. House training allows your pet to wait for extended periods before having to relieve themselves, and it will teach your dog where they can or cannot be in the house.
Set a routine with your dog around the times you want them to go outside. When the time comes that they have to relieve themselves, they will automatically go to the door, giving you a cue they need out.
After your dog comes back inside, reward them with a treat. Accidents will happen, especially early on in training — do not punish your dog. They likely didn’t know better, and you will have to be more consistent with them while training. If your dog is having repeated accidents and is over six months old, you may want to see a vet in case your dog has a medical issue.
2. Socializing
Another important skill for any dog is socializing. You want your dog to react positively to new people, smells and places.
You’ll want to avoid bringing a new dog, no matter what age or breed, immediately into a scenario with hundreds of people or other animals. That will overwhelm them, and you’ll have a more difficult time controlling them. Start small — introduce your dog to the area, whether it be a new home or a store. Invite family or friends with other dogs to your home.
A dog who’s overwhelmed can feel nervous or even scared in an unknown environment. Things and people that are completely normal and harmless may even appear threatening to a scared pet. This lies at the core of many accidents as an expert dog bite lawyer explains. In short, it’s best to take baby steps and help your dog gradually get used to new social settings.
Repeat introducing your dog to new environments and new people, and gradually increase the number of new people and places they observe. Remember to reward them for good behavior, and positively remind them that the new person or place is okay.
3. Walking on a Loose Leash
Your dog should be getting ample exercise to stay healthy, especially if you don’t have a large yard for your dog to run around. When you take your dog for a walk, you want them to walk beside you, rather than tugging on the leash and dragging you forward.
You should always be in control of your dog. Some steps to take to train your dog to walk on a loose leash include:
● Getting them accustomed to a collar or harness: Let your dog wear a collar or harness in your house before taking them on a walk. Reward them with treats when they wear it so they will associate the collar or harness with food.
● Having your dog come to you: Whatever vocal command you use to get your dog to come, use that while they wear the collar. Walk around your house and command your dog to come with you as you move.
● Putting on the leash: Before heading outside for a walk, practice with the leash inside. Repeat having your dog walk with you, but have the leash on them. Once your dog gets used to the leash inside, you can take them outside.
Dog walking benefits both you and your dog because you’re both getting exercise, and it is a great way to socialize.
4. Sitting and Staying
“Sit” is a classic command and probably one of the first things you will teach your dog. Sitting is a natural motion for dogs, so associating it with a motion or voice command will get your dog listening to you in no time.
While your dog is standing, take a treat and bring it back behind their head from the front. They’ll follow the treat and sit. Once your dog is in the sitting position, reward them with the treat. Repeat this process, and you’ll soon be able to do it without a treat.
When your dog is comfortable with sitting on your command, you can teach them to stay. Hold out your hand in front of your dog and vocalize “stay.” After some time, if your dog doesn’t move, reward them with a treat. Continue to repeat this, making your dog hold still longer each time. Then, you can begin moving away from them and gradually increasing the distance.
5. Adding Fun Skills
While you’re training your dog, you want to add variety to keep both you and your dog entertained. Once you have successfully taught your dog the fundamentals, try out some of these tricks:
● Shake: Simply hold out your hand and wait until your dog gives you their paw. There is no need to grab the paw, as your dog will eventually figure it out. Reward with a treat and repeat using the verbal command “shake.”
● Roll over: Begin with your dog in a laying position. Take a treat and move it from one side of their head to the other. Repeat until your dog is able to completely roll over and give them the verbal cue “roll over.”
There are many other advanced skills you can teach your dog. Always remember to reward them for doing what you command!
Teach Your Dog a New Trick
With repetition and positive reinforcement, your dog, no matter what age they are, can learn new skills and improve at ones they already know. It’s never too late to teach an old dog a new trick.