Tips for Training Fido

Did you know that February is Dog Training Education Month? If your pooch still needs to work on his petiquette, this is a great time to do so.  In this article from Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair, TX animal hospital, a veterinarian offers some tips on training dogs.

Basics First

Dogs can learn up to 100 words, and can perform fairly complex commands. You may eventually be able to teach Fido to put his toys away, bring you a drink, or turn lights off and on. However, first your furry buddy will have to master the basics. Make sure your pup knows simple commands like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down before moving on to  advanced training.

Petiquette

In addition to teaching your canine buddy commands, it’s also important to teach him manners. Nip bad habits, like jumping on people and begging at the table, in the bud!

Lesson Plan

Dogs don’t have very long attention spans, except when it comes to watching their humans cook bacon. Keep classes short and sweet. You don’t want your furry pupil getting bored!

Rewards

Rewarding your four-legged pal for doing well is a big part of training. Treats are great for this. Use small portions, so you don’t overfeed your adorable student. It’s also important to reinforce good behavior with praise. Use positive phrases, like ‘Good boy.’

Pawsitive Thoughts

You want your dog to enjoy training, so it’s important to make it fun and rewarding for him. Never punish your canine companion for slipping up. Focus on rewarding him for making progress. Also, you should only work with Fido when you are in a good mood. Dogs are very intuitive, and can tell when their humans are feeling sad or grumpy. This could make your loyal pet wary of training. You definitely don’t want that!

Consistency

You may find that there are several methods for training dogs. Avoid those that use negative reinforcement, such as shock collars. It’s also very important to use the same phrases each time when teaching your dog vocal commands. Man’s Best Friend doesn’t understand nuances of speech. Telling your furry pal to ‘Lay down’ one day, and then the next saying ‘Fido, go lay down right now’ will just confuse him.

Here at Fairfield Animal Hospital, your Cy-Fair, TX animal clinic we are dedicated to offering great veterinary care. Please contact us anytime!