Dog and Puppy Adoption &Training
Every dog needs to be adequately trained
to do away with some of the habits like pushing owners to
play, barking relentlessly, jumping on guests, chewing up
apparels or shoelaces or messing around the household. Behavioral
problems can be rectified easily through a mechanism of consistent
training followed by positive reinforcement. Dogs can also
be taught to perform certain tasks like fetching newspapers
and other things, and performing tricks.
Certain commands like ‘sit’,
‘down’, ‘no’, ‘go potty’
etc should be taught. Aside from the above basic commands,
certain complex commands can also be taught over a period
of time. Some dogs have inherent traits based on which they
can be trained as therapy dogs, watchdogs, guide-dogs, and
rescue dogs and also as hunting dogs. However, these specialized
tasks need professional training.
Owners can also teach simpler commands without
professional help. It should be kept in mind that each dog
has a unique personality. It is easier to train dogs that
are submissive. Dominant ones are extremely difficult to housebreak
and owners need a lot of patience to make them fully trained.
To have a happy, well-behaved canine friend,
owners should start training their dogs when they are just
about 3 weeks of age. Dogs have a habit of getting on the
wrong side of other canines in the area or even strangers
and thus need adequate socialization from an early age. Owners
should allow their pups to interact with other puppies in
the area and also encourage them to interact with their friends
who are otherwise strangers for the dog.
Puppies should be properly crate-trained.
Crate training is one of the most effective means of housetraining.
A secure spot should be selected for this purpose and covered
with a newspaper. Puppies should be kept confined in a spacious
crate with baby gates. Dogs usually do not defecate in the
area where they stay and thus should be taught to remain in
that spot unless commanded otherwise.
Owners should take their pups out after each
regular meal to a selected spot. This schedule is to be adhered
to. However, in spite of all the training, accidents still
occur and owners should refrain from rebuking them under such
circumstances but should express their disapproval explicitly.
Puppies are sensitive to rude behavior and might develop severe
incurable behavioral problems if ill-treated. They are to
be taught certain commands by using the same signs and words
to make them understand what is expected of them. Owners should
reward them with tidbits or praise them amply after successful
completion of each task and make their pets earn their rewards.
It is sad to find dogs ending up in rescue
shelters for no fault of theirs. They have abandoned because
their owners have failed to train them. Owners should always
make an effort to give the best possible life to their loyal
canine friends and in case they are unable to accord proper
training, a professional trainer must always be consulted.
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