Focus on rewarding positive behavior rather than punishing bad behavior. Give your dog a small treat or a chew toy when he is being calm. Stick to your own rules by not rough-housing with your dog or riling him up on purpose. Deciding on a whim that it is okay for your dog to act crazy when you usually discourage this will only confuse him.
Once your dog settles down, reward his calmness with attention. This will teach him that it was only once he relaxed that he got what he wanted from you. If you encounter a situation you can’t ignore (for instance, your dog has your child’s favorite doll in his mouth), get your dog to stop by distracting it with a toy. Once it stops, give it the toy as a reward. [4] X Research source
This requires frequently rewarding your dog for doing whatever it is that you want his default behavior to be. Use a very small treat as the reward, and give one to him whenever he engages in this behavior on his own. It is okay if you want your dog’s default behavior to be something you can also command him to do; just be sure to make the distinction in your training by not providing the command when reinforcing his default behavior.
In cases where you witness your dog resist temptation (for example, he walks right past that piece of chicken sitting on the dining table), you should take the opportunity to reward and praise your dog. This is about using common sense; dogs are intuitive, but they are not self-aware. No matter how well-behaved your dog is, you can’t expect him to behave perfectly. Help him out where you can!
It is important that your dog gets physical exercise every day. How much exercise and how strenuous depends on your dog’s age, breed, and health. [8] X Research source Visit the American Kennel Club’s breed description website to learn about your dog’s needs. [9] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source Your dog should receive regular mental exercise, too. [10] X Expert Source Ty BrownDog Trainer Expert Interview. 4 June 2020. You can even incorporate this into his dinner time by making him work for his food (by putting it in a dispenser or toy designed to release a little at a time).
Prolonged and intense stimulation, such as is experienced at a dog park, may seem like a great outlet for your dog, but in reality this can wind him up and make it more difficult for him to calm down, even long afterward. This advice applies to other situations with lots of people and/or dogs, too (such as parades, festivals, concerts, farmer’s markets, etc. ).
Make sure your dog is not already overly excited before you go on your walk. Stand quietly and wait for him to stop barking, spinning, jumping, or whatever before you head outside. Never let the dog pull on the leash. Keep him next to you at all times, and stop walking any time he jolts ahead of you and pulls. Give him a treat when he’s paying attention to you and when he’s doing a good job of sticking by your side. Use verbal commands such as “heel” or “slow” to signal your dog and reward him when he does what you are asking. Eventually, he will learn what these terms mean and respond accordingly. Walk at a brisk pace at first to make it less difficult for your excited pooch to match your walking speed. You can use quick, sharp jerks of the leash to tell your dog when he is behaving inappropriately – just make sure you don’t pull on it, as this could make him think pulling is okay. [13] X Expert Source Ty BrownDog Trainer Expert Interview. 4 June 2020.
This will work best if you do not put your dog’s Thundershirt on him unless he is feeling scared or anxious. “Thundershirt” is the name of a trademarked invention; visit their website for more information about their products. Alternatively, you can purchase a regular pet shirt that fits your dog snugly (but not too tightly); these are easy to find at any pet store or online.
Obedience school sessions can only give you the tools with which to train your dog yourself. Do not think of this as a substitute for doing the work of training; you must work with your dog outside the classroom regularly in order to see results. If you do not already know of training classes near you, search Craigslist or other online community boards for information about local dog obedience courses.
For positive reinforcement to work, you must deliver the reward as quickly as possible following the good behavior. If you wait too long between your dog’s action and the reward, he won’t make the connection between the two. Many people find that using a clicker (a small device that makes a ‘click’ sound when squeezed) helps dogs associate their good behavior with rewards. Clicker training manuals and equipment can be found at your local pet store or online.
Be sure to find a book written by an expert on animal behavior. Check the credentials of the author by searching his or her name online.
Crates are best used as training tools for puppies. If at all possible, avoid locking your dog in a crate while you are at work or even overnight. With training, your dog’s behavior will be good enough that you can trust him in the house unsupervised. Keep in mind that although a crate can keep your dog from destroying furniture or urinating in the house, it can’t keep him from misbehaving altogether. A barking or howling dog is no fun to deal with all the time, and they can still do this from inside a crate.
Consider using a leash during vocal command training (even in the house). If your dog disobeys you or won’t pay attention, a sharp tug on the leash will serve as a correction. Remember to reward your dog for responding appropriately to your commands (verbal or otherwise), even if this behavior immediately follows a corrective action (such as a leash tug). Otherwise, he will have no reason to obey you!
