A dog can be trained to stop negative behavior such as growling and barking. Even if they can’t be fixed completely, you can still make improvements by following this article. You will not find a better pet than a canine, but proper training is a must.

You will have to repeat commands several times before your dog learns it. It may take about 25-50 repetitions of a particular command before your dog understands it. Being patient while trying the same task or command will allow your dog to understand it.

Your dog must respect you in order for training to work. Your dog will neither obey nor respect you if he believes he is the leader of your household. Always walk in front, in the leadership position, letting your dog follow behind.

Repeat training exercises every day until your dog remembers them. Often, owners get the feeling that they do not need to continue working with the dog once it is trained. But pets and humans actually share the same types of habit learning systems; if they don’t practice they will forget! For this reason, you need to reinforce what your dog has learned in training or better still, teach him a new trick every now and then.

Refrain from using higher end training gadgets, such as shock collar devices. They might not work like they say they do and they cost too much. These devices can stifle your dog’s natural reactions and have negative effects on even good or acceptable behaviors. You will usually get negative results with these techniques.

Have a treat prepared for rewarding your dog when they follow a command properly. You want to make sure that your dog understands that he has accomplished a good thing. By rewarding your dog after it does something you want, it will realize that it’s doing a good thing. Therefore, it will be more likely to continue this good behavior.

Never allow your training sessions to run on for too long. Dogs have a short attention span, and keeping the training sessions short and sweet prevents them from becoming a boring chore your dog dreads. Instead, have multiple, short sessions with breaks for playtime in between.

Use positive reinforcement when you are training your dog. Praise your dog when he deserves it, and give him treats to show that you are pleased. Don’t yell and/or hit your dog. Not only are those things ineffective, but they are also cruel. Be firm, positive and consistent, and you will get great results.

Now that you have received the helpful advice in this article, you should now be aware how easy it is to train your dog. Armed with education, patience and the right philosophy, puppy training is eminently feasible. Training can actually make your dog happier and healthier.