If you're having dog training problems, you are not alone. In fact, most people who own dogs wish that they knew how to train their dog effectively. Fortunately there are several good methods to teach your dog obedience, and with what I'll show you in this article, you can be well on your way to having a well behaved dog. First, I need to dispel a common myth when it comes to dog training problems.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks
Actually, you can. While it's easier to train a puppy, it's certainly not impossible to train an adult dog. Granted, it will take you more time to train a fully grown dog because it's already learned behaviors, but it can be done. I will let you in on a little secret about dog training: it takes time and consistency. Most people mistakenly think that it will happen overnight, but it won't. The dogs that you see that are well trained got that way because of the dedication of their owner.
My dog won't walk on a leash!
This is a common problem, when a dog won't walk on a leash. Okay, maybe the dog will walk, but not the way you want him to? The main reason for this behavior is because your dog doesn't respect you. I know that sounds harsh, but it's the truth. Remember that dogs are pack animals and behave as such. Your dog is looking for the alpha dog, which is supposed to be you. If you don't exhibit alpha behavior, your dog will assume that role and will walk you around the block. If your dog pulls, lunges, walks too fast or too slow, it's because they have figured out that they are in charge and go when and where they want during your walk. To correct this, start by shortening the leash to force the dog to walk beside you. Ideally you want him to walk slightly behind you, but you may have to work up to this. Also, make the dog walk on the same side of you every time. This again establishes dominance and will make your dog more compliant.
I don't have a dog, I have a kangaroo!
Ah, yes - the jumping bean. Jumping up is a very common behavior in dogs, but depending on the size of your dog, may be a painful one. Jumping is one of the easiest dog training problems to correct, since it's your fault. I hate to say it, but you taught your dog to jump on you, now you have to teach it not to. When your dog was a puppy and came running over, jumping on your knees, did you bend down and pet him? If you did, you taught him to jump up to get affection. Your dog doesn't realize that he's gouging and bruising you, he's literally jumping for joy. What to do? This is the easy part. To stop this behavior, just turn your back to your dog. Remember that your dog is a pack animal and needs social acceptance. By turning your back to him, he will learn that jumping results in being shunned. Since your dogs desire is to please you, he will quickly stop jumping to regain your approval.
