Training your dog is more than having a cool dog that can do tricks. Your dog must learn basic obedience to ensure the safety of the dog, you – the owner as well as everyone around you. For instance, when you take your dog for a walk without a leash or your dog runs out when the door or gate is left open, it’s crucial that he comes back when you call after him. It is this kind of discipline that can help you keep your dog safe and away from a speeding car or an aggressive animal in such a situation.
You don’t want your dog to scare a child or an elderly neighbour walking past your house. So, a dog that has had good training will not only be a delight to your household, but the entire neighbourhood.
As dog training in Sri Lanka becomes a popular topic, let’s look at how to train your dog the right way:
Start early
A dog’s attention span is long enough to begin learning simple instructions when he is three or four months old. Begin with potty-training and home ground rules, such as where he sleeps, where he should stay during mealtimes and which rooms he is allowed in. It’s important to start training your dog as early as possible when they come to the right age.
Before you start…
First, do your research and find good resources and tools needed to start the training. An appropriate training collar and leash for your dog’s size and weight is a must. So, are some small treats to reward your dog for good behaviours. You can find some of these items and accessories listed on ikman.
You can always take your dog to a dog training centre in Sri Lanka for guidance. There are also Dog training courses in Sri Lanka that you can enroll your dog in. You can do a simple search to find the best dog training centres in Colombo and dog training prices in Sri Lanka.
How to train your dog
You can give your dog a simple command using its name. Give him a treat and positive reinforcement when he does it correctly. If he doesn’t understand it right away, guide him to perform the command. And do it repeatedly until he gets the hang of it.
Here are some basic commands you can start with:
- Heel
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Watch me or look.
- Down or Lie Down.
- Take it
- Drop it.
- Stand
Dog training in Sri Lanka | Important tips to remember
- To prevent confusing the dog, repeat each order with the same short word and his name.
- Keep training sessions short – the attention span of a dog is limited.
- Train the fundamental instructions 3-5 times a day, with each session lasting no more than 10 to 15 minutes.
- Keep in mind that your dog is eager to please – he will respond positively to praise and shy away from punishment. Patience, effort, and a lot of love go a long way toward training an untrained pet to become a devoted and attentive dog.
Training Techniques
Training a dog the right way involves a myriad of different training techniques:
Paper Training
When looking after dogs or puppies, one of the most important aspects of training that they can learn is house training. This method is one of the lengthiest and rigorous. There are 2 distinct methods of house training, known as paper training and crate training. The latter is the more commonly employed method, though the former does have its uses. If you attempt one and find that it does not work, it’s important to understand how to use the other method in such a situation.
In essence, paper training is designed to teach a dog the correct spot for relieving themselves within the house, usually in the form of a large area covered with newspaper. This is a great form of training for pet owners that feel as though they won’t always have time to give their pet ample opportunities to roam outside of the house. Paper training will be a gradual process, which means that the dog should show improvements over time. As it won’t happen right away, it’s important to never show frustration with your dog when they relieve themselves inside the house.
With all types of training, consistency is essential. A dog will pick up visual and sound cues that will tell them when they have done something wrong. You don’t have to raise your voice or spank the dog. In regards to paper training, while the newspaper is to be placed in a large area, it should be reduced over time. Whenever you feel that the dog has become fully accustomed to relieving themselves in that area, remove more of the newpaper, until there is only a small area left. However, this method is meant to lead into crate training, so it will not be wholly sufficient in and of itself.
Crate Training
Crate training is one of the more successful forms of training, as it helps a dog to understand boundaries, as well as the right time to relieve themselves. You will find that once dogs understand that the crate is their own unique place to sleep and rest in during the day, they will be easier to train in a plethora of other ways. When crate training a dog, try to place all of your dog’s treats and toys into the crate, leaving the door open as you do. While they will eventually leave the crate, they will start to understand that the crate is where they can go for basic comforts. Shut the door for 10-15 seconds the first time and then let them out. Keep repeating this step and increase the amount of time the door is closed until you are able to reach 7-10 minutes. Once you have done this, the dog should understand the reason for the crate. It’s also possible that some puppies for sale may already be crate trained.
Following the initial crate training, you can now use the crate as a means of continuing their house training. During the time when you are using the crate to train a pet dog to relieve themselves outside, it’s important to only let them out of the crate to take them out for their “bathroom” break. Do this regularly throughout the day and at least once in the morning and at night. This method of training can take a few months to perfect.
Leash Training
When considering puppies or dogs for sale, you should go ahead and buy a leash, as leash training can be very useful and can provide a dog with proper exercise. Taking a dog outside without a leash can result in them running away. It’s important for a dog to undergo leash training, as it will help them to behave themselves as you’re walking them, instead of pulling the leash or constantly running around everywhere. To ensure that a dog knows how to behave appropriately, reward them with a small treat every time they they exhibit correct behaviour when you’re out walking. Over time, they will learn to eliminate their incorrect behavioural patterns.
Obedience Training
When keeping pet dogs, the best way for them to understand what you want without feeling as though you have to resort to raising your voice is by training your pet to listen to certain voice commands, with stay being the most common and useful of these. This is also known as obedience training. While it’s possible that you will come by a dog that has already received proper obedience training when looking for dogs for sale, it’s unlikely.
Sit is likely the easiest command to teach a dog. You will need to sit down in front of your dog and hold a treat directly above their nose. Start lifting the treat higher. As you do, the head of the dog will follow the treat, while their bottom will get lower to the ground. Once it reaches the floor, immediately give them the treat and praise them. Repeat this step often and incorporate the word “sit” whenever you do.
Final words
Keeping pet dogs and puppies is something that requires a lot of love and patience, doubly so when training them. It’s important to never show a dog when you’re unhappy with their behaviour. Instead, a dog needs positive reinforcement. Make sure they know how happy you are with them when they do something right. This will allow the dog to naturally phase out their bad behaviour.
But first, if you are looking for a puppy to buy, check our dog for sale listings in ikman. Whether you are looking for a friendly Labrador or a guard dog like a German Shepherd or Rottweiler, we have the puppy just for you.
if you are in the early stages of looking for the perfect puppy for you, there are some things you need to look out for when buying a puppy.
