Dogs unconditionally love their owners. They are always there for their human parents through thick and thin, supporting them both mentally and emotionally. Their furry friends’ smile and antics brighten up dog owners’ days.

If you do not have a dog, you should seriously consider bringing one home. Your loved ones will thank you for adding the canine to your family. One of the first things you need to do after adding a dog to your family is to train it.

Training your dog is essential because it allows you to understand the canine and vice versa, while developing a language with your furry friend to guide it to successful behavior patterns.

You cannot train your dog overnight. Instead of trying to teach your four-legged friend too many things too fast, try to achieve your goals through incremental steps. Here are some training tips you might find useful from Bridewell Hilltop Kennels, a local dog boarding company.

Start with Simple, Easy-to-Comprehend Commands

Train your dog to understand commands like ‘no’ and ‘good’. The easiest way to do this is through your tone. Whenever your dog exhibits unacceptable behavior, say NO in a stern voice. On the contrary, whenever the pooch exhibits good behavior, say GOOD in a cheerful tone.

Once your dog can distinguish between good and bad behavior, you can start teaching it to learn more complex commands like sit, lie down, and shake.

Socialize Your Puppy With Other Dogs and Humans

Dogs can get anxious around new people or other dogs and animals. To ensure it does not get nervous or panic when a new person approaches it, teach your dog to behave around people and other pets.

Take your furry friend for frequent walks to expose it to new sights, sounds, and smells. Once your dog’s confidence grows, introduce it to a dog park. Whenever you have guests, encourage your furry friend to approach them.

Use Positive Reinforcement

Reward your dog with a treat whenever it exhibits positive behavior. Initiate a game whenever your dog does something you like. Give your dog your undivided attention (by cuddling or praising it) as a reward for following your commands to reinforce positive behaviors.

Be Consistent

When it comes to training a dog, consistency is the key to success. Avoid changing training rules frequently, as your dog can get confused. Create a schedule and stick to it. Be careful when choosing the words you want to use, and make sure you are consistent with your use of words. Limit obedience training to six minutes a day (three short two-minute sessions).

Are you looking for a dog boarding facility near you? Look no further than Bridewell Hilltop. We have separate boarding facilities for dogs and cats. Our team is made of passionate animal lovers who understand animal behavior. They love interacting with animals and go the extra mile, if required, to make our guests feel safe, loved, and cared for. To learn more about us, call us at (415) 897-5471.