Dogs are great companions and can make the most loving pets. However, many people, in their blind desire to get one, do not realize how much effort needs to be invested in their training, which must start from the very beginning, if you want to create a foundation for healthy behavior. Therefore, you should start from their earliest period of life. The more attention you pay to discipline your dog while it is still a puppy, the easier it will be for you when it grows up.
The reality is, not all owners are committed to providing their pets with basic training. Most prefer to spend time doing something else. How to teach a dog the basic rules of behavior inside and outside the house and to avoid some of the most common mistakes made, more importantly, how to train it to be calm and relaxed, is something we are going to tackle in this article.
Some sources also explored what ways can make your dog relax and perhaps you won’t be surprised to learn that music is especially useful. Their study recommended that when you play music, it can create a calming environment for your furry friend. So much so, that when they looked at the dogs’ sleep percentage scores when you play folk music the night before, that the dogs slept really well achieving an 88% score!
So, if you have been thinking about buying or adopting one that will become an equal member of your family for some time, and need some training advice, you’re at the right place.
Here are a couple of things you need to have in mind, first…
Even if your children are tireless in their plans to persuade you, or you think he will be a great friend to your child, before making a final decision, think twice about what you are committing to.
Dogs are a great joy, but also an obligation. Just like with a small child who came into the house, you need to work a lot with them and give them a lot of love, attention, and effort so that in the end that same effort will pay off for you. A dog is not a toy that you and your family members can play with and throw it away when you get bored. It is a living being and it needs a certain amount of time to get to know the housemates, get used to the new situation, learn the rules of behavior in the house and get into a routine.
Most dogs that cannot be controlled or are disobedient in the house end up locked in another room or yard. Unfortunately, this does not solve the problem. They are social animals, they want social interaction and are happiest when you include them in your daily activities. This isolation can make the dog, when it gets your attention or you let it into the room or the house, so excited that it will go crazy again and so the cycle continues.
One of the most important commands you can teach your dog is to calm down. This command can be learned at a very early age. The command ‘quiet’ can be learned by the puppy even before the command ‘sit’. Teaching it to calm down is the easiest during the puppy period, but even adult dogs can learn new commands, that is, if you know how and invest some patience in the process.
Here’s how to teach your dog to calm down…
Gently lay the puppy on its back; if it squirms, try holding it gently on its back until it calms down. If the puppy is really fidgeting, growling, and trying to bite, lay it on his side. Puppies that show signs of biting when placed on their backs can later become very dominant dogs. If your puppy behaves in this way, it is up to you to solve the problem. In most cases, a dominant puppy will struggle a lot and try to bite your hand. A submissive puppy will fidget just a little but will relax very quickly and turn its head to the side.
Avoiding direct eye contact is a sign of submission, so don’t force your puppy to look at you. It is better if the puppy avoids your gaze because in this way you become the ‘leader’ in the hierarchy of the pack. While gently holding the dog on its back or side, say ‘calm down in a gentle, pleasant but firm voice. Do not beat.
These are learning lessons, not pampering. However, do not frighten the puppy with a loud or screaming command. When it starts to squirm, hold it on its back (gently but firmly) and say ‘calm down until it relaxes. When it relaxes and calms down, say ‘bravo’ or something similar and release your grip. Every time the puppy starts to squirm, hold it a little tighter and say ‘calm down. And then repeat ‘calm down again when it calms down.
Make sure you don’t have long or loose sleeves that could tickle the puppy, thus making him fidget. The goal is for the puppy to be continuously calm for 20 seconds. This may be impossible the first few times, so 3-5 seconds of peace is acceptable. Then let the puppy go and praise him profusely. By repeating this kind of game, the puppy will learn very quickly what ‘calm down’ means, so you won’t have any problems later on. And when the dog starts going crazy and running around the room, just say ‘calm down and it will know it’s time to calm down.
But keep in mind not all breeds are the same. Some are easier to train than others, and some are very active and will struggle with being still. If you feel that you are ready to commit, then it would be good to ask about which breed is ideal for you and your lifestyle, and once you decide to adopt or buy a dog, be prepared for what awaits you.
In other words, learn about how to raise a dog, teach it the basic rules of behavior in the house and outside the house, how to socialize it, and how to immediately avoid the most common mistakes that people make, and for which they suffer all their lives later. It’s hardly ever the pet’s fault. In most cases it’s us, and the commitment we were not ready to sign up for.
