Raising dogs: useful tips. Key points in raising a puppy

Since childhood, Marina dreamed of big dog, with which you can fearlessly walk the streets at any time of the day. After all, a large, formidable dog is a real protector! When the opportunity arose, the girl got a boxer.

But here’s the paradox: Jessie appears to be an angry dog, but as soon as a stranger approaches her (no matter what the person’s intentions are - to stroke or hit), the dog rushes to retreat. At the same time, he drags the poor housewife along with him on a leash.

Marina doesn’t understand why a service-breed pet is madly afraid of people. But breeders and trainers will say right away: Jessie made mistakes. Not only Marina, but also everyone who wants to get a dog or has already done so, it is important to know how to avoid them!

From childhood, the puppy must get used to things, people, sounds, and other animals. If something is not recorded in his memory, this object or individual will continue to seem dangerous to him. Thus, dogs that have grown up exclusively in the company of women begin to be afraid of men, and vice versa.

Improperly raised dogs have different reactions to danger. Some run away, like Jesse, others hide, others seek protection behind the back of the owner, whom they themselves were supposed to shield from the unknown, and still others even experience involuntary urination.

There is also an aggressive form of reaction - the dog is the first to attack something or those it fears. IN best case scenario she barks, at worst she bites before the enemy has time to come to his senses. Moreover, fear is stress, which is known to shorten a pet’s life. And it is already short in animals.

So make every effort to make your pet less afraid. To do this, you need to help the puppy fully understand the world. The three initial periods of a dog’s development are your chance to instill in your pet all the necessary qualities and correct negative traits. Don't delay - waste time!

Early childhood

The pet must be with its mother until it reaches 8 weeks of age. During this time, the baby will learn to be a dog and learn the first principles of discipline from his mother. The bitch will growl at the puppy, in whom she recognizes the leader. Will try to suppress his disobedience.

This will have a good effect on the pet’s character in the future: he will learn to recognize the leader – the owner. An important skill that puppies learn during this period is dental control. They bite their relatives, and they reciprocate. This is how kids understand what pain is and learn to regulate the force of their bite, clench their teeth so as not to cause discomfort, or, on the contrary, to really fight.

Communication with the mother dog in the future determines how the pet will behave with individuals of the opposite sex, and who he presents himself as. I wonder what if early childhood The puppy has only been with people, he considers himself a human, and his relationships with other animals will be tense. During this period, a person should often take the baby in his arms and stroke him. Otherwise, the dog will never be able to trust its owner.

Right choice

At this time, you will be able to determine which puppy will be able to be raised without much difficulty. obedient dog. Make him your pet. Sometimes a mother dog aggressively raises her babies. Some breeders are afraid that she may harm them, so they take them away from their separated mother and raise them separately.

There will be many difficulties in raising such dogs. The pet that was the first to run up to you, pushing its fellows aside, is the leader. This will also be difficult to make obedient. A trembling dog huddling in the corner is too shy and timid. He will never become a real protector for the owner and his family. This will make parenting much more difficult. Opt for the “golden mean” - an inquisitive dog with a balanced character.

Time of learning

Until the puppy reaches 5 months, he should learn and see as much as possible. The most important meeting is with the veterinarian. Bring your pet to the doctor for the first time, but do not perform unpleasant procedures. Let the veterinarian pet the animal and give it treats, conduct a routine examination and give you advice.

This will develop a positive attitude towards the clinic in the dog. Get vaccinated another time. It is at this stage of development that incubation period vaccinations. The puppy should avoid contact with other animals to avoid getting sick. Many owners, being careful, do not walk the baby during this time. But it's not right.

This is how a pet gets strangers and animals. To prevent this from happening, you can take your dog outside in your arms or in a carrier to places where animals are not walked and there is no risk of encountering them. Such short walks are priceless for a baby!

As soon as the quarantine time has passed, go outside with your pet and spend as much time there as possible. It is very important to communicate with adult dogs that are raised correctly. They are the ones who will teach the pet the “dog code of conduct.” You can take the puppy to the breeder from whom you got it several times. Let him talk to his parents.

The dog must see other animals, people, children, approach them, sniff them. Don't encourage your pet's fear. Don't try to calm him down. If you say, “Don’t be afraid, baby!” and pet him on the head, the dog will think that fear is the right thing to do. After all, she is praised for this. It’s better to ignore your pet’s reaction and show him that things or individuals are not worth being afraid of.

Let's say a baby is scared of a vacuum cleaner. Keep cleaning. You can sit down slightly on the mechanism and call your pet. He will understand that the object is not dangerous and will run up to you. And you will encourage his courage. Give him a treat. Praise your dog for every brave action. At first, always take lots of treats with you on walks.

But remember: for the dog to need your rewards, it must be hungry. At this stage, the owner has a chance to forever earn the authority of the pet. You will be the one who will protect the dog, explain what he shouldn’t be afraid of, and who he can count on in case of real danger.

Carefully!

Don't overdo fearlessness training. Too much stress in one day is dangerous for a dog’s psyche. The period from 6 weeks to 5 months is considered the time of imprinting fear: if the baby experiences severe fear, this experience will haunt him throughout his life. So protect your dog from severe stress and any possible injury.

Tatyana, accountant: We picked up Irma on the street. She was about 10 weeks old. The dog was dying of hunger. When she got stronger, she began to eat everything. It didn’t matter whether it was tasty or not, Irma was hungry and full. The veterinarian explained: our pet is simply afraid of one day being left without food again, because she was starving during the period of character development, and “stores” food.

Vasily, veterinarian: A friend of mine's dog fell out of a chair with a backrest when he was a child and injured his paw. Now he is afraid of such chairs and even barks at them. I had to eliminate the source of fear and acquire stools. Transitional age From 6 to 10 months, your puppy will turn into an adult. Be prepared for his behavior to deteriorate noticeably.

To begin with, the dog will try to establish a hierarchy in your “pack” - family. Naturally, he wants to become a leader. Therefore, during this period, you should be more active in training in order to show your pet every day who is boss in the house. If you can’t show your character on your own, this one will show you how to behave with your dog.

IN adolescence The dog exhibits the so-called “flight instinct.” Stop letting your pet off the leash. Replace the strict leash with a more maneuverable tape measure. This way the dog will have the necessary freedom, which you, however, will be able to control.

Communication with the fugitive

The dog will continue to run away if you scold him when he returns. During the escape, he will have a good time, and then he will receive a serious beating from you. Of course, the dog will conclude: being free is better than being with an angry owner, so he needs to escape again and, perhaps, forever.

Therefore, as soon as you find the dog, praise him for returning, feed him tastier than usual, play with him. A warm welcome will show the fugitive that he is loved more at home than on the street, where there are also many dangers.

Consequences of errors

What to do with dogs like Jessie, whose character is already formed, but not in the way it should be? Trainers assure that the consequences of improper socialization can be corrected.

First, find out exactly what your pet is afraid of. Stranger men? Children under 5 years old? Other dogs or cats? Start working on overcoming your fear.
Praise and encouragement are the most effective techniques in this case.
Take control of the situation. Create a barrier between the dog and the source of its fear - stand between them so that the animal understands that as long as it is near you, nothing threatens it.
But do not scold or punish your dog for being timid. After all, then you will get a cowardly and embittered pet, which will be even more difficult to socialize. It is in your power to raise yourself a friend in life, not a problem!

There are situations when training dogs on your own does not bring the long-awaited results. The owner tries, spends a lot of time, but the dog does not want to master even the simplest commands. In this case, you need to switch your attention from your pet to yourself, and think about whether you are doing everything right? After all, training dogs at home always means working on mistakes that even an experienced dog handler sometimes makes. Below is a list of the most common mistakes that prevent your pet from developing the necessary skills.

Wrong teaching method

Overestimating a Dog's Talents

You can often hear a similar phrase from a dog breeder: “My Shaggy knows and can do everything, he doesn’t listen simply out of spite!” The owner sincerely believes that the dog understands what is required of it, but due to some of his own convictions, he is in no hurry to obey. In fact, such cases are extremely rare (if they exist at all). The reason for disobedience is the dog’s lack of skill that is necessary to carry out the command (or insufficient practice of the acquired skill). Shaggy doesn't take revenge or be harmful, he just doesn't know what they want from him. The owner objects: “But look at his guilty look! He understands why I scold him, but he’s just stubborn!” In fact, the dog only looks guilty, but does not experience this feeling, since the level of its rational activity is not so great.

This is interesting: To confirm the above, we propose an experiment. Does your dog often throw trash out of the bucket? Try scattering the trash yourself, then call your pet and start scolding him. Provided that you are convincing enough, the result will follow immediately - the dog will take on a guilty look and will try to make amends (or run away, if that is what he usually does). If your dog pees at home, you can spill water on the floor. Steals clothes - take a pair of socks to the sunbed, etc. If a dog reasoned along the same lines as a human, it would not look guilty, but would be sincerely indignant in response to an undeserved dressing down. By the way, a guilty look is just a demonstration of submission coupled with a bit of cunning: four-legged pets quickly learn that a person forgives faster if they make sad eyes and press themselves to the floor.

The owner humanizes the pet, attributing to it our emotions and expected human reactions, forgetting that this is an animal. So that training your dog on your own doesn’t take too long. long years, adequately assess your pet’s abilities. If the dog constantly refuses to follow commands, start training again, after soberly analyzing your actions.

Underestimating a dog's abilities

While some people consider dogs to be very smart, others, on the contrary, are convinced that their pet is stupid. Sometimes you can hear from the owner: “I know how to raise the perfect dog, but Shaggy is absolutely clueless! It is impossible to teach him even the simplest command. It’s probably hereditary or they gave us a defective puppy...” Unfortunately, only a small part of people who reach a dead end in the process of training dogs at home turn to professionals. The majority, being convinced of the correctness of their actions during training, stop any attempts at education. After all, sometimes it’s so difficult to admit that you’re wrong; it’s much easier to convince yourself that the reason is your four-legged friend. But completely incapable dogs simply do not exist. Yes, some make progress quite quickly, while others have to spend a lot of time training. However, any pet can be taught basic commands. Even the behavior of animals that have experienced stress or suffering mental illness, can be adjusted. Does not work? Look for a different approach, change your behavior, study your dog’s psychology. Start with yourself.

Excessive training

Adequate load during training is of great importance! Some owners believe that because their dogs can run around the park for hours, they have enough energy for a 3-5 hour workout. Sometimes dog owners simply find this schedule convenient – there is no time for a pet on weekdays, but on weekends we can make up for it! However, we must not forget that positive result training directly depends on the dog’s interest. What dog likes to perform the same actions for several hours in a row? Be smart and don't overload your pet. One lesson with an adult animal should last a maximum of two hours (with rest breaks). You can exercise with a small puppy for only 5-10 minutes (2-3 times a day if desired).

Insufficient loads

A very common mistake: “I know exactly how to raise an ideal dog and I see that everything works out. There’s no need for manic concentration; when we have time, we’ll work out.” The owner proved to himself that he can, but the dog wants, and calmed down on this. Meanwhile, the pet begins to forget everything that he was taught, and he has to start over. Training should be regular, even if the owner is sure that his dog has learned all the necessary commands. At first, you should practice the acquired skills at least three times a week. Let these be small “lessons” of 15-20 minutes, but they should be! After a year or two, you can relax and repeat the “material” once a week.

Training at the wrong time

“Since I want to raise a dog as quickly as possible, we will train every day, in any weather, no matter what!” Commendable zeal. But we must not forget that the four-legged “student” is a living creature. Bitches are in heat, mild illness, stress, and a hearty meal are factors that influence the effectiveness of training, and they should hardly be underestimated. The dog must be ready for training both physically and emotionally, otherwise practicing skills will be a waste of time.

Underestimating distractions

Most small dogs, regardless of breed or lack thereof, are unable to long time focus only on the owner. And even more so, it is extremely difficult for them to concentrate if something interferes or distracts them. Firstly, small dogs have more labile nervous system than those of large missives. Secondly, breeders do not select sires based on working qualities (after all we're talking about about companion dogs). But some owners, having studied the literature on how to raise an ideal dog, take the concepts of “leader”, “obedience”, “submission” and so on too literally. Don't forget that this is a friend, not a workhorse who will have to look for drugs or catch criminals. If the dog wants to go to the toilet or is very excited by the proximity of a huge mongrel, if it is too hungry or cold, you should not tyrannize the pet. Finish the training with a simple command that the dog is sure to follow, praise your baby and take a break. And most importantly, never give a command if you see that the dog is unlikely to carry it out due to lack of concentration.

Example: a dog is afraid of the sound of passing cars. A car drives by, the pet begins to get nervous, and at that moment the owner gives the command “Sit!” Most likely, the dog will not react, since all its thoughts are occupied with the frightening sound. And the owner will not scold her for disobedience, because he will understand that the command was not carried out due to the fact that the pet is scared. Thus, the owner himself teaches the dog not to obey. Of course, when following a command is vitally important, this rule can be waived (if it is not possible to stop the pet’s actions in another way).

Important: At the first stage, it is preferable to train dogs at home, then in a quiet, deserted place, and only then in an everyday environment, where many distractions will not distract an already experienced dog.

Failure to follow the sequence of skill development

Pay attention to the wording: “failure to follow the sequence production skills." Conditioning is the process of forming a reflex to a stimulus (command/reward/punishment). The order is from simple to complex: first, the trainer teaches the dog the easiest commands for it, and only then adds more complex ones. Usually dogs can easily learn the following commands: come to me, stand, sit, walk, spit, give me a paw. It’s a little more difficult with the commands fu, you can’t lie down, next to you. In addition, the gradual development of skills is important: we practice the command “come to me,” then add “walk.” At the next stage, we work out these commands one by one. When both skills are mastered “excellently,” we add another team and practice three skills one by one, and so on. Do not confuse the dog and teach it all commands at once. And here working off skills do not need a strict sequence (practice - repetition of the lesson, consolidation of the material). On the contrary, alternate already learned commands in different sequences so that the dog does not begin to demonstrate all the skills at once at the first call. Example: favorite link come to me/sit/give me a paw/give me another. The dog gets used to the sequence, on the command “Come to me” it runs up to the owner and begins the usual cycle. This is not true! The pet must distinguish between commands and understand what is required of him at one time or another.

Frequent command repetition

One of the most common mistakes made when training dogs at home is repeating a command over and over again. The pet did not fulfill the owner’s wishes the first time, and the owner tries to get obedience from the dog, behaving like a broken record: “Sit, I said sit, sit!” The result of such actions is the opposite of what is desired - the dog develops an incorrect reflex to the command. The pet either stops responding to the owner altogether (loss of authority), or agrees to fulfill his demands for the nth time. If your pet does not comply with the command, there are two ways to resolve the problem:

stand for a while without changing your position, without talking and looking intently at the dog until it carries out the command (1-3 minutes). If the command is completed, be sure to praise the dog (after all, in the end you achieved your goal);
approach your pet and punish him: “Bad!!!” The sequence is followed - the command is not fulfilled, the dog is punished. Physical punishment (click on the nose, holding the scruff of the neck, etc.) is acceptable if the dog has long ago learned the command and did not carry it out under acceptable conditions (that is, when nothing prevented it from executing the command).

The command is spoken once. For inexperienced dogs, one repetition is acceptable in a demanding, more insistent tone than the first time.

Incorrect or insufficient emotional coloring of speech

When reading about how to properly raise a dog, many owners miss important point– our pets are unable to understand the meaning of words. For them, human speech is a collection of sounds. And for better perception, these sounds must have an emotional connotation. Therefore, develop your acting talent. You should not talk to the dog in the monotonous voice of a falling asleep student - such presentation of information complicates the training process. And don’t forget about facial expressions, this is extremely important: when praising a dog, rejoice with your whole face; when scolding, frown.

Fixing commands (sit, stand, lie down, place, next to) are pronounced in a confident voice in an imperative intonation. Prohibiting commands (ugh, you can’t, spit) - in a demanding, sometimes even threatening tone. You can't start screaming - a strong leader never falls into hysterics. A dog's cry causes either fear (loss of trust) or doubts about the owner's superiority (loss of authority). In both cases, the result will not be long in coming - the pet will refuse to follow commands.

Inconsistency when giving commands using gestures

Many owners reinforce the voice command with gestures. And this the right approach– dogs in the learning process react not only to intonation, but also to a person’s posture. If you decide that gesturing is exactly what you need, try from the very beginning to remember exactly how you hold your hand, which hand gives the command, etc. Be sure to always use the same gesture for the selected command. If you use different gestures for one command, the dog will most likely cease to understand you.

Using different voice commands to practice one skill

You cannot use the command “Lie down!” today, “Lie down!” tomorrow, and “Lie down!” in a week. An inexperienced dog will definitely get confused. You can choose any word (stimulus) to which the dog should react in a certain way. Do you like "Come to Mom"? Let it be so - let's forget the army "Come to me." But then we will forget him forever!

Excessive food reward

A piece given to a pet as a reward for obedience is a reward, not food! The piece should be small, even tiny, otherwise the dog will quickly lose interest in the treat, as it will simply overeat. Training should be carried out at a time when the dog is not experiencing strong feeling hunger, but not on a full stomach. A dog that is too hungry or has just had lunch will not be able to concentrate on following commands.

The dog receives pieces that are used during training, just like that

You can often hear from owners: “Well, how to raise a dog when it is always begging for a treat? He jumps and jumps around, what kind of training is there, he doesn’t hear anything! She knows that I have her favorite crackers in my pocket. Well, why not give me a treat?” It’s really difficult to resist - your beloved dog, with a pleading look, jumps funny like that... And the owner gives the baby the coveted piece, the smallest one. Another one tomorrow. And further. Thus, a person forms an unnecessary reflex in a pet: “I’ll jump around and get something tasty.” Next time the dog will beg even more persistently, because last time he was praised for it. But at the moment of practicing the skills, the pet will refuse to follow commands: “Why? I’d rather ask, they’ll give it to me.” To avoid similar situation, never give your dog kibble that is intended as a training reward. If you can’t resist, give the simplest command and praise the dog. In this case, the formed reflex will be correct - the dog received a treat for following the command, and not for jumping around the owner.

Advice: To speed up the skill development process, choose a product your dog loves and give it only during training. Store the treat in a special bag, from which you can take a piece only after following the command. In this way, you further motivate the dog - the pet will know that he will only get cheese from this bag, only for obedience, and only during training.

Punishment takes precedence over reward

When the dog has already mastered commands, some owners lose interest in raising their pet. Obedience is now taken for granted: “Why praise a dog for sitting on command if it has been doing this for three years?” But the punishment is becoming more and more severe: “She’s known the command “Sit” for three years and suddenly she doesn’t obey?!! The delight of the dog following a command has passed. And disobedience causes indignation and a storm of indignation. The dog loses interest in following commands (after all, the reward has disappeared), obeys less and less, the owner scolds more and more often, trust disappears. To avoid this situation, always praise your dog for correct solution, even if she executed a basic command. Let it be a simple “Well done,” but you can’t completely forget about encouragement. The same applies to training initial stage– if you forget to praise the dog, but remember about punishments (of course, I’m the leader!), the dog will quickly lose interest in training, and after it the close emotional connection between the pet and the person will disappear.

Ignoring disobedience

In some cases, training dogs at home, without the help of an experienced dog handler, takes a long time. for a long time for a reason too strong love owner to his four-legged friend: “Well, the baby didn’t want to spit out the shoe on command, that’s okay. I’ll upset my beloved dog because of a shoe.” The pet has formed a reflex: “I may not follow commands.” A small step up the hierarchical ladder. Then the bully decides to tear up the linoleum. “Well, let it be, we still want to lay laminate.” One more step. Then the robber will growl at the owner when he wants to remove the bowl during feeding, and maybe he will tug at the hand. One more step. Now the man decides to take the dog seriously, but that was not the case! The pet has already decided that he is in charge, why obey? To avoid such a situation, always remember about the punishment (which should correspond to the offense). If the dog refused to sit on command, look at it menacingly and say “Bad!”, and if the pet showed aggression, it should follow physical punishment(press to the floor, grab by the scruff of the neck). Always remember that ignoring disobedience leads to even greater recklessness in behavior, and this is no longer love, but negligence! A disobedient dog may run away while out for a walk, get hit by a car, or otherwise harm itself.

Using commands to restrain the dog before unpleasant manipulations

The owner finds it convenient to give the dog the “Sit” command before brushing his teeth. However, the dog develops an undesirable reflex: “When he sat down, he put a nasty brush in his mouth.” The next time the command is not related to caring for the dog, the pet may refuse to carry it out for fear of being subjected to an unpleasant procedure. Following a command should be encouraged, and nothing else! If you need to clean your dog's teeth (cut his nails, etc.), put him in the desired position with your hands, without using general commands.

Break of the command-execution-reward link (punishment)

And finally - about the most important thing: under no circumstances should you break the command-performance-reward link! A command for a dog is a mechanism that triggers a reflex (a practiced or developed skill). If any element is “squeezed” between the command and execution (for example, the owner is distracted from the dog), the connection will be broken and everything will have to start all over again. Once completed, rewards follow immediately. You need to praise the dog as soon as it has completed the command, gradually increasing the time between the reaction to the stimulus (the dog sat down on command) and praise. This time period is called shutter speed, and when it complete absence the desired effect will not be achieved. Example: the owner gives the command “Stop”, the dog freezes and immediately runs on. Lack of endurance makes the team useless.

Any reward must be timely - the dog must be praised at the moment when it follows the command. The correct sequence is: “Sit!”, the dog sits, the dog sits, does not change position, the owner gives it a piece and praises “Well done.” Then either the next command is given, or the dog is released with the command “Walk” (a signal about the end of the training). But often inexperienced dog breeders praise the pet when it has already jumped up (or the dog jumps up immediately when it sees a treat). In this case, the dog receives reward not for following the command, but for jumping up and begging. Of course, the development of the necessary skill is delayed in time, and sometimes the dog does not fully understand what is required of it, carrying out commands partially or “every other time.”

Raising a dog is a difficult task, but quite doable. The main thing is to follow the basic rules of training so that the owner always remains the indisputable leader for the dog. Today we’ll look at possible training mistakes and find out why animals grow up disobedient.

To raise a pet correctly, it is important to understand the peculiarities of canine psychology: every dog sees a pack in his family, so the owner’s duty is to show himself as a strong and confident leader from the first day of the puppy’s presence in the house, otherwise your pet will take this place (at least in his family). presentation). The consequence of this position of the animal is disobedience and excessive aggression.

The dog must be trained in basic skills and natural needs (regular walks, toilet, sleep). However, this will not be achieved without mastering the simplest commands. To make raising an ideal pet possible, you will have to show strength of character and not back down until you achieve unquestioning obedience.

The dog's place in the domestic hierarchy

Still, it is important to make the animal respect its owner from the very beginning. If you don't do this, you will never be able to influence your pet's behavior. There are several important rules that must be observed in the process of education:

feed the dog only after the whole family has had lunch: in pack conditions, the leader is always the first to get enough, and only after that the weaker members of the pack are allowed to eat;
immediately stop the dog’s attempts to be the first to go through the door - the leader always and everywhere goes first, and the rest of the pack members obediently let him through. Confidently and firmly detain the animal, giving a strict command “No!”, and enter first. At the same time, it is categorically not recommended to hit the dog - a firm hold is enough;
remember your unconditional leadership even during games - victory always remains with the stronger member of the pack, that is, with you;
if we are talking about an adult dog, try not to give in to your pet’s suggestions to start playing: such an initiative should come purely from you;
The animal should be raised so that it follows the commands received the first time;
Teach your pet that he has his own place in the house, and stop all attempts to occupy the owner’s furniture, especially if the dog stubbornly refuses to leave it.

Basic principles

The dog needs a constant daily routine. If you follow a clear schedule, over time the pet will get used to walking and eating at approximately the same time, and will patiently wait for the appointed hour;
the animal must feel the authority of not only the owner, but also all family members;
regularly devote time to training - the success of mastering basic commands will depend on their frequency;
start training work immediately after the puppy appears in the house. Animals are receptive to learning up to 2 years of age. When your pet gets older, it will become much more difficult to re-educate him. The question of how to raise an adult dog requires a different, more comprehensive and professional approach;
To the question of whether it is possible to beat your dog during training, the answer is clear - it is impossible. Even in natural conditions, leaders and mothers of wolf cubs only lightly bite the puppies on the withers, or simply push them onto their backs with their noses.

Be that as it may, it is quite possible to re-educate a dog, the process will just take more time and require maximum effort, because you have to change the already established character of an adult animal.

Common mistakes

Many inexperienced dog breeders are prone to common mistakes when purchasing and raising dogs:

You should not buy an animal spontaneously - the decision to have a pet should be conscious and balanced;
training should not be neglected - the puppy’s basic habits are formed early, and if time is lost, it will be more difficult for you to achieve obedience;
be united in prohibitions and encouragements with all family members: for example, if one person forbade the dog to sleep in the master’s bed, the rest should under no circumstances violate this prohibition;
do not abuse rewards - a treat should always act as a pleasant bonus for following a command or other merit;
pay due attention physical activity pet;
You should not leave your dog alone for a long time - animals do not like this.

An obedient pet is the dream of every dog owner. But achieving what you want is not so easy; for this you need to put in a lot of effort and be patient.

It doesn’t matter at what age the dog came into your family - as a puppy or as an adult, you can always correct its behavior. How to properly raise a dog, what system of rewards and punishments should you come up with, what line of behavior should you follow?

How to raise a dog correctly? Before starting practice, you should study basic theoretical information. A person will not be able to influence the behavior of his pet if he cannot become an authority for him - the leader of the pack. But how can you show your dog who's boss? There are several simple rules:

How to properly raise a puppy: toilet training

Extremely important question, which concerns not only puppies. Sometimes a family gets animals that are accustomed to street life, or a family moves from a private house to an apartment. In the latter case, there is no need to give up the pet, because in the vast majority of cases the animal can be accustomed to new living conditions.

Adult pets need to be walked twice a day; as for older pets, they need to be taken out at least three times, at the same time - morning/lunch/evening.

Puppies cannot have a walking schedule yet. The owner must spend a lot of time nearby and take the baby outside every time he begins to worry and look for a place.

Raising an adult dog and appropriate punishments

Under no circumstances should you hit or kick your pet; physical force is unacceptable! An example of such an attitude is yard dogs, which many people want to offend, which leads to their embitterment.

In addition, the owner’s hand for the pet should exclusively evoke pleasant emotions. It is used to treat injuries to the dog, give food and caress. If you use your hand for hitting, it will be impossible to regain the dog’s former trust. The pet will be aggressive even at the moment when the owner takes it by the leash.

Of course, education without punishment is impossible; it is necessary in many life situations, But preference should be given to more loyal methods:

Sometimes such physical impact is also necessary for adult animals. As a rule, dogs are especially stubborn fighting breeds, especially if in new family they got there when they were already adults.

Basic rules of education

Of course, without experience in raising dogs, it is quite difficult to understand all the subtleties at once. If you are unable to delve into parenting issues on your own, then contact a professional. A pet of any age needs appropriate upbringing; to find an approach to it, we recommend that you pay your attention to the following tips.

After a four-legged friend appears in the house, it is necessary to begin raising the puppy as quickly as possible, instilling in him certain skills and standards of behavior. Before raising a puppy, let him get comfortable in his new place. Then you should begin practicing primary skills. This is seat, leash and toilet training.

The secrets of raising a puppy are that you don’t have to wait until a certain age to start raising your pet. The rules for raising a puppy state that this process begins from the first days the puppy appears in your home. Everything you do with him and for him is education.

Most important period - this is the puppy getting used to the new environment and its socialization. At this moment, the baby needs to devote a lot of time. He will be bored for the first 24 hours - this is normal. Your patience, care and affectionate attitude will help your baby cope with stress after being separated from his mother. Take the puppy in your arms, pet him, play with him. Try to have your family members spend an equal amount of time with the puppy. Let the little dog get used to the sound of your voices and their intonation.

When the baby gets comfortable in a new environment, he will begin to show curiosity about all sorts of objects that surround him and unfamiliar sounds. Carefully ensure that there are no dangers in its reach, such as skeins of thread, needles, exposed wires (they must be hidden especially carefully), Christmas decorations and dangerous plants (there are some of these among indoor flowers).

The little puppy is very receptive to your emotional state. He picks up the slightest changes in your mood and attitude towards him. Love, but also know how to punish. This page offers specific thematic lessons on raising a puppy.

Below you can watch the video on how to raise a puppy correctly and without prohibited methods:

How to properly punish a puppy for disobedience?

It is necessary to learn how to punish a puppy for disobedience - what principles should be followed. If your little dog decides, for example, to cling to your leg with a “terrible” growl or chew new shoes, then he needs to be called to order. Moreover, this must be done immediately - otherwise later the puppy will not understand why he was punished. Should not be used physical strength and beat the baby. You can try a simple one, but very effective method punish the puppy: take him by the withers and, after patting him slightly, press him to the floor for a few seconds. In this case, you can immediately begin training the “Fu!” command, repeating it while performing the above-mentioned manipulations. Believe me, this will have no worse effect on him than harsh physical punishment!

In addition to knowing how to properly punish a puppy, you need to know about gratitude: if the baby tries to do something right, reward him with dog treats and praise - this is the best motivator.

Techniques for raising puppies have been worked out by many generations of dog training specialists, and there is no need to invent them. own ways where already known techniques work well. Every owner can train their pet to perform simple but necessary commands.

How to teach the “place” command: training

Teaching the “place” command should begin with taking the puppy in your arms and taking him to the bed. At the same time, stroking the baby, repeat: “Place, good, place!” And you do this several times during the day. Soon the puppy will learn that his bed is his “place.” Never punish a puppy in its place or forcefully remove it from it!

Before you teach the “place” command, remember next rule: If you do not plan to sleep on the bed with the dog in the future, it is better not to allow the puppy there. Then it will be difficult to explain to a grown dog why this was possible before, but now it is not.

If you want to call him over, do so with a dog treat or toy and the command “Come!” By the way, it’s good to practice this command on a walk: when the puppy finishes with his important “business”, call him with this command. Do this in a calm and even voice. Place your four-legged friend's bowls somewhere in a certain place in the apartment and show them to him - let them always stand there. The puppy will eventually remember their location. Food, unlike water, should not be in the bowl all the time: it is placed only before feeding.

Always feed your dog after you eat yourself - this is one of the main dog rules, according to which the leader is always satisfied first. And you are the leader!

Toilet training a puppy at home: how to train it

Accustoming a puppy to use the toilet at home and to ensure that, between short walks, he does his “business” in the place you want, requires a little skill. Before you toilet train your puppy, you need to prepare the necessary equipment for this. Use absorbent diapers as a “toilet” - they are sold at any pharmacy. When the puppy wakes up, eats or plays, his first desire is usually to go to the toilet. As soon as you notice that the baby is spinning in place with very specific goals, carefully pick him up in your arms and take him to the diaper. As soon as the “deed” is done, praise the puppy.

Toilet training a puppy should be gradual: if the baby peed not on the diaper, but on the floor, do not scold him harshly, tell him about your dissatisfaction in a calm but firm voice (not to be confused with a rude shout!). Sooner or later, the puppy will understand that correct actions will be followed by praise, and incorrect actions will be reprimanded.
How to train and tame a puppy on a leash

Accustom your puppy to a leash, collar (or harness) and muzzle from the age of three months. At this time, the first vaccination has already been given, and you can go outside for a while with your four-legged friend. Before leash-training your puppy, you can begin training at home by putting a soft collar or harness on the puppy (which is much more convenient at first, since it is more difficult for the puppy to wriggle out of it) and fastening it to the leash. Do this as a game: let the leash be long and fall to the floor. Pretend that you are running away from the puppy - he will run after you.

When the baby understands that this object does not threaten him in any way, gradually reduce the length of the leash. Of course, at first the puppy will not be very comfortable in the equipment, but over time he will get used to it. Correct the direction of his chaotic movements with light movements of the leash, repeating the command “No!” in the event that the puppy breaks out and pulls too actively. It is also better to accustom a dog to a muzzle from an early age. Then it will be much more difficult to do this. These are the basic rules for teaching a puppy to use a leash, but don’t forget about right choice ammunition.

From 4 to 8 months, the puppy shows independence of character. This period requires special attention owner and intensive training with the dog. This is the best time to start training your dog and increase the load on walks. Start gradually practicing the commands “Sit!”, “Stand!”, “Lie down!”. If the puppy refuses to follow a command, it is strongly recommended to get what you want from him: otherwise, confrontation and the struggle for leadership will increase. Always reward your dog with a treat for completing a command - this will help reinforce the acquired skill.

From about one to three years of age, almost all dogs go through the so-called transition period- period of growing up. At this age, they may try to take a higher ranking position. This can be expressed in a show of disobedience and even in an attempt to bite the owner. Any such attempt must be severely suppressed, otherwise serious problems may arise later.

If you are new to this not an easy task How to raise a dog, you should learn the basics of training under the supervision of an experienced dog handler - a person with professional knowledge about the physiology and behavior of dogs.

There are several types of training courses for four-legged human companions, including highly specialized ones, but for dogs living in urban areas, the most basic course is a general puppy training course.

At the course on ZKS (protective guard service - for working breeds of dogs), they teach not only to protect and guard the owner, but also to “slow down” the dog when it tries to show aggression in response to an irritant. Now many cynological centers offer owners and their four-legged pets the “Controlled City Dog” course - essentially the same OKD, but only with adaptation in real urban conditions to various noises and stimuli.

Some owners ask:“Why should I train my dog? She’s already smart.” The fact is that no matter how smart a dog is, this does not guarantee its adequate behavior in any situation. A dog living in a city where there are many irritants: people, cars, other animals, must be able to behave correctly and obey the owner unquestioningly.

An uncontrollable dog in the city is a disaster for the owner. And what fun is it to walk with a pet if he endlessly pulls you into different sides and rushes at everything that moves nearby? In addition, you, as the owner of an ill-mannered dog, may have difficulties with the people around you and with the law. Try to make sure that you feel comfortable going for a walk with your dog, and that the animals and people around do not suffer from his uncontrolled behavior.