Focus On Your Goals

Without jknowing where you’re going, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get there. That’s true of most things in life, and it’s true of potty train puppies, too.

Sometimes we fall into the habit of thinking mostly about what we don’t want. This happens a lot with dogs! We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or to chew the sofa, or ignore us when we tell him what to do, or bark like a guard dog when older members of the family come to the house.

But think about it. Assuming you’re looking for new dog or puppy to bring into your family. Are you actually considering spending the next eight to sixteen years chasing your dog telling him off for things you didn’t want him to do? Don’t you think it’s a better idea to coach your dog to be obedient and socially acceptable?

A perfect example is when you think, “I don’t want my dog to chew the corners of my carpet,” try, “I want my dog to chew his toys.” Better than, “I don’t want the dog to embarrass me when I have guests,” try instead, “My dog should greet and welcome my guests controlled and quietly.”

By framing your training goals in positive terms, you’ll better appreciate how to achieve what you want. What better way to start your training program.

Should You Use Rewards?

Probably the best thing that has happened in housetraining puppy during the last decade is the trend away from concentrating on correcting bad behavior, or punishing mistakes, and moving towards rewarding good behavior.

The practice of rewarding your dog’s good behavior is a smart one, especially for dog house training. A fundamental reason for using rewards is that when you punish your dog, for whatever reason, the results are likely to be quite disheartening for your pet. It’s not overly common, but your dog could possibly react to punishment by withdrawing and becoming frightened of you. Other dogs shut down. They seem to lose their sense of adventure. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.

Many people also find that reward-based training feels better. Heaping praise and treats on your dog gives a powerful sense of achievement.

But the icing on the cake is that rewards based dog behavior training works a treat. It’s due to the fact that this approach to behavior training builds confidence and reassurance. If a behavior is rewarding, your dog will associate one with the other and learn to repeat the behavior when called upon. As you practice how to apply that simple rule, you can use rewards to reach virtually any training goal.

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