Training your dog is not super easy, but it’s not too difficult either. You just have to find the balance, and understand what they like and dislike. Dogs have the mind of a toddler, so you can just imagine the mess he creates on the living room. They are hyperactive and happy creatures who always need something to be happy about.  

If you plan to train your dog, the question always lies on where to start. If you have a puppy, training is going to be easy. But if you adopted an old dog, he/she might not respond to you immediately especially if he was abused before. Nevertheless, training your pet dog is a form of bonding that both of you will enjoy. Just follow the tips shared by dog obedience training in Santa Maria below.  

  1. Choose the Name Wisely 

If you just had a dog, naming him/her could be difficult. But training professionals say that names that end with strong consonant can be easily remembered by the dog. Names that have emphasis on the end can perk up the ears of the dog, so they would be more attentive. The name should also be associated with something fun and pleasant.  

  1. House Rules 

Like we mentioned, dogs are active. They have this tendency to chew things and stuff. If you’ve seen lots of dog videos on Youtube, most of them are dogs caught by their owners chewing on the sofa or messing up with the tissue paper. So establish some “house rules”. Mae a list of the furniture he’s not allowed it and the parts of the house which are off limits.  

  1. Set a Private Place 

Just like us, dogs need privacy too. They appreciate if they have a place of their own where they can sleep and play. This place or space should not be used by other people or pets. His/her own den is a place of his comfort and safety. The den would also become valuable tool when you start training your dog.  

  1. Teach to Respond When Called 

Dogs are intelligent. They will know it when their owner calls them. The first thing you can teach a dog is to make him come to your once you call his name. Saying “comer here, _” and “who’s the good boy/girl” is helpful when training your dog to respond to your call. Use positive reinforcement too, like treats and pats and snuggles.  

  1. Teach About “Dog” Time 

Most of the dogs love to destroy things and mess stuff up, but once they’ve done that they will forget about it minutes later. Think about the behavior of the toddler, dogs are like that too. Don’t spoil your dog. But teach him that he made something bad so the dog will learn about your correction. When you do this repeatedly, he will learn what he did wrong.  

  1. Discourage From Biting 

Biting and nipping are some of the dog’s defense mechanism. If he tries to bite or nip you, don’t scold him. Discourage him instead like pretending to get hurt when he tries to nip you. He will stop immediately.