There is a lot to consider when training your dog: commands, rewarding, housetraining, obedience. It is important that your dog understands you and that you understand your dog to make training a lot easier.
Crate training
- Buy a crate with a metal railing and a shock-resistant bottom. The crate must be large enough that the dog can turn around in it even after it has grown.
- Cover the crate with a blanket and put some toys in it
- Allow the puppy to go to the bathroom before placing it in the crate
- Do not put the puppy in the crate for too long and put a nice biscuit in it, the puppy will then associate the crate with something positive. Stay with it until the puppy is comfortable
- Do not remove the puppy from the crate while barking, but wait for it to stop barking and then release it
- Put the puppy in the crate if he needs to rest or sleep. Never put the puppy in the crate for longer than 4 consecutive hours during the day
- Let the puppy sleep in the crate at night but keep in mind that he will need to be let out again mid-night
- Immediately after you remove him from the crate, allow your puppy to relieve himself. Then praise him if he succeeds, if he fails, put him back in the crate for another 10 to 15 minutes and then try again.
- When a puppy is 5 to 6 months old and has gained the trust of the owner, you can start to get used to the crate
Potty training
If you get the idea that your dog needs to go to the bathroom, immediately go outside with him, leash him up, and take him to the spot you choose. If he does his business then you have to praise him exuberantly. Then keep a close eye on the dog and when he needs to go to the bathroom again, bring him back to the same place. He soon knows where to go to the bathroom and when to walk.
Accidents
Make sure you thoroughly clean the area where the dog has urinated in the house. Otherwise, he will likely return to urinate. There are several products that remove odors and stains. You can also just use soapy water with biotex. Keep in mind that the dog should not be punished.
Obedience training
Socialization
Dogs should learn to get to know new people or pets without fear or aggression. The best way to learn this is to bring them into contact with new and unknown people a lot. The introduction should be calm and calm and also allow the puppy to withdraw when he has had enough. Also introduce him to other dogs, but make sure the puppy has had all vaccinations.
Belt training
You can get the puppy used to the leash in the beginning by letting him walk around with a short light leash behind him. When he is a bit older then you pick up the leash and walk after him, you do not have to lead the puppy yet. As soon as the puppy has had all the vaccinations, he can go for a real walk. Leash the dog and go with him to an open area and walk with him, if he pulls on the leash you stay still. When he stops pulling reward him and walk on again. Repeat this for as long as necessary.
Sit!
- Practice this command first so that it is not distracted
- Call the dog and show him a reward, hold the treat so that the dog has to look upwards, move the treat above his head until he automatically sits down
- Give the dog the reward and praise it
- 4 Repeat this exercise but this time say is included. Once he has mastered it, repeat the exercise in an area with more distraction.
Stay!
- Give the command “sit”
- When the dog is sitting, give the command to stay and take a few steps back. The dog has to sit and wait 2 seconds to praise him
- You can make the exercise more difficult by making funny noises or providing other distractions. You can also extend the time between reward and command.
- Choose a word for example: free. If he can leave the place again.
Behind!
- Hold the lead in your right hand and grab the loose part with your left hand, make sure your dog is on your left
- Give the command sit
- Hold a treat in front of his nose with your left hand and say his name followed by the command behind
- Walk a bit while holding the candy in your hand
- When you stop, say the dog’s name followed by the command after. Hold the treat up so that the dog sits
- Give the dog his reward, repeat the exercise until he always walks past you with or without a leash.
Come on!
- Enlist the help of a family member and sit across from each other in a room and gently shout “come”
- Lure the dog to you by praising or offering a treat
- Call the dog to you several times that day when he comes, praise him exuberantly
- If you only have to shout one more time before he comes, you can move the exercise outside. Line him up and go for a walk when he is away from you call him. When he comes you praise him. Pull the leash, but keep calling out in a friendly tone if he doesn’t obey
- If he’s already mastered, have him do the number 4 exercise on a longer leash
- If the previous exercises went well, you can let go of him and then shout, always do this on a fenced area, for example the backyard
- The command come should always be associated by the dog with something good so never call him to you to punish him.
Training Tips
- If your dog is doing something wrong, it is best to ignore his behavior. The dog will soon find that doing something wrong is not getting him attention. Of course, this does not apply to aggressive behavior, you must punish this to prevent aggression from worsening.
- Yelling at your dog can go wrong. Your dog asks for attention whether this is positive or negative. If you burst out and give him attention while it’s wrong, he might do it more often.
- Only punish a dog if you catch him red-handed, or he won’t understand what’s going on.
- Hitting your dog as a punishment is out of the question! You teach your dog to be afraid of you. Especially with guard dogs this can be very dangerous
- Always end the learning moment positively. If a dog finds an exercise difficult, let him do an exercise that he has already mastered last and praise him thoroughly.
- Give the commando training at the same place and time every day
- Make sure you have your dog’s full attention before giving a command.