Don't worry if you adopted an older dog only to discover it has some behavioral issues; you can teach an old dog new tricks. It's a good idea to learn about a dog before adopting one, but sometimes you just don't know what you're getting yourself into. When you adopt an older dog, he may have some behavioral issues. Aggression, excessive barking, and even house soiling are common issues that pet owners face with newly adopted older dogs. Whatever the case, if you use the proper techniques when training your new pet, you will be able to help him behave properly, learn his place within your family, and become a valuable member of your household.
When you first adopt an older dog, make sure to thoroughly inspect it for any behavioral issues. If your dog has any aggression issues, such as being aggressive to other dogs, people, or over food. You must address aggression issues as soon as possible, as they may result in someone being bitten. Determine whether he has any behavioral issues that require special attention, as well as the level of his previous obedience training, if any.
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Give your new pet some basic obedience commands and observe how he reacts. You'll know he hasn't been trained if he doesn't know the basic commands. If he reacts fearfully to a command to come or sit, it could indicate that he was abused by a previous owner. Also, make certain that he is completely housebroken. Examine his disposition and behavior thoroughly to determine where to begin training your older dog.
The best way to begin training an older dog is to follow the advice of the best professional dog trainers and use a step-by-step program that progresses from basic obedience exercises to more advanced training. This removes all of the guesswork from training your older dog and allows you to avoid making the same mistakes that everyone makes when attempting to train their dog without a good system in place. Positive training techniques are emphasized by all of the best professional trainers.
You will use positive reinforcement to praise and reward your dog for correct behaviors and teach him how you want him to behave. You will also learn how to communicate with your dog in a dog-friendly manner. Knowing how to use your voice and body language effectively is essential for effective dog training.
You will learn how to be the Alpha dog for your dog. He will eagerly follow your commands once you have earned his respect, confidence, and trust as the Alpha dog. It is in a dog's nature to try to please the superior members of his "pack," which are you and your family.
To avoid conflicting and confusing training, the entire family must learn to be consistent with the training. Your older dog will quickly learn his place in his new "pack" if the proper training methods are used. Establishing yourself as the Alpha leader will help you solve any behavioral issues your dog may have brought with him.
Training an older dog to be the best addition to your family that he can be will provide you with a pet with whom you will feel at ease in any social situation. Don't let the older dog become anything other than a joy to have since you adopted him as a new member of your family. Take the time to train your older new best friend and build the best relationship you can with him.
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