A dog is called a dog in Europe for all purposes – for working, for fun, and even for worship. This does not mean that a dog in North America is not a child’s toy or candidate for house training.
The term toy dog refers to dogs that are less than two feet tall. These smaller dogs are commonly referred to as mini dogs or diminutive animals. They are commonly reported to be playful and easy to train.
Many people find them affectionate and cute. So it is no wonder that these people are very popular. They also very often get lots of compliments when they walk them.
Mini dogs can be hard to housetraining due to their shorter stature and lack of exposed skin.
Contents:
Pick the right dog for training
Most people think it’s best to teach a new dog to stay in place on the floor, so they can enjoy training them in the car or on a walk.
However, this is not the best way to do it. A lot of dogs that are taught how to stay in place don’t know how to do so when moved.
When training a dog at home, you have to be very careful about how you move them. If you put them in a position that is harmful or one that they would struggle with, such as putting them on a leash and taking off with them, then this is good dog training book for beginners.
The second thing that comes into play when training a dog is housetraining. The first thing you want to do is get your dog ready for humans by housetraining. This means taking them out and letting them practice at getting back and forth from their room to the kitchen and outside.
Get your dog into a routine
Once your dog is comfortable in their own environment, it is time to create a routine. A routine can be walking the same route every day, training walks, or learning new tricks.
There are many ways to learn a trick. Some dogs learn easily while others take a little bit more. So, you must be prepared to teach your dog some new tricks every bit.
Every dog should have a home guarded by at least one good-quality leash. Your dog should have a spot to get out of bed and a place to play if they are housebreed trained. Having all of these things in your dog’s life will help them feel more comfortable in the world around them.
Last but not least, have fun with your dog! Being patient, teaching skills safely, and having an outdoors space are all parts of the routine required for dogs.
Use reward-based training
The term reward-based training (RBt) was created by a canine professor to separate the complexities of dog training into simpler, more recognizable terms.
Reward-based training was created by experts to eliminate the reliance on punishing your dog for behavior that is not good. Instead, your dog will be rewarded for appropriate and good behavior, making it much easier to train your dog.
By not relying on punishment as a means of teaching you and your dog how to behave, such as in housetraining or socialization, you will be able to target more behavior problems quickly. By using less effective methods of training your dog, you will grow in confidence faster!
Use reward-based training when you are beginning your dog training journey. It will help you avoid having to go back to using correction or punishment when things do not get better with time, making it more of a self-help tool.
Understand dominance and leadership
If your dog is not housebroken, then read this next section quickly. There are ways to train your dog off-leash, so that you can understand and teach him how to stay home alone.
Off-leash training is not for the faint of heart. It can be challenging and even more time consuming than other training methods. If you are looking to advance your training or simply want to know what commands your dog knows already, then look into this next section.
Understand how dogs learn communication and command systems through sign language. A lot of dogs learn basic skills via sign language, making this a great source of information.
If you are trying to teach your dog some basic skills via sign language, then the best book ever is The Dog Company: Signs And Training Methods by Chuck & Anita Brown (Amazon).
Understand what causes misbehavior
Your dog is most likely behaviorally stimulated when you enter a room where there is food or drink available. This includes when you go to the kitchen and get your dog a food or drink item while the kennelmaster is open!
This is known as a socialization experience for your dog. When you introduce this, your dog will learn to play with other dogs, which gives them some of the same positive experiences that we enjoy in our dogs.
However, not all dogs are tolerant of others and certain behavior issues can start. For example, if your dog is allergic, then they may be put in situations that are sensitive or uncomfortable.
Certain issues such as housarital sex, encounters with law enforcement, and anything related to health or fitness are sensitive times for my dogs.
If your dog has a behavior issue, it can be hard to know what it is because they don’t always show it outwardly. A look into their hearts and minds can help.
Learn to read your dog’s body language
There is a lot you can learn from the way your dog is thinking, acting, and feeling. The way they are carrying themselves, how they are negotiating the environment, and what habits they have established all mean something.
Some things you can change with your dog, but most things aren’t possible until you learn what they do and why they do it. This section will go over some of the more common dog behavior problems and give you tips on how to correct it.
If you know your dog is stubborn, this section may also talk about things that can be embarrassing for them to try. Luckily, these tips are always helpful even if you don’t think they will work!
Dog training is a field that changes constantly. New books are published every day so it takes some time to keep up.
Avoid common mistakes
A common mistake made by most humans is trying to teach a dog a command or two, and then not following it with consequences.
This can lead to the dog not being productive enough or not knowing the command. It can also make them angry or defensive which is not a good thing for your dog or others.
If you know some commands but can’t follow them with a consequence, don’t worry too much as many trainers will let you off the hook if you show good behavior. Just be aware that you may have to try this again if they fail to train you again.
As we said earlier, dogs are animals and things happen when they are caught up in behaviors such as chasing prey or playing.
Read some of the best dog training books for beginners
There are many great books on dog training for the beginning dog. Many of them are short, easy to read books that teach you nothing more than how to read a book!
Some of the best beginner dogs books include One-on-One Training: Step by Step, Raiders of the Litter Box, and pocket sized trainers like Tricks & Treats. all of which teach basic commands and housetraining in easy to understand language.
If you can put up with some harsh language, these doable books are a great way to start training your dog. All of them link back to reputable sites so you can find another way to train your dog if needed.
There are also a few games like fetch and/or training stairs into your house so your dog can practice housetraining in their own space.