If your older dog has bad behavior problems, you will need to do therapy dog training. If you rescued a dog from a shelter, you may have inherited behavior problems that you do not like. When you get a puppy and do not take the time to train them when they are young the problems will grow with them.
One of the first things you will learn in dog training for dummies is that it is best to train your dog from the moment you bring them home. This is meant for an older dog as well as a puppy. Your dog must know that you are in charge and you will not accept bad behavior.
You must know what it is you expect from your dog before you bring them home. You might not want your dog to go on your furniture, but if you rescued a dog from a shelter they may have been allowed to do that at their old home. You need to start therapy dog training from the moment you bring your dog home so your dog knows what is expected of them.
It is very important that you are consistent when using therapy dog training. Everyone in your family needs to know that each time your dog does something that you do not want them to do they will get the same response from each person. Tell everyone to not hit or yell at your dog, this does not really help it may only frighten your dog or make them less kind. The other important thing is to praise your dog when they do something right. Treats are not always the answer, giving them a good belly rub and kind words go a long way when letting your dog know they did something good.
If your new dog has a problem walking on a leash without pulling you, you can change the type of collar you have to one that is made to help train them to walk better. These will gently put pressure on your dogs nose and guide them to where you want. They will not the feeling of these but they will not hurt your dog. They do not choke your dog or shock your dog they only use pressure.
The key with correcting bad behavior by doing therapy dog training is consistency, make sure all members of your home know what is expected of your dog, and that everyone does the same thing when your dog does something wrong.
Jill Krackenburg loves training dogs! You can learn what she knows about how to potty train a puppy and off leash dog training.