How to Make a Well-Behaved Dog?

Welcoming a new furry friend into your family is a wonderful thing, but it also comes with its fair share of responsibility.

10:45 23 December 2019

If you expect your pup to behave, it’s up to you to provide them with proper care and training. We understand that raising a happy, healthy, and balanced dog can seem like too much work, but the unconditional love and undivided loyalty you’ll receive in return will be well worth the effort. 

To be the best dog parent you can be and raise a well-behaved dog, keep the following tips in mind.

Socialization is Key

Socializing your pup early on, teaches them how to behave around humans, dogs, and other animals. By exposing your dog to different environments, they can learn to be at ease with their surroundings which will help them become more confident and independent as they grow older. When your dog isn’t afraid of unfamiliar environments and situations, you can safely avoid any unpredictable, fear-induced behavior in the future.

Taking your dog on a car ride at an early age, walking them down a busy street, or taking them on a trip are some of the many ways that you can introduce your dog to new smells, sounds, and sights. With the holidays coming up, it might be a good idea to treat yourself and your dog to one of the dog-friendly pet retreats where you can celebrate the holidays with your loved ones while providing a safe space for your pup to socialize. Unlike the dog-friendly hotels, a pet retreat will allow you to tailor your accommodation to your needs, giving you and your pup a more homey and relaxing stay.

Give Your Pup the Exercise They Need

It’s a well-known fact that a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. Exercise is not only crucial for your dog's physical health, but it’s also vital for controlling their temperament and eliminating many of their behavioral problems. If sufficient, regular exercise is provided, your pup will be much more likely to be mellow and obedient when they’re back inside the house. How long and how often you need to exercise your dog depends on their age, breed, and health. But generally, dogs require around 30-60 minutes of exercise a day.

Train Them to Obey Your Commands

The long journey of dog training starts with teaching your pup to obey basic commands like “sit” and “come”. Obedience training will help you establish dominance, keep your pup’s behavior in check, and strengthen your relationship with them. When you’re teaching your pup a new command, break it down into simpler steps and teach them one part at a time. Your training sessions should be brief and consistent; training your pup for 10-minutes twice a day usually works like a charm.

Teach Them to Control Their Impulses

Even if your pup is well-behaved, they may still jump on you when you bust that bag of dry food out. Besides the basic commands, teaching them to obey more complicated orders like “stay” and “down” can help restrain their impulses a bit more, especially when they’re excitable.

Be Consistent

Dog training is an ongoing process which is why consistency is vital in every step of the way. If one family member allows a specific behavior one day, but then you forbid it the next, this will only confuse your dog. So before you bring your dog home, sit down with your family and set clear ground rules. In every situation, you and your family’s reaction towards your dog’s behavior should be the same. Not only will this will teach them to respect your boundaries, but by being consistent, you can also avoid accidentally rewarding behaviors that you don’t want to encourage.

Reinforce Their Good Behavior

When there are pleasurable consequences of certain behaviors, these behaviors are likely to be repeated, which is why you need to reward your dog’s good behavior with treats or praise whenever they successfully follow your commands. But keep in mind that positive reinforcement will only work if it’s reserved for good behavior.

Encouraging or ignoring your pup’s bad behavior because you think they’re being “cute” will only teach them that it’s okay to misbehave. While it may pull at your heartstrings to ignore or discipline your dog when they’re behaving badly, it is essential for setting clear boundaries and raising a well-behaved dog.

Raising a dog is a full-time job, especially during the early months when they’re first getting accustomed to their new home. At those early moments, every minute you spend with your pup can shape their future behavior. It may take some time for your dog training efforts to pay off, but with our tips in mind and a little patience and persistence, you’ll be set you on your path to raising a good, well-behaved pup.