Bringing home a dog involves much more than just providing it with love, care, and other basic necessities. To make the dog a good pet, a great deal of training may be required. Some dog breeds can be easily trained, while some require the owner to put a lot of effort and time into training.
Although, professional dog trainers can be hired to do the job for you, training the dog yourself can strengthen the bond between you and can be a learning experience for both. The training task is made relatively easy by a whole lot of dog training tools that are available in the market.
Leash and Collar
It may seem surprising, but the leash and collar are the simplest and most effective tools for training your dog outdoors. As far as the leash is concerned, the shorter it is, the better control it will give you. Also available at pet stores are automatic recoil leashes, wherein you can adjust the length as and when you desire. Additionally, there are various types of collars, like no-bark collars, remote-operated collars, beeper and tracking collars, chain collars, etc., that come handy during the obedience training session.
Dog Fencing
Dog fences are essential when you want to contain the dog to your premises, so that you don’t have to deal with annoyed neighbors. Apart from the conventional fences, electric dog fences can be very useful for this purpose. The invisible fence will train your dog to refrain from venturing out by delivering a mild electric shock. The shock will be preceded by a beep, which will be a warning sign, and the dog will eventually start associating this beep with the danger of crossing the line.
Clicker
A clicker is a small plastic device with a metal piece inside, which, when squeezed and released, produces a clicking noise. This device can be useful when you are training the dog to follow commands and instructions, as the clicking noise will attract the dog’s attention towards you. The dog will also be able to recognize this noise after a few days of use, which will enable you to track your dog, in case it goes wandering about.
Dog Crates
Dog crates are used to train the dogs in the housebreaking process. Dog crate training also enables the dog to have a place of its own in the house, especially when it is left alone in the house for long hours. You can place soft comfortable blankets, a bowl of water, and a chew toy in the crate, so as to ensure that the dog feels comfortable in it.
Muzzles
Muzzles are used to train dogs with barking, biting, and chewing problems. The muzzle is used to cover the dog’s mouth, which prevents it from barking incessantly, biting someone, or chewing anything that comes its way.
Other than these training tools, you will also have to resort to dog treats to ensure that your dog takes interest in the training process. These treats encourage dogs to follow commands. The treat should be something that is not included in the dog’s daily diet, like liver, chews, biscuits, cheese bites, etc. The desire to earn a reward will encourage your dog to perform the task properly. To produce the desirable behavior, you need to make this training an enjoyable experience for your dog and treat it with love and respect.
