Training Staffies – How To Make It Fun And Rewarding

Sometimes training staffies can seem downright impossible, especially if the strategies you are using are not working and your pup seems to be more hard-headed than ever. However, there are ways to break through and get real results. You can use the follwoing ideas in this article to start a staffordshire training program that will set you on the path to success.

• To teach your staffy to lie down, have him start in a sit position. Take a treat, and place your hand on the ground. Slowly drag it away from your dog. Your dog should initially lower his nose to the ground, and then lie down as he tries to follow the treat further away. If he stands up instead of lying down, have him restart from the sit position. Make sure to praise him once he lies down.
• Find a suitable trainer. Ask your vet, other dog owners, or a local shelter or rescue organization for recommendations. Also, check out the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, which has a list of approved instructors on their website. When finding an instructor for your dog, be sure to sit in on one of their classes. If the dogs in the class seem to be happy, then it’s a good sign.
• If you are having problems with your dog’s behavior, one of the best things that you can do is to avoid aggression triggers. For instance, do not put them in a situation where they are likely to feel protective. If they do not like other dogs, simply try to separate them.
• Watch your demeanor when you are training your dog. You need to remain calm, but assertive at all times. Do not show anger or raise your voice. If you do this, your dog will require you to shout commands in order to follow them, if this is how he is trained.
• When training your dog, do it in short sessions, no more than fifteen to twenty minutes each session. This keeps your dog from becoming bored and uninterested in the training. More importantly, it ensures that your focus is entirely on training, which is vital to ensuring your dog’s success.
• The main reason for crate training is to housebreak your dog. The concept of crate training is that dogs feel secure in this environment and will not soil the area in which they sleep. In this case, the crate, or den, is their sleeping area and they will not soil it, so it’s the best choice for housebreaking your dog.
• For staffies that chew inappropriately, try a training aid like a liquid that has a strong, bitter taste. Many pet stores sell holistic products that taste terrible to most dogs. Some people choose to steep pepper flakes in water in a spray bottle instead. Either way you choose to go, a bitter or spicy deterrent on furniture, shoes, or other items that you don’t want your dog chewing or eating can stop this behavior in its tracks.
• To teach your dog anything, you need to be consistent. This means you should give the same order every time, and reward or punish your dog in a similar way, all the time. This will help your staffy assimilate certain concepts much faster than if you were using a more complex and diverse way of communicating.
• Spend time each day training your dog, even if for only a few minutes a day. Dogs respond well when they get to practice what they are learning and what they have learned. Practicing at least 15 minutes a day on commands your dog already knows keeps the dog in practice.
• Remember that sometimes patience is key with training staffies, so don’t become frustrated if your dog doesn’t catch on right away. It would be nice if every dog could understand your every command but you have to remember they can’t. Just try and be sure you are aware of your dog’s emotions and when they do follow your command reward them so they know what they did was right.
• Does your dog bark excessively? If he does, do not give him treat to quiet him, or raise your voice to quiet him. If he is quiet, offer him treats then, and a lot of attention and praise. By doing this you are encouraging the silent behavior you are after.
• Negative methods of training staffies don’t work. Just as with humans, positive reinforcement of behaviors is much more effective. Use praise, treats and play time to show your dog that you are pleased with their performance. If he cannot do what you are asking him, do not punish him or yell at him. He will associate trying to do the task with negativity and will avoid the task even harder the next time.
• A barking dog can drive its owner as well as the neighbors crazy! A good way to train your dog not to bark is to offer him a reward to stop barking! When he barks, use a command such as “Quiet!” or “No bark!” and wave his favorite treat in front of his nose. Soon he will learn that dog treats are better than making noise!
• Get in the habit of only giving your dog a direct command one time. It will seem easy to just repeat it over and over until he responds, but don’t do that. Instead, revisit the training until your dog understands that you expect him to react the first time you say something.
• Use food as a reward when training staffies. Many dogs will respond on a basic level to edibles. The reward of food will usually encourage them to continue on a food winning path. Vary the types of treats you get for your dog. Alternate fresh meat with packaged treats.

Training staffies isn’t impossible, even though there are times when it can seem that way, there are things you can do to get over those tough hurdles. Make sure that you start with these tips and hunt out other such tips from the internet, so you can get off to the best start to successfully train your dog.