A First Time Pet Owner's Guide to Train a Dog
Dogs are one of the most sociable, loyal and lovable pets. This is probably the reason that they are a delight to their pet owners. However, with behavioral issues such as biting, chewing, and barking, they can be very annoying as well. So, it is important to start training a dog from an early age. But without a proper guidance, it can be hard nut to crack, especially for a first time pet owner. Otherwise, being a pet owner is quite a pleasant and learning experience.

First of all as a first time pet owner, you need to understand that dogs are like kids. They need proper care and attention. They need to be taught do's and don'ts of things. And you will find a well-behaved pup who is a friendly companion, and not an aggressive family member.

Most dogs generally behave well when under control. However, when their leader is not around, they may try to become the leader themselves. To train your canine companion effectively, you first need to establish yourself as the alpha or leader in your relationship with your pooch. You must make him understand that he must obey to your command and it is not the other way round.

Nonetheless, you must not oscillate in your relationship. Being a boss sometimes and a slave to your dog’s demand at some other times would only confuse your pup and he will behave as he feels like. So, once you have established your position as the boss in the relationship, you can then proceed to train your dog further.

Positive reinforcement is the key rule that you must adhere to while you initiate the training. This means that you must not yell at your pet or punish him if he does anything wrong. However, you must not forget to reward him and praise him for a good performance. It would be a good idea to give him his favorite food along with patting and verbal praise. This way, your pet would gradually learn that good behavior is appreciated and even rewarded.  

Not to forget, to make him recognize "don’ts" or his unappreciated behavior, you can simply ignore him. But in no circumstances you should resort to punishment.

Further, dog biting is a common behavior and has many reasons. It may be excitement, anxiety, pain and many others. It is very natural for dogs to bite as they try to grasp objects through their mouth. So, you must make it clear to your dog that grasping objects is fine but grasping your arm is not. For instance, if you are playing with your pup and he bites you. Instead of shouting at him, stop playing with him. This will make him realize his mistake soon.

Similarly, some dogs bark to get the attention of their masters. But when you will pay attention after they have gone silent, they will know that barking is futile.

Following these easy steps, you can easily deal with the behavioral problems of your pet and be a proud master of your well-behaved dog.
 
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