While to many a may seem that all the dog she retrained alike there are in fact different things you need to consider depending on the size of the dog. There are many basic training techniques that apply to both large and small sized dogs however different sized dogs have different challenges and special considerations. Whether you have a small or a large dog, you should always treat your dog with kindness and use positive reinforcement.
Never hit your dog as this will do little to enforce training. While some dogs are harder to train than others, all dogs can be trained with patience and persistence. Small Dogs Small dogs can be transported easily which will give you more choices for training locations both inside the home and out of it. One consideration was small dogs is that they tend to bark a lot so extra effort may be needed towards bark suppression. Often times small dogs are very fearful and you want to take that into consideration your training.
On the other hand there are many small dogs that are too bold which you should also take into consideration. You should always start training or small dogs when they are young and hold regular training sessions as persistence is the key. You will need to establish early on that you are the leader of the pack, or alpha dog. Be firm when you're small dog challenges you and don't give in to his cuteness or be afraid to be firmer than due to his size. You should give careful thought when leash training your small dog because their throats are easily bruised. Be careful to correct with the sideways tug as opposed to a backwards tug.
when the dog is pulling forward, you should jerk the leash sideways in order to correct him -- just a tug for correction not a jerk for punishment. While it may seem like a neck muscles a very strong remember their throats are delicate. When you teach your small dog to sit, remember he is small and do not apply excessive pressure on his hind quarters.
The size difference between a large human in the small dog make it easy for you to be a bit too forceful even if you don't mean to. Large Dogs Large dogs have their own challenges when training. When you training a large dog the wheat strength ratio is in the dogs favor. And, therefore, you must make special considerations.
If you are training a large dog you should always be alert. While a small dog can be annoying when he turns on the leash a large dog can throw you off balance which can be dangerous. If you are training a Rottweiler or German Shepherd and he wants to let loose and run after a cat you need to be prepared to hold them back. Large dogs will need a thick leash - at least an inch of leather or good nylon.
A wide collar of good quality with solid fasteners that won't break open while you are in the middle of training as a must. when you're walking with a large dog be sure to hold the loop of the end of the leash in your right hand while inserting your thumb through the loop. Then, in your left hand, hold a few inches of the leash draped over your left her in insert your left palm through the little loop which is formed while draping. Claims the leash across your left hand palm.
Even with a large dog, you want to perform leash corrections by jerking sideways as opposed to back. While they are obviously much stronger than small dogs their throats can be bruised by excessive force. Just give them a short tog and release this will let them know that they've done something wrong. Large dogs, in particular, need to be trained not to jump especially around children. Many dogs get excited when they see children and they want to jump up on them and play.
Your job as a trainer is to be prepared with leash corrections whenever this happens. In the beginning you will correct with the leash but eventually the dog will learn to not jump with a voice command. Whether you're a dog is large or small, daily training is necessary especially in the beginning to reinforce the commands that you want your dog to learn. In order for your dog to be the best pet he can be, it's important for him to learn what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Dogs like to have rules and they love to please their owners so training is probably something your dog looks forward to. While training can be tedious and time-consuming you will be rewarded with a loyal and loving pet that is a joy to be around.
Lee Dobbins writes for http://dogtraining.subjectmonster.com where you can learn more about dog training methods, tips and techniques.
