Dog Training Tips
Do’s and Don’ts
If you are a new pet owner and in need of some quick advice, then these dog training tips will give you a solid foundation to start on. Some training situations require more guidance than others, but the the general rules of positive communication always apply.
Do:
BE CONSISTENT: Ignoring your dog’s behavior one minute, then correcting it the next, will only confuse him and hurt his confidence.
If you never want your dog on the furniture, for example, then do not ‘give in sometimes’ and allow him onto it. If you would like him on the couch with you under special circumstances, then train him to recognize those circumstances and do not allow him up any other time.
BE PATIENT: All of a dog’s behavior is essentially learned behavior. Even instinctual behaviors can be regulated and directed towards appropriate expression.
However, the learning process takes time. If you find yourself getting frustrated to the point you want to act out against your dog, take a break. Your dog needs you to be calm in order to feel secure the interaction. If he senses your stress, he’ll have a harder time following commands.
GIVE PLENTY OF PRAISE: Dogs live for positive attention. In fact, almost nothing makes your dog happier than knowing you’re pleased with him. Praise him before, during and after each training session. Make sure to praise and offer treats when he performs the desired action successfully.
BE FIRM: When you give your dog a command, do so in your usual tone of voice. You want to be firm, but not harsh, even when telling him “no.” Yelling or screaming will simply frighten your dog, make him feel bad, and fail to yield the desired result.
TRAIN CONSISTENLY: Dogs appreciate routine. Schedule the training sessions at roughly the same time each day so that your dog learns to look forward to them. Short sessions are best as tired dogs are more likely to act out.
Don’t:
TRAIN IN A BAD MOOD: We all have our bad days. If you’re stressed out, tired or sad, then put off training your dog until you’re in a better state of mind and body. Training your dog should be an upbeat experience, and you’ll both enjoy it more when you’re feeling good.
REPEAT COMMANDS: If you tell your dog to ’sit’, and he doesn’t, what you need to do is show him, gently, what ’sit’ means. Tell him ‘Good Boy’. Back away and repeat the process a few more times, then move on to something else or engage him in a little play.
Do not, however, stand there saying “Sit” over and over. Commanding your dog without showing him what to do quickly renders the command meaningless.
TRAIN TOO LONG: Dogs have fairly short attention spans. Avoid working on the same command for more than 5 minutes at a time. You’re dog will likely start ‘zoning out’ around the 3 minute mark anyways, and pushing it won’t help.
WORRY TOO MUCH: Getting your dog to learn new tricks, or modify his behavior, is just like any other learning process. Sometimes you’ll encounter minor setbacks. Your dog might perform wonderfully one day, then seem to have forgotten half his training the next.
This is to be expected, as dogs have good and bad days just like we do. Rather than force him to work on a specific command, figure out what he seems most interested in doing and try to incorporate some training into the activity, even if it’s purely play.
Take action and start training your dog NOW!
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