When you hear dog training, what's your first thought? It's probably not easy. It's no secret that dog training is a difficult task. We have all struggled at some point. There are ways to make the process easier.
You can use my training tips. Here are 10 tips to make training your dog easier.
1. Respect the rules
To make dog training easier, it is important to follow rules consistently. Establish clear boundaries with your dog, and ensure that everyone in the house follows them. It won't be long before your dog learns what is acceptable behavior.
Make sure that everyone knows the rule if your dog is not allowed to sit on the couch. Do not punish your dog if they have gotten away from a certain behavior in the past. Also, do not punish them for a particular behavior your husband has allowed. It is unfair to punish your dog for a behavior that they are sometimes rewarded with.
Don't punish your dog for begging if dad keeps sneaking him all those table scraps (it's always dad, isn't it?). If dad is sneaking your dog all the table scraps, don't punish him for it. Every night. Your dog doesn't beg because he is naughty. He's asking because you are rewarding him for it. Your dog will be confused and frustrated if you reward him one day for a certain behavior and punish him the next.
Make sure that everyone on the same page is involved in deciding what house rules to set for your dog. Consistent rules will help everyone understand what your dog can and cannot do. Your dog will take longer to learn if you make exceptions. They'll also be faced with unnecessary confusion.
2. Encourage your dog's good behavior
All of us want a dog that is well-behaved, right? One of the best ways to improve your pet's manners, is to reward good behavior. This is a simple thing that many people forget to do.
We tend to focus more on the negative behavior when it comes to training dogs, and forget to reward good behaviors. Dogs are always watching and learning from their owners, so telling them that they did something right will encourage them to do it again. Do not assume that your dog will know that you are happy with his behavior if you remain silent. Let him know.
Even if the act seems minor or mundane, let your dog know that they did something right. These positive associations will teach your dog what is acceptable and what they can expect at any time. You can encourage your dog's good behavior by letting them know what they did.
Tell him that he is a good boy if your dog sits calmly by your side while you eat your dinner. Let him know if your dog puts his head on your lap while you are on the couch. By showing your dog that you value their behavior, they will be more likely to do it again.
Do not assume that your dog will know that you are happy with him if you remain silent. Let your dog know when he does something right. Rewarding your dog for good behavior will encourage him to do it again.
3. Know your own dog's limits
All dogs have their limits. Your puppy's attention span will be different from that of your seven-year-old dog. This is partly due to the fact puppies are easily distracted and that it takes time to build a relationship with your dog that allows you to keep their attention.
You'll soon learn which training methods work best with your dog and which are more challenging. It's normal for your puppy to have trouble focusing on a task for longer than a couple of minutes. Try to keep your sessions under 5 minutes to get the most from the time available.
Your dog will enjoy training more if you keep your sessions short and entertaining. They'll think of you as a great person who is always teaching them new things and letting them know when they are a good boy. This commitment combined with clear communication from you will help to increase your dog’s focus in time.
When you are working with your dog, pay attention to them. You'll know after a few sessions what works best for your dog. If they've not exercised, are they distracted? After 10 minutes, do they become frustrated? Instead, try 5 minutes. Do they prefer toys or treats? Modify the training to suit their needs.
4. Environment makes a difference
Always keep in mind your surroundings when it comes to dog training. You'll find more distractions outdoors than inside your home. When you are in an environment that is distracting, you will be competing with your dog for their attention. This can lead to failure. You're not only asking your dog to learn a trick in a stimulating environment, but you're also asking them to ignore the exciting things around them.
You can try teaching your dog the new trick in a less distracting environment (such as in your living room). You can't expect that your dog will perform the new trick in an exciting and/or new environment on its first try. You'll need to practice a bit in order to keep your dog's interest. As if it's the first time you are teaching the trick to your dog. Use treats that your dog loves and keep the session fun.
When working with your dog to teach a reliable retrieve, it is important to keep in mind the environment. You may have a perfect recall indoors but it won't be the same outside. Your dog will be very excited by the sights, smells and squirrels outside. It's going to take a lot of effort to keep their attention.
Every time you change your training environment, expect challenges. It's not impossible to train your dog to obey you outside, but it does take patience. Keep your sessions fun and take it slowly when you're working with your dog.
When training your dog in a new or unfamiliar environment, you should expect distractions. Keep it fun and use high-value rewards to keep your dog's attention. You're not asking them just to perform a trick. Instead, you are asking them ignore all the exciting activities going on around them and to focus solely on the trick.
5. Motivation is important
To make training your dog easier, you can try out different rewards. It's crucial to keep your dog focused when you are training. The best way to achieve this is to offer rewards. Laika is a lucky dog because she will work for toys or treats. But not all dogs respond well to both.
Are you willing to reward your dog with toys, treats and praise? You can use them as rewards to maintain your dog's interest in the training. Pay attention to what makes your dog happy. Remember to try out a range of toys and rewards to see which ones get your dog excited. You can use these extra-exciting rewards when you are teaching your dog a new trick or a particularly difficult one.
When I want to work on a complex trick or behavior, she's instantly focused when I pull out the tug toy. When we are working on a complicated trick or behavior, I pull out the tug toy to get her focused. You can keep your dog's focus in difficult situations by learning which rewards they love and work best.
6. The attention span of your dog is limited
Keep your training sessions short if you want to avoid frustration. Working on a trick or behavior for too long can cause frustration in both you and your pet.
After 10 minutes, does your dog become distracted? Reduce the time to 5 minutes. Take a short break between sessions and work on only one trick or behavior at a time. You can make your dog frustrated, bored and/or distracted if you work on a new trick or behavior for too long.
If your dog has trouble focusing, try increasing the physical and mental exercises throughout the day. Laika is a very energetic dog, so before I start training her, I let her burn off some energy.
The attention span of a puppy is not one of their best qualities. Keep your sessions short and enjoyable to make them positive for your dog.
7. Keep Your Words Consistent
When it comes to training dogs, we humans have an extensive vocabulary. However, it is important to keep things simple and use the same words consistently. Remember to use the exact same gesture or word every time, just like you did when teaching your dog how to “sit”.
No matter what you are working on, be consistent in the words that you use. Your dog will learn to “heel,” much more easily than “whoa,””wait,””stop,” or “hold.” Do you know why I mentioned those words? All of these words and phrases are used by me to try to get Laika not to pull.
It's easy for us to forget that we can train our dogs while out walking. When you are trying to train your dog to not pull on the leash, remember to wear your training hat and to be consistent in the words that you use. Although it sounds easy, telling people to use fewer terms is much more difficult than you think.
8. Both you and your dog will have “off” days
Not all training days will be perfect. Like anything we do regularly, some days will feel a little off. Every day would be great if it were possible, but it's not the case. Some days will be just off.
It's true that training is progressive but it doesn't mean you will make the same progress every day. Your patience might be wearing thin some days, while your dog may not be interested in training. We all have bad days. If you are not having fun, your dog will probably be too. You don't wish for your dog to begin to think negatively about your training sessions.
Take a break from training and play with your dog. Take them to the park or play tug. Take a break, and then start again tomorrow.
You will have days when you don't feel like training your dog. Allow yourself to have fun and take a short break with your dog.
9. You can learn from your mistakes
You've been struggling to teach your dog a new trick. Try to take a step back, and figure out why the training isn't going well. Is it because your dog is too distracted? They are not motivated enough. You not clearly communicating with your dog? Learning from past mistakes is one of the best ways you can make training your dog easier.
My biggest breakthroughs in training have been made by analyzing my mistakes. Laika was my dog when I first started teaching her to “come to me”. She understood what I meant and would surely start running back at any moment. It turned out that was not enough. She kept sniffing the grass, chasing a squirrel and patrolling my yard while I stood with my arms crossed.
When I finally understood what “come here” meant, I realized that her fun outdoor play time had ended. Finally, I understood that my game had to be better. I had to be more interesting than the squirrels, and all other creatures who inhabit our yard. How did I achieve this? Every time she returned to me and played tug with me, I gave her a handsome reward. I had to match my reward with the behavior that I wanted.
This is a common problem when teaching our dogs to recall. It's not as exciting for them as what they're doing now. Yelling at them to return discourages them.
If you are having trouble training your dog, take a step back and figure out what's going on. Asking your dog to perform a task they do not understand could be the problem. What are the rewards you offer? Finding out why your current method doesn't work will help you create one that works.
10. Different dogs, different methods
Remember that each dog is unique when it comes to the training process. It's easy to think that the exact same methods that worked with dog A would work with dog B, but this is not always true.
It is easy to assume what works for one dog, will also work for another. Although I know this isn't the case, I still compare my current dog with previous dogs. Laika was my replacement for Carter, who would do anything to get food. I thought she would be the same way. It turns out that she is not as fond of food as Carter was. Asking her to “rollover” for one treat does not cut it.
The same goes for teaching our dogs manners and potty-training them. Some dogs may house train in a week while others will take longer. Some dogs will learn to bite-inhibit quickly while others can take weeks or even months. Do not get frustrated if your dog's progress is slower than your previous one. Some dogs will learn certain behavior sooner than others. You may need to adapt your training to your dog's needs. Not all methods will work for every dog.
Some dogs will do almost anything for treats. Others are easily distracted. And some struggle more with manners than others. You should find out what works best for your dog and then use it to your advantage. Remember, as a dog trainer once said: ” Train the dog in your presence.”
What are your favorite dog training tips?
Have you developed any tips to make dog training easier? Do you follow the rules? Are you consistent with rules? What is the favorite training treat of your dog?