If you’ve recently opened your home to a new furbaby, congratulations! Now get ready to start training. Dog training should begin early and, ideally, should continue throughout your pet’s life to keep their minds active and to reinforce what they’ve already learned!
Unless you’ve acquired an already well-trained older dog, you’ve got a lot of work to do, and it can be hard to know where to start! Depending on the age of your dog and her former life circumstances you may need to teach potty training and obedience basics like “Sit!” and “Come!” and work with possible behavior issues like:
- Jumping on people
- Reacting uncontrollably to dogs and other animals
- Relentless barking
- Puppy or play biting
- Chewing on your stuff
Most dogs are born with an innate desire to please but not an innate knowledge of what to do, and a lot of what humans want is in opposition to a dog’s nature! Dogs love to chase small animals and eat things they find on the ground, they like to greet you in an energetic, in-your-face manner and hop up on your lap without permission. Dogs have a lot to learn, and it’s our responsibility to teach them. Busy pet parents want a magic bullet to make training go faster, but training correctly and consistently is what works. That takes time, patience and commitment.
Thanks to the internet, it’s actually a great time in history to learn how to train your dog; there are so many blogs and videos online that you can find help with almost any problem.
Innovative professional trainers have moved away from traditional methods and now wholeheartedly recommend positive, upbeat techniques that are more like rewards and play.
Hopefully, training will be an enjoyable experience! It’s a wonderful way to build a bond with your dog.
5 Things to Remember When Training
Take these truths to heart before you delve into training your dog, and things should go a lot more smoothly. Some of them are common sense but bear repeating.
The right attitude matters.
You and your dog should be relaxed and in a positive frame of mind for a training session. If you are tired, stressed out, and grumpy then your dog’s going to know. And it will make you more prone to be impatient. Your dog’s mood also comes into play. If he’s not ready to pay attention and engage, try again later. You’re just as likely to move backwards as you are to move forwards if you both aren’t ready.
Being willing to take your time succeeds faster in the long run.
Don’t try to train in long sessions and don’t try to teach too much at once. Being willing to take your time works faster in the long run. If your dog loses focus, stops taking treats or seems frustrated, it’s time to stop. What makes training unsuccessful? Rushing.
Start in a Safe, Controlled Space
When you begin training basics you want a familiar, distraction-free environment you can control. Teaching your dog to come to you or stay will never work if you’re in a yard alive with squirrels and birds or dogs and people passing on the sidewalk. You want to give your dog plenty of time to successfully master a command before you work up to trying it in a distracting environment.
Keep everything upbeat.
To succeed, it helps if training is fun for your dog. Being energetic and enthusiastic fosters a positive attitude in dogs. It feels like play. Your tone of voice really matters and so do your emotions. For instance, when you’re teaching recall it’s important never to get frustrated and start using a harsh voice–as if your dog would suddenly want to come to you if you sound mad! Ugly behavior on your part is another quick way to lose ground, as well as your dog’s trust.
Communicate sincerely and clearly
– First thing off the bat, teach your dog to pay attention to you. Train him to look you in the eye. Getting him to immediately turn his focus to you in any environment with any distraction is important.
– Always keep signals, whether voice commands or hand-signals, clear and consistent, and when you start out, the bigger the better. You can eventually rein in a sweeping gesture for “down” once your pup obeys the command like a pro.
– Be sincere, engaging and present; be “there,” and your training will be more successful.
– Always be looking for behaviors to reinforce and be super-fast rewarding them! This can’t be stressed enough. When you first start training, in fact, treats should be stashed all over the house, and you should be actively looking for things to encourage. Mark good behavior immediately, though, or your dog may clue in to the wrong thing.
Dog Training for Fun and Profit
If you love dogs; if you want to save unruly pets from being surrendered to shelters; if you want a career that keeps you outside, moving and meeting new challenges then you may want to consider dog training. Becoming a certified dog trainer is a fulfilling career that allows you to help both animals and the people who love them and who desperately want them to stop leash-pulling, jumping on people, or counter surfing!
Animal Behavior College has been certifying dog trainers since 1998. Learn online then get hands-on experience with a local mentor trainer. You could be training dogs on your own in about 12 months!
