Training, Where to Start?

If training is the most important and rewarding thing you can do for your dog, where and how should you start?

Use positive reinforcement techniques

The most effective method for training a dog is using positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is adding a reward (treat, toy & petting) for good behavior, rather than punishing bad behavior. Find the right reward

Some dogs are food motivated and will respond very enthusiastically to any sort of treat as a reward. Others are often pickier, needing a higher value reward. Soft chewy treats are preferred to hard crunchy ones. Consistency is key

Consistency is incredibly important. Always use the same word and even the same kind of intonation when asking them to do something. Include the entire family on using the word and intonation, too. If you never let the dog on the couch, but your kids do, your pup will just end up confused. Train little and often

Short (five minute) training sessions repeated throughout the day are more effective than longer ones.

Dogs often struggle to generalizing commands to other places or situations (i.e. understanding that asking for a sit at home is the same thing as a sit on a busy street), so it's useful to repeat your training sessions in multiple locations with different people and varying levels of distraction so that you pup learns to respond correctly to the same command all the time

Build up in stages

Try breaking behaviors down into smaller parts. In the beginning, if teaching “recall” praise and reward for one step towards you. It’ll be easier to add steps and build up to racing across the room to you. Make it fun!

Training should be fun for you and your dog! Keep it positive, try mixing things up to keep it interesting? Incorporate short play sessions in between your training repetitions. Consider teaching tricks in addition to manners. It’s more fun seeing a dog rolling over than for a plain old sit.

Daily training routine

Incorporate training into your daily routine. Ask you pup to sit for everything, dinner, going outside, play, or petting. Use your hands.

Dogs respond better to hand signals than verbal commands. First teach the visual, then add the verbal later. Dogs don’t understand language the same way we do.

Research trainers

Ask how they train? Ask to observe a class. Read their reviews!

Submitted by marion C. o’neil CPdt-Ka, Ctdi, owner and inStruCtor for molaSSeS CreeK dog training llC, QuaKertown and trainer for runaway farm Pet HoSPital, PennSburg SHe Can be reaCHed at molaSSeSCreeK@verizon net