Top 10 Dog Training Advice

1. Use tactics for positive reinforcement

Almost all veterinarians concur that the best way to train a dog is through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement training primarily focuses on rewarding your pet for positive conduct rather than punishing undesirable behavior.

Reward your dog whenever they behave well and obey your orders. By rewarding good conduct, you're strengthening the link between that behavior and positive outcomes.

2. Choose the proper prize.

Some dogs are highly motivated by food and will respond positively to any form of edible incentive. Some are pickier; they frequently like soft, chewy foods over crunchy ones.

Yet, other dogs just have no interest in food at all. If your dog is experiencing this, try trying with other rewards, such as a brief game of with a favorite toy or even just plenty of love.

3. Consistency is key.

Being consistent in your training is incredibly important. This includes consistency in how you’re training your dog—for example, always using the same word, and even the same kind of intonation when asking them to do something.

Equally important is for everyone in your household to be on the same page. Dogs need consistency to learn new habits, so if you never let the dog on the couch, but your partner does, your pup will just end up confused.

4. Little and often training.

Far more effective than lengthier training sessions are short ones that are repeated throughout the day. The American Kennel Club advises confining sessions to a maximum of five minutes; if you go over that, your dog can get distracted or impatient.

It's helpful to repeat your training sessions in various locations, with different people, and with varying levels of distraction so that your dog learns to respond correctly to the same command all the time. Dogs frequently struggle to generalize commands to other places or situations (for example, understanding that asking for a "sit" at home is the same thing as asking for a "sit" on a busy street).

5. Increase gradually.

Beginning small can be beneficial, especially when it comes to more complex actions like "stay," or when you're trying to change a behavior (such as an unpleasant one).

Consider dissecting behaviors into smaller components. For instance, if you're teaching your dog to "come," praise and reward them whenever they simply take a single step in your direction. After your dog starts to get the idea of it, adding additional steps and building up to the entire behavior are much simpler.

6. Make it fun.

Both you and your dog should enjoy training! Always remain positive, and experiment with variety to keep things interesting, such as adding brief breaks for play into your workouts in between repetitions.

In addition to normal obedience training, you can think about teaching your dog tricks. When we see a dog turn over rather than just sit, we naturally react more positively as humans. Our dogs take up this positivity and end up enjoying performing tricks for us.

7. Highlight the tiny victories.

Never forget to give your dog praise for any progress, no matter how tiny. It's simple to get focused on the end result of training, but acknowledging and rewarding small accomplishments is equally important and will keep you and your dog motivated.

8. Include training in daily activities.

Making training a regular part of your pet's routine makes scheduling numerous brief sessions much simpler. Before giving your dog their supper, taking them for a walk, or engaging in play, for instance, ask them to sit or respond to another order.

9. Do hand motions.

Despite our best efforts, dogs cannot comprehend language in the same way that humans can. Try mixing the two, or even start with just hand signals and add the verbal command afterward, as many dogs respond better to hand signals than verbal orders.

10. Speak with a dog trainer or go to a class on training.

If you're having trouble, don't be afraid to get in touch with a qualified dog trainer or sign up for a class. Professional trainers may assist you and your dog by using their years of experience and are typically one of the fastest ways to see results. They will have dealt with a wide range of situations during their careers, so they should have suggestions for how to handle any troubles you may be having.

Spend some time researching your options before picking a trainer. Be sure they employ positive reinforcement strategies, and if you can, seek references or read a lot of reviews.