Eighteen Dog Training Help Tips For Quality Relationships
Dog Training Help Tip #1
Your dog is very sensitive to feelings and mood; don’t attempt a training session if you are not in a pleasant, good mood. To maximize the training session and keep the dog motivated, the training period should be no longer than 5-10 minutes.
Dog Training Help Tip #2
Pick an alternate name for your dog to use when talking about it, or when not talking directly to the dog (versus when you issue a command). This helps the dog to pay attention when it hears its name. It will take some practice as you’ll forget the alternate name at times, but will assist you in getting the dog’s attention during the training period.
Dog Training Help Tip #3
Not only should your training session have a positive beginning, it is important to have a positive ending. To ensure this will be the case, end the session with a command you are certain will be obeyed. After the command is obeyed, give a reward so the dog has a feeling of accomplishment. End the sessions with a finishing command such as “release” or “free”. Do not use the word “okay”.
Dog Training Help Tip #4
The timing of a reward is critical in getting the point across. Reward your dog within a few seconds after a correct response to a command to ensure that your dog makes the connection between behavior and reward.
Dog Training Help Tip #5
If the reward used is a food treat it should be small, meaning no bigger than the size of the end of a small finger, and doesn't crumble or require chewing. You don’t want to lose the attention of the dog with a treat that takes too long to chew or produces crumbs that will distract the dog in gathering up.
Dog Training Help Tip #6
Select the training reward that will have the most motivational influence on the dog. For example, dogs highly motivated by food will work best for that type of reward. Be sure to use favorite treats to achieve the desired obedience to your commands. Cheese usually falls into the “favorite” category.
Dog Training Help Tip #7
If praise is used as a reward, give it with enthusiasm and a celebratory tone of voice that will be pleasing and appreciated by the dog. Petting given as a reward should be in a way the dog enjoys, such as scratching the chest, stroking the side of the face in the direction the hair grows or petting the side. Contrary to most people’s habits, dogs don’t really enjoy or appreciate having the top of the head petted.
Dog Training Help Tip #8
If food is the reward, train before a meal to ensure high motivation for the reward. If praise, petting and your attention are to be used as reward, schedule the training session at a time when your dog particularly craves your attention.
Dog Training Help Tip #9
The opposite of reward is not punishment, it’s no reward. Dogs want to please and obtain highly valued food, attention and toys. By ignoring unacceptable responses, your dog will not be rewarded for its failed response and will likely try to accomplish what will get the reward.
Dog Training Help Tip #10
Negative or punishment components don't belong in training. They are counter-productive – the dog will exhibit socialization problems and suppressed anger. Training sessions should be upbeat and positive, with rewards for jobs well done. No yelling, no hitting, no chain jerking, no hanging, and absolutely no electric shock.
Dog Training Help Tip #11
Don’t reward the dog if it doesn’t respond appropriately to a command after several attempts. Wait a few seconds and give a simpler command. Attempt the more difficult task again later.
Dog Training Help Tip #12
As the complexity of the task increases, a dog's motivation to respond to a command decreases. Success depends not only on the degree of difficulty of the task but also on your dog's motivation to respond. Will the dog try to understand and do what is being asked of it, or will a tempting distraction be more likely to grab its attention? Understanding your dog’s choice of behavior will help your chances for success and increase your patience.
Dog Training Help Tip #13
A well socialized dog needs to be familiar with the basic obedience commands of sit, stay, down and come. It is also useful to be able to accomplish these tasks off leash. Additional useful commands are: cease, enough or stop, give or give it, and leave it.
Dog Help Training Tip #14
Dogs will remember a command for about two minutes before the concept is lost. Keep things simple and clear. Only short commands should be used and only say the command once (do not repeat). For example, sit, down, leave it, quiet, out, and off. Words that end in hard consonants are better than words ending in vowels because you can emphasize the hard sound.
Dog Help Training Tip #15
COME is the only command word that should have additional sounds attached. For example, use the dog’s name first followed by the command COME, and then GOOD BOY/GIRL, so the dog does not feel threatened or in trouble. This should be done smoothly and in pleasant happy tones: “Spot Come, good boy”.
Dog Help Training Tip #16
Put your dog on a leash and position yourself directly in front. Attract its attention with a finger snap or the word “look” or “watch”. Then issue the word command SIT. It might slowly get into the sitting position. Reward IMMEDIATELY: enthusiastic praise, “GOOD BOY, SPOT!” (remember the high tones and enthusiastic voice delivery), at the same time you produce the reward.
Dog Help Training Tip #17
The dog uninitiated to any education will have to be assisted into the sitting position by moving a treat over and above the head so it has to sit to reach it. Successful accomplishment of the task meets with warm praise and the food treat. If necessary, placement techniques (tension on collar, downward pressure on the rump) may have to be used.
Dog Help Training Tip #18
Your dog will be more motivated to comply if it has received moderate exercise before a training session involving complex tasks, such as the off leash down-stay. To expect a dog that is full of unexploded energy to participate in prolonged attention-required instruction is asking for failure in the early stages of training.
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