Top Dog Training Tips

Training your dog can be pretty overwhelming, almost as overwhelming as going through the massive extent of information available on the internet. Looking for quick dog training tips on Google can only do so much to help.

Nevertheless, establishing a training routine is nothing short of a necessity. When done right, it can make everything easier, right from taking them on walks to introducing them to strangers.

If you go about it the right way, training can be pretty fun, rewarding, and fulfilling. If you’re wondering what are some good tips for training a dog, consider using this guide to, well, guide you through your dog-training adventure.

Learn Your Dog’s Body Language

Your dog doesn’t speak your language, but it does speak to you. All you have to do is pay attention to its body language and facial expressions to listen.

Training can be a grueling task, but if you pay attention to your dog’s posture, facial expressions, and tail, you’ll find that your dog gives you pointers on how it feels along the way.

Observe and adapt accordingly.

Training is by no means a one-way street. Accept it and try to gain an insight into your dog’s psychology. You can then interpret what changes you need to bring to the training session to make it more comfortable and appealing to your dog.

Also Read: Leash Training for an Older Dog

Discourage Unwanted Behavior

Over the years, your dog may have acquired some habits that are not exactly a hit with you, your family, and those around you.

Jumping on people when they come to your house, begging for your attention (and food scraps!) throughout the day are some instances that warrant a change.

But don’t be discouraged if your dog engages in any of these behaviors. Training can get most dogs to follow commands and refrain from unwanted behavior.

When your dog does something undesirable during training, simply take away the treats.

Put them on a leash when others are around, turn away from them when they beg for your attention, and avoid giving them scraps from your dinner table to assert your underlying motivation. Avoid using negative training methods as they can potentially cause long-term harm.

Use Positive Reinforcement Techniques

Don’t be afraid to use treats to reward good behavior when training your dog. With treats in sight, you will be amazed at how much more willing your dog is to walk the extra mile to please you.

Using high-value treats like a piece of chicken or liver can promote optimal health.

You should refrain from rewarding bad behavior, irrespective of how adorable or how funny it was. It would only serve to confuse your dog, which could make training difficult.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Train Your Dog

As soon as you bring your pup home, get to training them.

Puppies have shorter attention spans, sure, but they’re better at grasping concepts like “sit”, “stay”, “down”, and “come” from as young as 7 to 8 weeks of age.

While employing dog obedience training tips can offer promising outcomes, it would be a good idea to take your dog’s age and breed into account before you begin.

For example, some dogs don’t get good control of their bladder until they’re 3 to 4 months of age. So, if you were to give them potty training right off the bat, you should be flexible with your expectations of progress.

Try Bite Inhibition Tactics

Does your puppy bite a lot? Chances are, it may not have received ample bite inhibition training from its mother and littermates.

This behavior may look adorable when they’re young but can blow up into a huge problem as they grow into adults. To tackle the pressing issue, try using dog training tips for biting.

When you start training your dog to stop biting, allow it to use its mouth during playtime, but the moment its bite gets too strong, “yelp”, abort the mission, and stop playtime immediately.

When you repeat the tactic time after time, your puppy will begin associating it with the end of a fun time. It will slowly, but surely, learn to avoid biting too hard.

Respond to Your Dog’s Behavior Right Away

Here’s a hypothetical situation. Your dog exhibited good or bad behavior. As per the training specifics, you chose to respond with subsequent reinforcement techniques.

But you did that long after your dog showed said behavior. Do you think your dog will be able to make that association? Given their short attention spans, it is highly unlikely.

If you want to discipline your dog’s bad behavior or reward their good behavior, you may want to stay on top of the game and act as quickly as you can.

This will help them make the association and learn to modify their behavior to get treats, hugs, praise, and toys in return.

Consistency is Key

Dogs thrive on schedule, so try to maintain their feeding, potty breaks, exercise, and other physical activity at the same time every day.

Consistency while training is also important. Your puppy must be able to associate the desired behavior with the reinforcement technique you use. So, if you’re using treats as a way to reward them, keep using treats instead of switching them up with toys or walks.

The slightest trouble with the association can lead you to hours of extra training, so be as consistent as you can. If your family is helping you with the process, make sure to discuss it with them beforehand so you are all on the same page.

Be Realistic

You may have certain expectations when you begin training your dog. And when your dog fails to meet said expectations, you will naturally be disappointed.

When faced with moments like this, you have to remember that your dog is an individual with its own needs, preferences, temperament, and behavioral system.

And changing the same can be pretty challenging.

For example, if your dog has learned “standardized” doggy behaviors like barking whenever the doorbell rings or jumping on people to greet them, it may take some time for them to unlearn their conditioned responses.

So try to go with the flow, avoid measuring them with another dog’s yardsticks, and take it one day at a time.

Be Concise

Dogs are not humans. They don’t think or learn the ways humans do. They do not naturally understand English.

When you train them, assess their behavior and try to use the same words and phrases repeatedly to teach them commands and behaviors.

One-word commands are preferable. Using full sentences, when your dog has zero understanding of the language, will confuse your dog. This will make it twice as hard, if not more, for them to associate words with actions.

Socialize Them

You may be the center of your dog’s world but your dog will, at some point or the other, have to interact with other people and dogs in social situations.

Training them to be accepting of strangers when they come to their house and when they encounter them during their walks can reduce the risk of activating their fight-or-flight response.

A well-behaved dog is less likely to develop behavior problems as it ages. Expose your dog to new environments for short periods, bribe it with treats, and use reinforcement techniques to help it adapt to different social situations.

Also Read: How To House Train Your Dog?

Use Your Dog’s Name When Training Them

Some names are better for training than others. It would be best to do your research before you pick a name, but if you have picked a name already, don’t go changing it now. The change will only serve to confuse your dog.

Use your dog’s name consistently when training them, especially when you’re rewarding them for good behavior.

Repeat until they condition themselves to associate their name with positive reinforcement techniques like extra treats, cuddle time, and long walks alongside their favorite human.

Seek Professional Help

Dogs, like humans, show individual preferences and behaviors. This means some dogs may resist training more assertively and aggressively than others. After all, who likes to work when you can play?

If you have a particularly stubborn dog that resists all forms of training, feel free to seek professional help to speed up the process.

You can also take a dog training class to learn professional dog training tips and understand how your dog responds to certain techniques. You can then integrate the right tips and techniques into their training schedules effectively.

End Training Sessions on A Positive Note

Not all training sessions will prove to be fruitful. This may serve to annoy you or put your patience to the test. Never act on it.

Your dog, despite its short attention span and the many distractions around, put a lot of effort into impressing you.

Even if a training session ends on an unsuccessful note, give your dog lots of praise, treats, or play with them for a short while to show your appreciation.

This will serve to strengthen your bond and ensure that your dog does not see training time as a punishment but as a fun activity with its human friend.

Training your dog with the help of these dog training tips for beginners can help you succeed in your training venture and make training a whole lot of fun.

Remember, training is an ongoing process. You will likely be training them through their lifespan. So don’t set a time frame, be realistic, patient, and consistent, and you’ll soon see desirable outcomes.