It is amusing and gratifying to see a dog trot after its owner after a simple command or a single hand gesture. However, dog owners know that it is not easy getting your dog to understand and respond to prompts like these. When it comes to training your pet, preparation will help you avoid some common problems that end up frustrating you and your pet. Here are a few tips on dog training to get you started on a rewarding experience.

Do: Find a suitable place for lessons

Before starting, pick your training location wisely. Make sure it is free from distractions when you start so that your pooch learns quickly. Make sure you use a mix of hand and verbal signals as cues for training your pet! This practice will come in handy; as they get older, they might lose either their sense of hearing or sight. Teaching them to recognize both types of signals will ensure that you can still communicate with your dog.

Do: Simulate real-world situations

After getting used to the training, start introducing small distractions, and keep building it up so your dog can get used to receiving commands even if they’re in a place with disturbances.

Once they get used to this, test what they have learned. Give cues in different locations. When you do this, it helps them get used to your voice and hand signals, not the location.

Do: Act like a leader to your dogs

Most important of all, stay calm and always reinforce pack behaviour. You are the head of the pack. Rewarding good behaviour and punishing bad behaviour is part of your job as the alpha. One way you can build this bond is by making sure your dog heels during regular walks too.

Don’t: Be violent or cranky when training

Always remember that training will require a ton of patience and time, always use positive reinforcement like treats and affirmations to build loyalty. Don’t hit or yell at your dog, so they don’t learn through fear.

Don’t: Make a session last too long

Next, as the pet owner, you also must know what to avoid so that your dog training goes smoothly. Don’t make a session last longer than 20 minutes because expecting a younger pup to last any longer is unfair. Sometimes humans can’t pay attention for more than 10 minutes, so you can’t expect your dog to last that long either! Save longer sessions for when they mature and have a longer attention span.

Don’t: Be shrill and excitable

Don’t use an excited voice while training. It may catch your pet’s attention, but having a calm and firm voice is better in the long run. It will ensure that even if your dog sees something more exciting, he or she will still listen to the command when it is issued.

Don’t: Forget to give treats to your dog

Don’t forget to reward the conduct you want to reinforce. Most owners will stop giving rewards for continuing good behaviour when the training is over. Some commands like ‘stay’ or ‘drop it’ have potentially lifesaving uses, so ensuring that your dog follows them always is essential.

Trips to a doggie daycare or a trainer don’t always have to end up enrolling your dog in a lengthy obedience course. Sometimes, a few appointments with an expert is enough to help you gain insight into your dog’s mind and behaviour, making training more accessible. At The Paw Resort & Wellness Centre, people trust us and pets love us, so we would be happy to help you train your dog in any way we can!

Conclusion

With all of this in mind, you mustn’t stop trying until your pet progresses. Frustrations will happen. Giving up when your dog doesn’t do something right will reinforce the behaviour that they can get out of situations by acting up. Always remember to be firm, patient, and kind when training.

Your dogs deserve the best dog training. At The Paw Resort and Wellness Centre, we make sure your dogs feel at home. We provide dog training in Brandon, Manitoba, and take pride in our relaxed, family-friendly learning environment. Contact us today for more information.