A Few Thoughts on Training

• SET YOUR DOG UP FOR SUCCESS! When you first begin to teach a new behavior to your dog, be sure to start your work in a quiet place where your dog will find it easy to concentrate on you. This is usually a room in your house away from distractions, such as other pets or family members running through the house.

• MOTIVATE YOUR DOG! While using verbal praise, toys, and life rewards can be effective training tools, most dogs learn quickest using food rewards. Find a few treats that your dog REALLY loves. Soft treats are usually best as they can be broken down into many small treats that can be quickly consumed by the dog – which allows for longer training sessions. Your dog doesn’t become full too fast and lose motivation. Think how you feel after a big meal. Keep your dog engaged – as soon as he finishes his morsel – ask him to repeat the behavior so you can reward him again!

• USE A MARKER OR INDICATOR such as a clicker, or a word (such as “Yes”) to mark the exact moment your dog gives you the correct response. Begin by pairing the marker (“YES”) with the food reward. Just say, “Yes” and give the dog a treat. Once your dog understands that “YES” means he is getting a yummy treat, you can start training. When your dog gives you the desired behavior, just “YES” and treat! The Marker is a promise of reward, so ALWAYS give a treat when you use your Marker.

• ONLY GIVE YOUR “CUE” ONCE. Give your dog time to figure out what you want him to do. If you keep repeating the cue, it will take longer for the dog to figure out what gets him rewarded. Or, he may think that the cue is “Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit”.

• CHANGE YOUR THINKING . . . REWARD THE BEHAVIORS YOU WANT TO TEACH, instead of punishing the behaviors you want to stop. For example, if your dog jumps up on you to greet you and you would prefer he keep ‘four on the floor’, find a way to reward your dog while he is “grounded” and BEFORE he jumps up on you. For very exuberant dogs, you may need to teach your dog to sit while he greets you.

• KEEP YOUR CUES PURE! Each command you teach should only mean one thing. For example… A common mistake people make is to use the word “Down” to lie down and also to get off the furniture, counter, or a person. “Down” should only mean to lie down; “Off” should be used to have your dog put his feet back on the floor.

• KEEP YOUR TRAINING SESSIONS SHORT & FOCUSED. Several short focused training sessions throughout the day are more beneficial than one long session. You and your dog will stay more motivated and your dog will probably grasp the training concept faster. Teaching too many tricks at one time can be confusing for your dog.

• BE SURE TO INCORPORATE TRAINING INTO YOUR DAILY LIFE. Your dog is always learning. Do not limit your rewards to training sessions. Keep non-perishable treats available in many different places so you can practice your new tricks frequently. As you are brushing your teeth, ask your dog for a “high five”, before your dog jumps into the car have him sit, as you are making dinner ask your dog to “down” outside the kitchen. Keep your dog always guessing which game he will play with you to earn his reward. Also, be sure to acknowledge correct choices and desirable behaviors even if you don’t ask for them. A smile and a “Good Dog” can help your dog understand how he should behave.

• BE CONSISTENT. For example, if you want to teach your dog to sit politely when meeting a stranger, be sure to ALWAYS require your dog to sit politely and wait to be released to “Say Hello”. You dog can only learn the rules if the rules remain the same always. This takes commitment on the part of the trainer. If you become lazy, you will only confuse your dog. The more consistent you are, the quicker your dog will develop the desired habit.

• DON’T BECOME AN AUTOMATIC TREAT DISPENSER. Treats are used as information to the dog during the initial training phases. Once your dog completely understands the new lesson, you no longer need to offer treats for that behavior. As you work through the proofing process, you will continue to challenge your dog and offer treats for his commitment to the exercise. For example, when you ask Fido to “Sit”, he immediately plops his haunches on the ground. Fido understands what “Sit” means. Instead of offering a treat, tell him he is a “Good Boy”. However, if Fido is practicing “Sit” and he maintains that sit while another dog runs by, Fido is demonstrating he is committed to the “Sit” and should be offered a reward.

• REINFORCEMENT SHOULD COME IN DIFFERENT FORMS. Although it is easiest to use treats to initially train your dog, it is most useful to soon introduce toys, verbal praise, and life rewards as additional reinforcement for desired behaviors. Examples of life rewards are going for a ride in the car, being let outside, or being given permission to say hello to a friend. Varying your types of reinforcement will help to keep your dog motivated to learn.

• BE PATIENT! Remember you are teaching your dog a new language. Just because he got it right yesterday doesn’t necessarily mean he understands the new cue today. Just like us, your dog needs practice and repetition to truly learn a new concept.

And Most Importantly…