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...

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...

Use 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...

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”.

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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.

Your dog knows that a smile on your face is a good thing and he will be more interested in staying with you. STAND TALL! Leaning over our dogs can be stressful to them. It’s a type of social pressure – like your boss leaning over your shoulder while you work.