You've brought home a new family member, a beloved dog. No matter how old they are, you'll now be responsible for training them to ensure they fit into your family and daily routine. But where do you start? Follow our guide to discover the top 10 dog training tips to help them confidently keep you on track.
1. Homework
Before you decide to take your dog outside in public places, start training him at home or in the garden first. Familiarizing him with basic commands like "sit," "lie down," and "come" when called will make things much easier when you take him out in public and will make your dog much safer.
2. Short and sweet
Dogs (especially puppies) have a very short attention span. If your training sessions go on for too long, your dog will easily become bored, leading to bad behavior and frustration. Keep training sessions to no more than 15 minutes to ensure your dog learns to its maximum potential. Little and often is key!
3. Be patient
It's a known fact that some dogs learn faster than others. If your dog is older, they may already have some bad habits or behaviors that you're trying to break and eliminate. Always be patient with them. If you show displeasure or frustration while training them, it'll likely take you much longer than you expected. Allow them to learn at their own pace and don't rush them, so they'll learn the lesson and understand that you have all the time in the world for them. Patience will pay off in the end.
4. One by one
There will be many things you want your new dog to learn. Of course, all the basic commands, but generally learning how to adjust to everyday life in their new home will also be a learning experience. Remember, teach them only one lesson or command at a time to avoid overloading them. Completely master one command before moving on to the next. Your dog is constantly learning from you, not just during lessons, and they can easily become distracted and forgetful if you try to teach them multiple commands at once.
5. Reward and praise
Praise your dog at every stage of the training process to let him know he's doing the right thing. Don't punish him if it takes him longer to learn your commands than you expected. Remember, be patient! If he performs a command correctly, give him lots of treats and praise him, telling him what a good boy he is, and showering him with love. Some trainers use pieces of sausage or small broken dog biscuits to give the dog every time he does something correctly. If he makes a mistake, ignore it and try again. Never punish him for performing a command incorrectly. He's still learning!
6. Be consistent
Chances are, you're not the only one in your family who wants to help with dog training. This is a wonderful time for both of you, and other family members may want to pitch in, too. There's no need to train just one person, as long as everyone agrees on the methods and keywords. Make sure everyone training your dog uses the same commands and behaviors, including praise and treats, to ensure a quick and easy training process for your dog.
7. Classrooms
If you're really struggling with your training, don't give up. Professional dog training courses may be a good option for you. They're a great resource for gathering and learning valuable information about teaching our dogs basic commands. Not only will you gain advice and ideas from other dog owners, but you'll also safely interact with your dog in public and with other dogs, giving your dog multiple lessons in one session! Of course, you can take more advanced training courses, including agility, if you prefer. It's a great and fun way to train your dog and turn them into the perfect family pet.
8. Distractions
A guaranteed way to distract your dog from training is to teach it when there are plenty of distractions. For it to learn quickly and effectively, you need its full attention. During training, check your surroundings to ensure there's nothing that could distract it from you during the lesson.
9. No chase
One of the most important lessons we teach our dog is the "come" command. This is something you should master as soon as possible. Learning this command ensures you'll be able to recall your dog if necessary when you're outside with them, which can help save them from all sorts of difficulties or problems. And whatever you do, NEVER chase them! For a dog, chasing is a game. If that's not what you're aiming for, never chase your dog while trying to recall them. Otherwise, it will undoubtedly look like a game of cat and mouse, and they'll almost certainly believe your "come" command means playtime!
10. The Big Finish
After you've finished training your dog, don't forget to offer him a large, long-lasting treat. This will really make him feel like he's been a good boy, and he'll look forward to the next lesson with even greater anticipation! Praise and patience, coupled with love and treats, are all that's truly necessary for successful dog training. A well-trained, well-behaved dog is certainly a much happier dog!
If you have any other helpful tips for training your dog at home, please let us know in the comments below.