The dog training world is vast and varied, with many different training options. Positive reinforcement training is my preferred style and how I trained my husky, as it considers the dog’s welfare and promotes a trusting bond between human and dog. Here are 5 secrets to mastering obedience training with your dog.
The Best Time To Start Training
Basic training can begin when your new dog/puppy decompresses. A new environment can be stressful and scary for a dog or puppy. Your dog may need a few days to decompress and get used to its new environment and the new people in its life.
A few minutes of training (depending on the dog’s age) a few times a day doesn’t seem much, but it will go a long way. Always use praise and a little tasty reward to sweeten the deal and help reinforce the behaviour you’re teaching.
Food is used in the beginning of training because most dogs love food. The treats should be very small; the idea is to give the dog a taste and want to repeat the behaviour to receive another. As the behaviour becomes more embedded, the reward is given at alternative intervals, eventually decreasing the ratio of treat to behaviour.
Rewards don’t have to be food; it can be a favourite toy or a game. The reward is whatever motivates your dog and helps reinforce the behaviour you are teaching.
Well Rested
To optimise your dog’s training, make sure they are well rested. Puppies especially need a lot of sleep. An over-tired dog won’t be ready to learn anything. It increases the chances of them becoming frustrated and you becoming stressed. Both will harm your bond with your dog and the dog’s willingness to participate in future training sessions.
It’s a good idea if you are well-rested and can keep calm during training. If you feel frustrated, you should stop the session, take a break, and retry later.
Your dog will pick up on your attitude, and it could make them anxious. An anxious dog will be reluctant to learn for fear that it’s doing it wrong. Training should be fun and positive for you and your dog.
Exercise First
Your dog may have some excess energy to burn off before it can focus on learning. The best option is to have a play session or a walk before you start any training. By eliminating the excess energy, your dog or puppy will be more able to focus and learn new skills.
Low Distraction Environment
The key to training is to start in a low-distraction environment. Your dog is more likely to focus on you without distractions. You always want to set your dog up for success. You will gradually introduce distractions when your dog has mastered a skill. Training will begin indoors, in a quiet room. Then you can introduce progressive noise or the TV, and eventually, another person entering the room.
Build a variety of distractions gradually, enabling your dog to learn to keep focus on you no matter what is going on around them.
When your dog is consistent inside, you can move outside to train. Again, it should be in a low-distraction area, and distractions should gradually increase as your dog becomes more competent in the skill.
Go At Your Dogs’ Pace
Dogs all learn at different rates, just like us. Some dogs pick things up quickly and some may need the behaviour broken down into smaller steps. Rushing your dog during training will cause more setbacks than progress, and you will become frustrated. Train the dog in front of you at the pace they learn, not the dog in your head where you think they should be.
It’s essential to set your dog up for success in training. If your dog is getting confused or not picking it up, you need to take a step back and rethink how to break it down into more achievable segments.
Praise and reward every step of the way to ensure that your dog feels confident and happy, not scared to make mistakes. Mistakes do and will happen; how you deal with those mistakes will impact your dog’s willingness to continue working with you.
If your dog doesn’t get it quite right, praise the effort, and if it gets it wrong, don’t use an upset tone; take a breath and retry. When your dog gets it right, praise and reward it. Let your dog know that you are still happy with it, and allow your dog the grace to learn and make mistakes.
After all, none of us are perfect, and we all make mistakes occasionally; dogs are no different. Being upset with your dog will only cause it anxiety and make it harder for you to train.
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