Around 63 million American households own dogs which shows we adore our furry friends.
As responsible pooch owners, we should train puppies as it gives them mental stimulation and improves their physical health. Perhaps you’re giving your pooch basic obedience training but you’re looking for tips to guide you through the process.
Sounds like you? Luckily, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our 10 basic obedience training tips.
What is Obedience Training?
Before diving into our tips, it’s important to understand what dog obedience training is. This is where you train a pup in the basic commands like sit, down, and heel. Although there are many ways to start training a puppy, owners no longer use punishment or avoidance training. Instead, you must use positive reinforcement to reward your dog for learning a new command.
The Top Obedience Training Tips
You’ve begun house training a dog but the commands aren’t sticking. To help, we’ve compiled a list to encourage your pooch to learn a new skill. For instance:
1. Choose Your Pup’s Name Wisely
Yes, your dog’s name will determine how well he/she responds to training! Choose a short name that ends with a strong constant so they can hear clearly. For instance, “Archer” or “Jasper” work well.
2. Start Training Early
When raising a Presa Canario, the trick is to start training early. Not only will this help develop a bond between you both but it will imprint these skills onto your pup’s mind. Although young pooches have short attention spans, start simple obedience training by the time they’re seven or eight weeks of age.
Note that formal dog training often begins when the dog is six months old but this is too late because your pet has already started to solidify its adult behavioral patterns.
3. Decide on Your House Rules
One of the top dog obedience training tips is to have a clear set of house rules. Decide what your dog can or can’t do whether it’s jumping onto the bed or being allowed in the kitchen. If these rules aren’t determined early then your dog will become confused.
4. Train in a Quiet Environment
When you train a dog, make sure you’re in a quiet environment that’s free from distractions. This is so your pup can focus solely on you and learning the commands. If you’re using treats as positive reinforcement, train before a scheduled mealtime because then they’ll pay attention more to you.
5. Understand How Your Dog Learns
Training your dog will be easier once you understand how they develop skills. Know that dogs learn through the immediate consequence of their behavior which is why positive reinforcement is so effective.
So if your pup sits when asked, then give them a belly rub or a treat and the command will eventually stick.
6. End Training Sessions on a High
Thank your dog for their undivided attention and hard work. After every training session, shower them with praise, playtime, and their favorite meal. When you do this, it’ll guarantee your pup shows up at their next class in a good mood.
7. Find Your Pet’s Favorite Treat
Not every dog works for food but if yours does, find one that aligns with the difficulty level. For instance, if your pooch learns a difficult command then reward them with a high-quality treat. Your pup will then realize getting these premium treats requires focus and motivation so you’ll have a fruitful training session.
8. Say No to Nipping
If your puppy is prone to nipping then get them to ditch the habit early on. A great way to do this is when they nip you, give out a loud yell and they’ll instantly stop because they’ll be so surprised.
Not working? Then the next time Fido tries to nip your leg, give him a chew toy and he’ll eventually learn the difference.
9. Train in Short Bursts
It’s impossible to train a puppy for an extended period so reduce sessions into chunks. Aim to train your dog for at least 15 minutes a day whether it’s several five-minute lessons spread throughout the day or one class. Get your household involved so everyone trains your pooch so they won’t only take orders from you.
Further, train your dog in every room in the house so they don’t associate one room with the training. Eventually, your pooch will be comfortable and they’ll adhere to your commands wherever they are.
10. Seek Help From a Training Class
Whether you’re struggling to teach your pup or they’re not paying attention, don’t be afraid to seek help from professional trainers. Training takes time, perseverance, and consistency which you may be unable to provide due to a lack of time or results.
Instead, ask trainers for technique tips, step-by-step guides, and more effective exercises. Attending training classes will encourage you to be persistent with dog training because you don’t want to fall behind by the next session. And it’s also a fantastic way to meet other pet owners and learn more about how dogs generally behave.
Further, puppies must socialize with other people and dogs so you can pinpoint areas that your pup is struggling with early on before they become part of their behavioral pattern.
Those Are Our Basic Obedience Training Tips
Hopefully, after reading this article, you now know the basic obedience training tips so you can start today.
Always train in a quiet environment, only use positive reinforcement, and commit to short sessions so your pup stays motivated. Those struggling should attend training classes to find exercises perfect for your pooch’s personality and so you get motivated too. Good luck!
Did you find this article helpful? If yes, check out our other posts for more Pet inspiration.
