One of the most important responsibilities of having dogs is making sure they’re trained. When your dogs have gone through obedience training, they’re more fun and less stressful to be around. You don’t have to worry about them running off on you or jumping up on other people. When you’re ready to begin dog training, the following tips can help you out.
Build a Positive Association
How can you train dogs to obey commands like “sit” or “stay?” One of the most effective ways to do so is by setting up a positive association between verbal commands or hand signals and the correct behavior on your dog’s part. When dogs follow the commands you give, offering them a reward right away builds up positive reinforcement. This makes them more likely to repeat the correct behavior the next time you give the same command. Rewards can be in the form of treats or praise.
Stick to a Routine
When you work on dog training, make sure that you’re being consistent when teaching your dogs a certain command. Don’t use different words or hand signals for the same command, or your dogs will end up being confused and not knowing what to do. Try to use the same tone of voice as well if you’re using verbal commands. Being consistent makes it easier for dogs to learn to follow commands.
Ignore Negative Attention Seeking Behavior
If dogs do things they’re not supposed to in order to get your attention, such as jumping on you or barking excessively at you, be careful with the way you respond. Giving dogs any kind of attention, even if it’s negative attention such as a stern reprimand, reinforces the unwanted behavior. Instead of giving them attention, turn away from them and wait for them to settle down.
Practice Patience
Dog training isn’t something that takes place quickly. Think of it as an ongoing process instead, and learn to be patient with your dogs. Staying patient helps them stay calm and prevents training sessions from becoming stressful, which can help dogs learn to follow commands faster.
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