Even if you enrolled your canine into obedience classes when you first adopted him, he'll need ongoing training throughout his life. He'll need refresher courses. While your dog is unlikely to forget basic commands, such as sit and come, he'll relish the chance to practice those he rarely uses.
Hiring a professional trainer can be valuable, but realize that most training exercises can be performed at home. The key is to use the right approach. Below, we'll describe the supplies you'll need to have at your disposal, and present several tips suggested by trainers. The following will help ensure your canine remains a responsive and well-behaved companion.
Invest In The Proper Tools
First, you'll need a durable, comfortable collar and leash. Both are essential for training your pet, not only for encouraging good behavior on walks, but also while teaching him specific commands.
Second, plan to invest in high-quality, nutritious dog treats. Treats are one of the most potent ways to provide motivation and positive reinforcement for your pet's compliance.
Third, buy a clicker. While it's not a critical training tool, it is useful for transitioning away from giving your canine a treat every time he does something you like.
There are other supplies that come in handy, such as a crate and various toys. Assuming your pet is an adult, there's a good chance he already has these items.
Start With The Basics
If years have passed since you've trained your canine, start with simple obedience commands. These include sit, stay, come, and drop it. When he responds successfully to them, give him a treat.
This sets the tone of the training sessions, and lets your pet know he can expect further treats if he performs as you desire. In the beginning, keep the sessions to ten minutes or less. This will prevent your dog from losing interest. It's also a good idea to hold the sessions before his meals so he'll be motivated by the treats.
Reward Success For Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement plays a key role in encouraging your canine to comply with your commands. This involves treats, praise, and time set aside to play games together. These rewards help your pet form a positive impression of the training sessions. They motivate him to participate.
Avoid punishment if your canine responds improperly or ignores your commands. Yelling, hitting, and even tersely pulling his leash, will only cause him to loathe spending time with you. Keep the sessions short, upbeat, and always end on a positive note.
Increase The Challenge
As you train your dog, he'll reach a point at which he responds correctly nearly every time you give him a particular command. So, increase the challenge.
For example, suppose you are teaching him to sit calmly while waiting for you to issue a signal that releases him. He may be able to do so successfully for fifteen seconds while you stand a few feet away. Gradually lengthen the time, and stand further away. Require him to sit calmly for twenty seconds, then thirty, and then forty. As he learns to do so, stand ten feet away from, then twenty, then thirty.
You can do this for many of the commands your canine has already mastered. It strengthens his responsiveness to you, which can be valuable if you need his attention quickly or from a distance.
Test Your Dog's Ability To Focus
Your dog may respond quickly and successfully to your commands in a quiet environment lacking distractions. But can he do so when other stimuli competes for his attention?
Take him to a park, and practice commands he has mastered at home. Introduce distractions gradually so he is not overwhelmed by activities occurring around him. For example, visit the park during the week when few people are there. Once your canine has demonstrated his ability to focus on you, even when other people (and squirrels) are near, visit during the weekend. This will further help him develop his focus.
Your dog wants to make you happy. He needs occasional reminders regarding how to do so. Invest the time to conduct short training sessions that help him remain a good companion throughout his life.
Hiring a professional trainer can be valuable, but realize that most training exercises can be performed at home. The key is to use the right approach. Below, we'll describe the supplies you'll need to have at your disposal, and present several tips suggested by trainers. The following will help ensure your canine remains a responsive and well-behaved companion.
Invest In The Proper Tools
First, you'll need a durable, comfortable collar and leash. Both are essential for training your pet, not only for encouraging good behavior on walks, but also while teaching him specific commands.
Second, plan to invest in high-quality, nutritious dog treats. Treats are one of the most potent ways to provide motivation and positive reinforcement for your pet's compliance.
Third, buy a clicker. While it's not a critical training tool, it is useful for transitioning away from giving your canine a treat every time he does something you like.
There are other supplies that come in handy, such as a crate and various toys. Assuming your pet is an adult, there's a good chance he already has these items.
Start With The Basics
If years have passed since you've trained your canine, start with simple obedience commands. These include sit, stay, come, and drop it. When he responds successfully to them, give him a treat.
This sets the tone of the training sessions, and lets your pet know he can expect further treats if he performs as you desire. In the beginning, keep the sessions to ten minutes or less. This will prevent your dog from losing interest. It's also a good idea to hold the sessions before his meals so he'll be motivated by the treats.
Reward Success For Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement plays a key role in encouraging your canine to comply with your commands. This involves treats, praise, and time set aside to play games together. These rewards help your pet form a positive impression of the training sessions. They motivate him to participate.
Avoid punishment if your canine responds improperly or ignores your commands. Yelling, hitting, and even tersely pulling his leash, will only cause him to loathe spending time with you. Keep the sessions short, upbeat, and always end on a positive note.
Increase The Challenge
As you train your dog, he'll reach a point at which he responds correctly nearly every time you give him a particular command. So, increase the challenge.
For example, suppose you are teaching him to sit calmly while waiting for you to issue a signal that releases him. He may be able to do so successfully for fifteen seconds while you stand a few feet away. Gradually lengthen the time, and stand further away. Require him to sit calmly for twenty seconds, then thirty, and then forty. As he learns to do so, stand ten feet away from, then twenty, then thirty.
You can do this for many of the commands your canine has already mastered. It strengthens his responsiveness to you, which can be valuable if you need his attention quickly or from a distance.
Test Your Dog's Ability To Focus
Your dog may respond quickly and successfully to your commands in a quiet environment lacking distractions. But can he do so when other stimuli competes for his attention?
Take him to a park, and practice commands he has mastered at home. Introduce distractions gradually so he is not overwhelmed by activities occurring around him. For example, visit the park during the week when few people are there. Once your canine has demonstrated his ability to focus on you, even when other people (and squirrels) are near, visit during the weekend. This will further help him develop his focus.
Your dog wants to make you happy. He needs occasional reminders regarding how to do so. Invest the time to conduct short training sessions that help him remain a good companion throughout his life.
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