For convenience, we will refer to your dog as “he” rather than “he or she”.
When you apply some tried and true tips during your training sessions you not only improve your chances of achieving fast and lasting success, you also add to the fun and enjoyment for both you and your dog. Here are five simple tips.
1 Select a good time of day for the training session. For example do not pick a time when your dog is tired or you are rushed for time. It is also advisable that your dog has not eaten just before training. If you know that the garbage truck is close to your street, do not start training until it has passed and is out of hearing.
2 It is better to spend a relatively short time, say fifteen minutes, each day rather than a few irregular long sessions. The well accepted advice is that training sessions should never last more than twenty five minutes, and preferably about fifteen minutes.
3 Always use simple instructions, using as few words as possible while conveying the instruction clearly and unambiguously. If this can be done using only one word of command, this is desirable.
4 Your dog picks up your body language very easily and very effectively. Consequently most trainers make good use of hand signals. Some trainers concentrate almost exclusively on hand signals and this works well when your dog can see you. If you are out of sight or it is dark, then you will need to use verbal commands.
5 You must always remain patient, and be seen to be patient. Remember your dog can accurately read your body language. Some tasks are harder for your dog to understand and master. It is important to praising him, and give him a reward treat, every time he does something well. Keep encouraging him and patiently work for success at the task. It may be better to leave a troublesome task and come back to it after working on a different task.
We wish you every training success and years of enjoyment for both you and your dog.
