As a dog owner, you've probably heard that training your dog is essential for their well-being and your relationship. Training helps establish clear communication and strengthens the bond between you and your furry friend.
Basic obedience commands like "sit", "stay", and "come" are a great starting point for any dog training program. These commands lay the foundation for more advanced techniques and can be learned in just a few sessions.
With consistent practice, you can teach your dog to respond to these basic commands in various situations and environments. This is especially important for dogs that live in apartments or have limited outdoor space.
By mastering basic obedience, you'll set the stage for more advanced training techniques, such as agility training, trick training, or even service dog training.
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Getting Started
Start a dog obedience program to establish consistent protocols for you and your dog to follow, making training easier for everyone.
Consistency is key when training a dog, so it's essential to set a basic foundation before you begin. This will help prevent confusion and frustration.
Use positive reinforcement to train your dog, which means rewarding desired behaviors with treats, toys, or affection. This approach is more effective than punishment or negative reinforcement.
To make training fun, keep sessions short and light-hearted. Aim for 10-15 minute sessions to prevent boredom and frustration.
Here are some essential elements to consider when getting started with dog training:
- Start a dog obedience program
- Use positive reinforcement
- Make training fun
Remember, every dog is unique, so be patient and adjust your approach as needed. With consistency, patience, and positive reinforcement, you'll be well on your way to successful dog training.
Housebreaking
Housebreaking is a crucial part of dog training, and it starts with establishing consistent protocols. To begin, you should start a dog obedience program to set a basic foundation, making it easier for both you and your dog to follow.
Consistency and diligence are key during the housebreaking process, so it's essential to use positive reinforcement to train your dog. This means rewarding the behaviors you like and ignoring the behaviors you don't like, using treats, playtime, pets, or anything your dog responds to.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Keep training sessions short to prevent frustration.
- Keep your tone light and be fair to your dog.
- Make training fun, as this will make the process more effective.
By following these tips, you can make housebreaking a successful and enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.
Basics 101 (6 Months and Up)
Basics 101 (6 Months and Up) is a 5-week class that covers level 1 core skills for adult dogs. You'll learn to motivate and communicate with your dog in a fun, positive way.
In this class, you'll learn requests like lie down, follow me, go to place, and the foundations of important life skills like loose leash walking. The class is designed for dogs that are comfortable enough to stand calmly and take treats within 10 feet of other dogs.
To participate, you'll need to limit your group to 9 dogs, and each dog must have one adult pet parent present. The cost is $250 per 5-week session, and your dog must be up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccines.
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Here are some key takeaways from the Basics 101 class:
By taking the Basics 101 class, you'll be able to teach your dog valuable life skills and strengthen your bond with them.
Houses
Houses can be messy places for dogs, but with the right training, you can teach your furry friend to go potty outside where they belong. Housetraining is one of the first things you need to work on with your dog, and it's not as complicated as you might think.
Consistency and diligence are key during the housebreaking process. This means taking your dog out to the same spot each time to do their business, so they can learn to associate that spot with going potty.
If you're planning to keep your dog indoors, you'll need to teach them where to go potty. Crate training can be a very helpful part of the training process, and not only will it help with housebreaking, but it will also give your dog a place of their own.
If your dog is still having accidents in the house, it may be more than a simple housebreaking issue. Your dog might urinate out of excitement or to express submissive behavior, which can be caused by a variety of factors.
Here are some common reasons why dogs might have accidents in the house:
- Excitement urination: This can happen when your dog is excited or anxious, and it's not uncommon in puppies.
- Submissive urination: This can be caused by a variety of factors, including fear, anxiety, or submission.
Training Methods
Clicker training is a simple and effective dog training method that uses positive reinforcement to teach your dog new tricks and commands. It's a great way to establish a strong bond with your dog and make training a fun and rewarding experience for both of you.
Clicker training is a fast and easy method to learn, and it can be used to teach a wide range of skills, from basic obedience commands to advanced tricks. With clicker training, you can easily teach your dog to perform tasks like ringing a doggy doorbell to let you know when they need to go relieve themselves.
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To get started with clicker training, you'll need a few basic supplies, including a clicker and some tasty treats. It's a good idea to start with short training sessions and gradually increase the duration as your dog becomes more focused and engaged.
Here are some key principles to keep in mind when using clicker training:
- Start with short training sessions to prevent frustration and keep your dog engaged.
- Use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors, such as treats, praise, and playtime.
- Keep your tone light and fun to make training a enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.
By following these principles and using clicker training, you can establish a strong foundation for your dog's training and help them become a well-behaved and loyal companion.
Advanced Training
You can consider moving on to more advanced tricks or training your dog to do dog sports once your dog has mastered all the basics. These activities will help keep your dog active, fit, and mentally stimulated.
Short dog training sessions are best to ensure your dog doesn't feel overwhelmed, irritated, disinterested, or bored. Even just a few minutes at a time can make a difference.
To train your dog to ignore other dogs, keep a distance from other dogs while out and call your dog's name whenever he notices another dog, rewarding them with a treat. You can continue this process, gradually getting a little closer to dogs while encouraging your pup to ignore them and rewarding him with a treat.
Training your dog to stay with you can be achieved by slowly walking away from him, then calling his name and rewarding him with a treat when he comes to you. You can even add to this training by spending time with friends, having them call your dog, and giving him a treat when he comes to them.
To train your dog not to jump on people, start by asking your dog to "sit", and asking people not to approach. If your dog is approached and obeys this command, offer him a treat.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when training your dog:
- Start a dog obedience program to establish consistent protocols you and your dog will follow.
- Use positive reinforcement to train your dog, such as rewarding the behaviors you like and ignoring the behaviors you don't like.
- Make training fun by keeping training sessions short, keeping your tone light, and being fair to your dog.
Reliability and beyond! If your dog has mastered the basics, you can consider moving on to more advanced training. This can include courses like Beyond Basics, which adds duration and distance to familiar cues, or Reactive Rovers 2: Beyond the Barriers, which helps dogs with reactivity issues.
Socialization
Socialization is key to raising a well-behaved dog. Socialization means exposing your puppy or adult dog to new people, animals, and places to help them become confident and calm in new situations.
By socializing your dog, you can prevent behavior problems and fears from developing. Socialized dogs are generally more welcomed by others and make for happier, more well-behaved pets.
To socialize your puppy, consider enrolling them in a puppy pre-school program. These programs, like Puppy Pre-School, typically offer expert advice, socialization, and positive reinforcement training for puppies between 7.5-11 weeks old.
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Socializing Dogs and Puppies
Socializing dogs and puppies is crucial for their development and behavior. It's a process that exposes them to new people, animals, and places, helping them become more confident and well-behaved.
Puppies can start socialization as early as 7.5 weeks old, and it's essential to continue it throughout their lives. This is because early positive reinforcement training and socialization have a beneficial impact on their behavior.
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Socialization can help prevent the development of fears and phobias in dogs. It's also a great way to make them happier and more well-behaved.
Here are some key socialization milestones for puppies:
- Puppy Pre-School: 7.5-11 weeks old
- Puppy Manners: 7.5-16 weeks old
- Howliday Manners: 4 months and up
- Beyond Basics: 6 months and up
Remember, socialization is an ongoing process that requires patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement. By following these milestones and tips, you can help your furry friend become a happy and well-behaved companion.
Online Canine
Online Canine sessions can be a game-changer for pets struggling with fearful behaviors or noise phobias.
Our certified training consultants can coach you and observe your pet in their own environment via Zoom, making it a convenient option for many pet owners.
These sessions are perfect for dogs with reactivity to people or dogs, and separation-related destructive behaviors.
You can book a 45-minute online private session for $95, but be sure to give 48 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Here's a breakdown of the online session details:
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Cost: $95 per session
- Cancellation notice: 48 hours required
Behavioral Issues
Just because you've reached the final stages of training, it doesn't mean that behavior problems won't crop up.
You can't assume your dog will behave perfectly outside of your living room without proofing. Without practice in different locations and with varying levels of distraction, your dog may seem to forget all his training.
Recognizing common dog behavior problems is key to detecting and addressing them before things get out of control. Understanding potential issues can help you stay ahead of the game and maintain a well-behaved dog.
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Proofing and Troubleshooting
Proofing and Troubleshooting is a crucial part of training your dog to behave well in any situation. You've made it to the final stages of training, but that doesn't mean behavior problems won't arise.
Practice, practice, practice is key to proofing behaviors. This means practicing new behaviors in various locations with different levels of distraction. Without proofing, your dog may behave well at home but forget their training when they're outside.
Recognizing common dog behavior problems is essential to detecting and addressing them before they spiral out of control. By understanding potential issues, you can take proactive steps to prevent problems from arising.
Here are some common dog behavior problems to watch out for:
- Forgetting training in new environments
- Behavior problems arising from lack of practice and consistency
Don't be discouraged if your dog struggles with new behaviors or exhibits unwanted behavior. With patience, persistence, and practice, you can help your dog overcome these challenges and become a well-behaved companion.
Shy or Reactive
If your dog is shy or reactive, it can be really challenging to socialize them. Large Dog Reactive Rovers – AUDIT is a great option for pet guardians of reactive dogs who want to learn from certified trainers without taking their dog to class.
This program allows you to observe and take notes from other dog handler teams, and you'll have access to instructional homework assignments to work with your dog at home. You'll also have "Ask-a-trainer" email access, which can be really helpful in addressing any questions or concerns you may have.
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Each session is 45 minutes in length, and there's a limit of 2 audit students per class. It's also important to note that you're not allowed to record audio or video during class, and you should only bring your dog to class if they're not reactive.
For small breed dogs, there's a 3-week course called Reactive Rovers 2: Beyond the Barriers, but it's not suitable for reactive dogs. If you're looking for a program specifically for shy or reactive dogs, Large Dog Reactive Rovers – AUDIT or the 5-week course Reactive Rovers might be a better fit.
Here are some key details to consider:
- Large Dog Reactive Rovers – AUDIT: $210 for 5-week course, 45-minute sessions, 2 students per class
- Reactive Rovers: 5-week course, $280, dogs must be up-to-date on age-appropriate vaccines
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