Puppy training can be both a fun and exhausting experience. Some dogs learn commands very quickly, while others take a bit of time and many repetitions before they master each command. Dog training begins with a calm and confident owner. The following tips should help pet owners make training a positive and rewarding experience.
Always Be Consistent
Consistency in actions and commands is key. There should be no exceptions to this rule if training is to be as rapid and easy as possible. Before training begins, formulate a plan. Decide on a training goal, which word or simple phrase is to be used as a command, and how the goal is to be accomplished. All members of the household must utilize the same command and training methods to avoid confusing the pup.
Every time a command is given, consistently carry it through to completion and try to expect the same reaction out of your puppy each time. Rewards and praises are very useful positive-reinforcement tools, but should only be given if the task is completed successfully.
As training progresses, you may choose to modify your training methods, but stay consistent with any new modifications. Certain styles of training work better for different individual dogs, but once a change is made, stick with it. Just because one command is going slowly does not mean that you should switch between several different training methods, hoping for a magic solution. This typically results in a very confused puppy. It is not unusual for any individual puppy, regardless of the method used, to have trouble with a certain command but not the others.
Keep Training Sessions Short
Dogs and puppies do not possess long attention spans. Generally speaking, most successful trainers limit training sessions to no more than 10 or 15 minutes, regardless of the age of the dog. This seems to be a good duration for most dogs to tolerate or enjoy. If this window of time is exceeded, the learning process actually starts to go backwards and can lead to difficulty with future training sessions.
Set up a schedule and stick to it. It is much better to train for 10 minutes every day than 60 minutes once a week. Plan to have your training times revolve around the puppy's schedule, such as after a nap or after a meal. There are ways to get in additional training times other than the brief scheduled periods and these extra ones can be very important. If your dog is doing something that you are trying to train him to do, use obvious opportunities to reinforce the command. A best case scenario would be when you are getting ready to feed your puppy. You have learned that as soon as the dog hears you filling the bowl, they automatically comes running. As soon as they start towards you, bend down with the bowl and say "come." It is a free, cannot fail training session.
Stay Calm and In Control
This is where most people struggle with training. In training situations, you cannot lose control or get too excited, because that hinders the training process. Training should be pleasant for both you and your pet. Dogs must enjoy the experience and be engaged in order to effectively learn. Likewise, if you are not enjoying yourself or have out of control emotions, you cannot teach effectively. You will learn that your demeanor during training is directly proportional to the amount that the puppy learns.
Always End on A Positive Note
Every training session should end with praise. At the end of a training session, be sure that the final command is completed correctly. Some days things don’t go as well as planned. When this happens, choose a command that is simply and cannot fail. When the task is completed, praise the puppy and move them elsewhere for play or relaxation time. Ending a training session on a bad note may continue into the next training period. Always remember that to the dog, praise helps to fulfill their desire to please you.
Never Punish
Do not discipline your dog in a way that causes pain or discomfort, and avoid disciplining your pup for something that you did not watch happen. The pup has long since forgotten that they had an accident on the living room rug or chewed up your shoe while you were at work. Dogs do not understand why you are angry if you try to punish them hours later. Simply clean up the mess and move on. If you see your dog doing something that they should not be doing, you can scold them by saying "No!" firmly, then calmly redirecting their attention to a more acceptable behavior. Dogs understand a change in the tone of voice being used and will respond to that much better than to punishment.
Often punishment that occurs as part of training is brought about because a pet owner is impatient with the improvement of the dog. The pet owner is trying to push the dog through training too fast, assuming the pet should already know the command or action. Be patient and remember that with most training, the natural instinctive behavior of the dog is being altered. The best “punishment” for an incorrect reaction in training is a lack of a reward. If the dog does something correctly, they are praised, whereas if they makes a mistake, they do not receive praise. If praise from you is important, a lack of it may send a message. Praise is positive reinforcement, punishment is a distraction.
And lastly, for some behaviors, you can simply choose to ignore a behavior. A dog might bark just to get a treat or to go outside. If you want them to have neither, consistently ignoring them will probably break the behavior pattern. If the barking does not give them what they want, they will probably stop barking.
Professional Trainers Can Help
If you are having trouble training your pup or just do not know where to start, it may be a good idea to seek out a professional trainer. A trainer will be able to provide you with expertise and assistance for any challenge you may be experiencing. Choose a trainer with a good reputation and plenty of experience. In some cases, it can be helpful to seek advice from a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
Article by: Race Foster, DVM, Angela Walter, DVM and Lauren Jones, VMD