Training a dog can be complex but fun at the same time. If you are a pet parent in Seattle, training your dog is not something you have to do alone. It is ideal to have a professional dog trainer to guide you to know you’re on the right path. If you train your dog using the wrong methods, the consequences can be detrimental. You don’t want to reinforce any bad behavior unintentionally. Learning new skills should not be difficult for you and your dog.
While there are plenty of things you can do to ensure that your dog has successful training, everything starts with you. When working with your trainer, your role in the training process can make or break the results.
If you are unsure about what to do to make dog training successful, look no further than this blog. We will break down ways to make dog training successful for you and your pup.
1) Be Consistent to Make Dog Training Successful
There is nothing more confusing to your dog than being told to do one thing one day, then changing up the rules the next. It is crucial that you keep all of your rules and commands the same so you don’t confuse your dog. Set time aside every day to have little training sessions with your dog in a controlled environment. If you are trying to teach your new puppy something new, short daily training sessions will be necessary. If you have an adult dog and want to reinforce previous training lessons, you should be okay working with them once or twice a week.
Your dog thrives on routine and predictability. Keep everything the same as much as you can so your dog doesn’t need to guess what you want from them.
2) Keep Training Sessions Short
Your dog can learn fast (as long as you stay consistent), but don’t expect them to learn everything in one long session. Don’t spend hours each day working on a new skill until you feel your dog has understood it. Dogs learn better when you break training sessions into short, ten or 20-minute sessions and follow them with rest or playtime. Always end each session when your dog has been successful. Even if it’s only a small step in the direction of what you’re trying to train him to do. He will come back to the next session with more robust knowledge and confidence!
3) Use Positive Reinforcement
Negative reinforcement doesn’t train dogs nearly as well as positive reinforcement does. Dog trainers around the world have concluded that using positive reinforcement when training your dog will yield better results.
As you teach your dog a new skill or command in smell steps, It is a good idea to praise your dog as soon as they do what you ask. As your pup is successful at each stage, he will likely want to do more after receiving your positive reaction. If he’s not understanding what you want at the next step, back up to the previous step and work at it until he’s got it down thoroughly.
4) Be Patient!
Some dogs may naturally pick things up more quickly than others. Many factors can contribute to this, such as age and breed. Dog training can be outright frustrating. If you’ve been working for a week straight on potty training, and then your dog decides to use the bathroom in the house, it’s only natural to feel frustrated! Just remember that everything takes time. Just because your dog didn’t do what you wanted them to do right away doesn’t mean they never will.
Your patience with training your dog will undoubtedly go a long way. Remember, if you do it right the first time with the correct training method, you will have a well-behaved dog who listens to you and respects you.
Obedience training is an ongoing process as you continue to build rapport and trust with your dog. So long as you follow the tips above, you should have a successful training journey with your dog!
Just remember, you don’t have to go about training your dog alone. Cosmic Home N Pet is here to help! We offer at-home training for your dog in the Seattle area. Contact us today for more information.
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