Training Tips
The first step to training a good companion dog is to establish a clear sense of leadership.
Review the information below and consider the changes you may need to make within your household. Leadership is not accomplished through force and pain as some TV trainers may proclaim. Choose to educate your dog in signals that make sense to them. Once your dog has an understanding of his/her boundaries within the home, performing training exercises becomes a natural and relatively smooth process. |
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Be your dog’s teacher
A dog does not come preprogrammed to live by or understand human etiquette and standards. Help your dog learn appropriate household behavior.
Be a good leader
Learn what A dog will be much more relaxed (physically and mentally) if there is trust established. Be clear and consistent in your personal boundries and the expected boundaries of your home. A good leader is clear about the expectations in behavior and upholds the rules.
Catch your dog doing something right and praise
We are constantly training our dogs whether we know it or not. Every interaction is a “training session". If we are not teaching them the right behavior they may learning the wrong behavior.
Attention is attention regardless if it is positive or negative. If we focus on our dogs only when they are acting inappropriately, we are inadvertently training them to behave primarily in unacceptable ways. Praise your dog when they behaving well. Rediret your dog when they are being naughty.
Dogs don’t speak English
Before you correct your dog ask yourself, “Do they really know what I am asking?” Make sure you have spent the time needed to generalize the words and concepts that you are requesting.
Be consistent
Your consistency in training will be reflected by your dog’s willingness to comply.
Have fun with your dog
Playing with our dogs is one of the great joys of ownership. Be aware of how you play with your dog. Be te one to start and end a play session. Don’t wait for your dog to become bored with a game of fetch. Stop playing while they are still interested. This will help maintain their interest the next time you play, as well as show your dog you control the game.
Work for Food
Free eating (leaving a bowl full at all times) is not recommended for several reasons.
Food should remain a valuable commodity to your pet.
Food is a great tool to reinforce good behavior choices your dog makes.
Scheduled meals are a great way to monitor your dog’s health. Are they eating the same amount daily yet suddenly starting to drop weight? Have they stopped eating all their food? Has their stool changed although the food hasn’t? Just in case your dog is experiencing any heath problems you may be able to help your veterinarian trouble-shoot. They may inquire as to your dog’s appetite and food intake, knowing this could prove to be very helpful!
Height is might
In the dog world vertical height has a lot to do with status. When you are present do not let your dog onto chairs, the sofa, or beds without invitation. If you have a small dog be aware of how and when you pick them up to carry, an elevated dog can be seen as a threat to another dog(s). Or it could acknowledge and exaggerate the position of an already aggressive dog. Barking and reactive behavior is many times innocently rewarded when their owners “sooth” their small dogs with lifting/carrying.
Provide your dog a den
Dogs like the security of having a “den”. By providing your dog with their own space you are giving them a needed refuge from the busy daily activities around the house. Just like people, sometimes they need to have their own place to relax. You may notice your dog creating their own den--sleeping under the dining room table or curling up behind your feet while you watch TV. Many times the place chosen by our dog is not exactly what we had in mind! Decide on a place that is convenient for you.
We suggest you provide them with a space that is always available--be it a crate in the family room or a dog bed in the corner of an office. These “dens” should always be at ground level for reasons noted above (“Height is Might!”). Crates make excellent “dens”, as they are a fully contained room. Most dogs like these cozy quarters, they add the element of security by being completely enclosed.
A dog does not come preprogrammed to live by or understand human etiquette and standards. Help your dog learn appropriate household behavior.
Be a good leader
Learn what A dog will be much more relaxed (physically and mentally) if there is trust established. Be clear and consistent in your personal boundries and the expected boundaries of your home. A good leader is clear about the expectations in behavior and upholds the rules.
Catch your dog doing something right and praise
We are constantly training our dogs whether we know it or not. Every interaction is a “training session". If we are not teaching them the right behavior they may learning the wrong behavior.
Attention is attention regardless if it is positive or negative. If we focus on our dogs only when they are acting inappropriately, we are inadvertently training them to behave primarily in unacceptable ways. Praise your dog when they behaving well. Rediret your dog when they are being naughty.
Dogs don’t speak English
Before you correct your dog ask yourself, “Do they really know what I am asking?” Make sure you have spent the time needed to generalize the words and concepts that you are requesting.
Be consistent
Your consistency in training will be reflected by your dog’s willingness to comply.
Have fun with your dog
Playing with our dogs is one of the great joys of ownership. Be aware of how you play with your dog. Be te one to start and end a play session. Don’t wait for your dog to become bored with a game of fetch. Stop playing while they are still interested. This will help maintain their interest the next time you play, as well as show your dog you control the game.
Work for Food
Free eating (leaving a bowl full at all times) is not recommended for several reasons.
Food should remain a valuable commodity to your pet.
Food is a great tool to reinforce good behavior choices your dog makes.
Scheduled meals are a great way to monitor your dog’s health. Are they eating the same amount daily yet suddenly starting to drop weight? Have they stopped eating all their food? Has their stool changed although the food hasn’t? Just in case your dog is experiencing any heath problems you may be able to help your veterinarian trouble-shoot. They may inquire as to your dog’s appetite and food intake, knowing this could prove to be very helpful!
Height is might
In the dog world vertical height has a lot to do with status. When you are present do not let your dog onto chairs, the sofa, or beds without invitation. If you have a small dog be aware of how and when you pick them up to carry, an elevated dog can be seen as a threat to another dog(s). Or it could acknowledge and exaggerate the position of an already aggressive dog. Barking and reactive behavior is many times innocently rewarded when their owners “sooth” their small dogs with lifting/carrying.
Provide your dog a den
Dogs like the security of having a “den”. By providing your dog with their own space you are giving them a needed refuge from the busy daily activities around the house. Just like people, sometimes they need to have their own place to relax. You may notice your dog creating their own den--sleeping under the dining room table or curling up behind your feet while you watch TV. Many times the place chosen by our dog is not exactly what we had in mind! Decide on a place that is convenient for you.
We suggest you provide them with a space that is always available--be it a crate in the family room or a dog bed in the corner of an office. These “dens” should always be at ground level for reasons noted above (“Height is Might!”). Crates make excellent “dens”, as they are a fully contained room. Most dogs like these cozy quarters, they add the element of security by being completely enclosed.