Dog Behaviour Trainer -Classes & Private – 10 Rules for Training Dogs

Eazy Dog Training – Your Dog Behaviour Trainer in Sydney

10 Rules For Training Dogs

 

1. Be consistent

Use the same cue for the same command each time.

If you use “come” one week, “come here” the next, and “come here, girl” the following, you’ll confuse your dog.

Use a simple COME. Every time.

Don’t repeat the command either. It’s easy to do, but it teaches your dog that she doesn’t need to respond to the first command.

 

2. Right timing

We need to mark the moment the dog is doing the right thing!

The praise (short marker word ‘yes’) and reward needs to happen immediately when the dog is doing what you want in order for them to make the connection between the word and the action.

“Hey, if I sit when she/he says ‘sit,’ I get a treat!”

 

3. Train step by step, starting simple.

You need to train step-by-step and give your dog lots of practice getting it right.

Start with an easy command at home with no distractions.

Once your dog is responding consistently, add what trainers call the three D’s:

-Distance

-Duration

– Distractions

 

For example,

When your dog has mastered SIT at home, start practicing outside, in your own yard. And start adding duration by waiting a second before rewarding, then 2 seconds etc.

Always wait until your dog has mastered the current challenge before you add a new one. If she fails it, just take away one of the challenges and try again, going more slowly this time.

 

4. Use food and treats both as lures and rewards.

Using treats is the most effective training method.

At the beginning of the training you need to use treats both as a lure to get your dog where you want her to go and as a reward for obeying the command.

Remember to use high value treats. This means treats/food the dog doesn’t normally get. Plain dog food doesn’t usually work, especially around distractions. Chicken, other meat and cheese are great for training.

If your dog isn’t that interested in food, try using a favorite toy, praise or a physical reward such as cuddles or tummy rub.

 

5. Don’t forget phasing treats out.

Dogs are more motivated by unpredictable rewards.

Once your dog knows the command give treats only for the best responses, like the quickest sit, the best down. Then vary the type, amount and frequency of the reward. Sometimes your dog gets a yummy treat, sometimes a tummy rub, other times an excited “Good dog.” Eventually, you can phase out the treats altogether.

What I like to use for rewarding my dogs is a mix of different treats. I make a yummy mixture of cheese and different meats so that my dogs don’t know what they’ll get each time.

Remember though, when teaching a new thing a reward needs to be given often.

 

6. Keep it short and fun.

Training is most effective when it’s fun and you stop before anyone gets bored or frustrated.

Keep the mood happy and fun, and the sessions short. Especially puppies get distracted easily so five or ten minutes is plenty to start with.

You can have many mini-training sessions throughout the day.

 

7. Mix up people and places.

If you want your dog to obey anywhere and anyone, practice in different places and with/around people.

 

8. Keep your cool.

If you feel like you’re about to lose your temper, just end the session and try again later.

Yelling, hitting, or jerking your dog around by a leash won’t teach them a thing.

Well it does. It teaches your dog that you’re scary and unpredictable, and that training’s no fun.

 

9. “Nothing in life is free.”

Once your dog knows a few commands, always ask them to obey a command before giving a treat, toy, meal, game or walk, tummy rub, or anything she wants.

If she ignores the command, take away the reward and try again later.

This helps to reinforce the commands and your role as the leader of the pack.

 

10. Keep practicing

Don’t expect that once your dog has learnt something, it’s learnt for life.

Keep practicing, it takes hundreds of repeats to really master a command.

 

Book Dog Behaviour Trainer Today 0404 022 114 / Anniina