Expert Dog Training Tips

                    Whether you have a puppy or an old dog, it makes sense to devote a bit of time training them. Although there is an abundance of information on the market about how exactly to train your dog, you cannot go wrong with dog training tips from the experts.

1. Positive reinforcement is crucial. Even though there are numerous theories concerning how to train your dog, most dog training experts recognize that positive reinforcement is most effective. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise such as a pat on the head and food rewards. It does not involve screaming at your dog, hitting or punishing them.

Positive reinforcement works because it builds a bond of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards particularly food rewards.

2. Consistency is essential. If you âre working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then make an effort to train them at the same time each day. This helps your dog learn what to expect. The majority of dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn much faster when they know what is expected. If you âre training using food rewards, try and train your dog before mealtime so they are a little bit hungry and motivated.

3. Have patience. Dogs usually learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up easily and then the following day it seems like you must start over from the beginning. Be patient. Start each new trick with really small steps and be crystal clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks like “sit” you should break it down into smaller steps.

4. Make use of hand cues in addition to verbal cues. A number of dogs have an easier time comprehending and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to every trick or behavior you are training.

5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Trying to train them for twenty or thirty minutes isn’t likely to work. They are going to get frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to a maximum of five minutes.

At the start, you may want to train for just a minute or two until your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.

6. Always end on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. Finish each training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they know how to perform and end with a food reward and plenty of praise.

7. Keep your dog healthy. Last but not least, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog a quality dog food, giving them plenty of fresh water and making certain they get enough rest. A healthy dog is a more content dog and will learn desired behaviors far more quickly.