6 Tips to Keep in Mind about Dog Training

The time has come to teach your dog the ropes, and you have no idea where to start. Should you give treats? What commands should they know? How do you keep them focused? All of these are great questions, and guess what? We’ve gathered what we feel are 6 of the most important tips to remember when dog training. If you don’t feel like handling the training yourself, always remember that you can bring them to us at Prestonwood Kennels in Houston!

• Stay consistent: Dogs will do the behaviors that you reinforce. Use the same command words, and make sure everyone follows the training routine.
• Figure out the right type of reward: Different dogs will respond best to different things. Some dogs may be very food motivated and any kind of food will do. Other dogs will only put in the work when there’s special food involved, like chicken breast or cheese. Some dogs respond best to words of praise or new toys. You just have to find out what works.
• Work in stages: Training one command at a time and building up complexity will work best for teaching most dogs. Example: teaching “come” will be a process where you can praise each step they take towards you. Once they know that that is what you’re looking for, they’ll be excited to continue.
• Know doggy body language: Dog’s body language reveals a lot about how they feel, including during training. If you take some time to learn about what that body language means, then you will be able to better understand your dog.
• Keep a positive mindset and attitude: Your dog will know if you’re frustrated, and it will affect them and their training. Keeping your cool will go a long way to making the training run smoothly.
• Keep them entertained: Dogs tend to get bored quickly, so finding a way to keep your dog entertained and focused on the training is important. Using play times, teaching fun tricks, and overall mental and physical stimulation will help to make sure that your dog is able to stay involved in the training and learning.

Did you learn anything helpful from our little list? We certainly hope so! The biggest thing to remember is that you should stay consistent and find out what will keep your dog’s attention during training. You can also chat with your vet or a Prestonwood Kennels trainer for other tips. We wish you luck!