Training Tips

Some of the basic training tips that I use:

1. Teach the Behavior and then 'name it'

When you are teaching your dog a behavior, you are actually teaching word association.   You want a word associated with a behavior that you want the dog to perform.  Therefore you need to teach the behavior 1st, and when the dog is doing the behavior you can attach a word to it.

An example of this:   I want to teach my puppy to come when he is called.  The first step that I need to do is to associate the word 'come' with the behavior of coming towards me.   In the beginning of my training, I will make sure that every time I say the word 'come' my puppy is coming to me.  It is my job to make sure that my puppy understands what behavior is associated with this word.  Each and every time that I say the word 'come' my puppy should already be in the process of coming to me.   That way the puppy can correctly associate the word 'come' with coming to me (and getting a good reward).  A mistake that many people make is not doing the correct association.  For example their puppy could be in the yard barking at a squirrel.  The owner goes out and starts calling 'Fido Come', 'Fido Come', Fido Come'   The puppy keeps hearing the word 'come' while he is barking at a squirrel.   Do you think the puppy is going to associate the word 'come' with barking at a squirrel or coming to you?  What you should do is get the puppy's attention, encourage the puppy to come towards you and when the puppy is finally coming to you and is about 1 foot away then say 'come'. That way your puppy has correctly associated the word 'come' with successfully coming to you.    If you don't have time for this then go and get your puppy.  Do not associate the word 'come' with anything other than being successful at coming to you.

2.  Do not use the word 'come' in association with a behavior that your dog does not like.   If your dog does not like his nails being cut, do not call him to you and cut his nails!.  Go and get him and then cut his nails.   The word come should always be a word associated with coming to you and something positive happening - getting a pat or a treat or something else that is a reward for the dog.

3.  Only use the word when you want the behavior that you have associated with the word.   Do not tell your dog to 'get down' off of the furniture, if you also tell your dog to 'down' when you want him to lie down.  The words are too similar for behaviors that are different.   Instead tell your dog to 'get off' your furniture or some other words that do not confuse what you want the word 'down' to mean.

4.  Only associate your dog's name with something nice happening.  When we say our dogs name, we want to get his attention.  Therefore every time we say the dogs name and the dog acknowledges us, it should be positive for the dog.  You can smile at your dog, give him positive praise, give him a treat etc.   If we need to get our dog's attention for a behavior that we want to interrupt - for example I want to interrupt my dog digging - I will not say "Fido, Quit it". I will say "Hey, Quit it". My dog will know that I am talking to him, but I am not using his name in association with something that is not rewarding to my dog.