Top 6 Dog Training Tips for the New Owner

Since Bekki and I got our first dog together in 2008, I have been doing a lot of research into training methods and models, and those that practice them.  I have had some experience as a dog owner, but we had decided that we wanted to train them as Therapy Dogs, so I wanted to make sure I “did it right.”

So I began doing research, and a lot of it. During this research it has become apparent that for every trainer that says you should do ‘X’ there are at least two others that say the exact opposite. So, what is the ordinary dog owner to do when the experts can’t even seem to agree?

Well, I have always thought that common sense, observation, trial and error is the best path to separate the wheat from the chaff.  After a couple of years of research and working closely with 'The Lads', our 2 dogs Hondo and Jethro. I can only vouch for what has worked for me and the following is a simple but important list that every dog owner can benefit from.

In an effort to help the new and/or confused dog owner, I have created the following “Top 6 List.” (come on, anyone can do a top TEN list!):

I.                    Punishment is Counter Productive
Yelling at or striking/kicking your dog is not only ineffective, but also makes the training of your dog harder and take longer. Bully breeds like pit bulls, rottweilers, etc. are especially affected by this as they are more sensitive than most other breeds.

II.                  Consistency Wins the War
Decide what the rules are and what commands are and stick to them, period. The poor dog is easily confused when rules are situational and needs the comfort of knowing X = 4 every time. How does your dog know why he can jump up when you are wearing jeans, but not when you have your best suit on? Confusion is a big road block to success.

III.                Reward, Reward, Reward
Instead of carrot and stick, think carrot and carrot. Think about it, if your boss gave you say, a corn dog every time you did your job, how much MORE would you want to do it? It is about the same with your dog.

IV.                Realistic Expectations
Just because you THINK your dog knows what you’re saying, in point of fact, they do not. Do not start teaching them to do big tricks. Instead build a solid foundation with the basics, and then build upon those behaviors until you get to where you want to be.

V.                  One Command, One Time!
How many times have you heard a dog owner saying “Sit! Sit! Sit! Lassie, sit. Come on girl, sit”? Too often, and soon the command becomes part of the noise the dog ignores. Be clear one time, then be patient. If it is a new behavior it is OK to physically manipulate, but after that the command and a jerk on the lead is all you should do.

VI.                Remember what They Say about Assuming
Just because your dog got something right in your last training session does NOT mean he “knows it.” It only means he kinda got it last time. Sometimes they do well for a while, and then begin having trouble. This is often related to the environment in which you are working. It is a good idea to go back a step and do your training in a quiet place to reconnect with your dog, and then move back into more and more distracting venues.  

TRAINING TIP: If you have difficulty working with your dog, start with a brisk walk to drain some (or a LOT) of the dogs energy before  you start working with them. Will really help the dog to focus and for you to get the most our of your session. Remember to go find more articles and information at www.capawblehands.org!