9 Dog Obedience Training Tips for Owners
Your neighbors may complain because your puppy won’t stop barking, and you must do something about it. It would help if you taught your dog to walk on a leash, get off the couch when you ask, or do a few tricks for fun.
Whatever you want your dog to do, you need these nine dog obedience training tips.
Make it easier for your dog to understand you
Whether you want your dog to be quiet, sit, or come toward you, you must make it as easy as possible for him to understand you.
Your dog may not be able to speak English. But with a lot of patience, you should be able to make him understand simple commands such as “quiet,” “sit,” “stay,” or “come.” Pair each word with a hand signal to make it easier for your dog to understand and remember.
Be consistent so that you won’t confuse him
If you want an obedient dog, you must be consistent in your training. Pair each command word with one hand gesture and use the same cues from one training session to another.
Ensure each household member uses the same cues to prevent confusion. It would help if you were also consistent with what you allow and don’t allow your dog to do. You can’t expect him to understand your household rules if you punish him for jumping on the couch one day but let him do it the next day.
Show him that being obedient will bring rewards
Your dog is smart. If you clarify that he will be rewarded for obedience, he will more likely pay attention to your training and do what you want.
All his hard work needs to pay off. You can reward him by praising him for being a good dog, playing with him, or giving him dog treats.
Be sure to reward him with yummy dog treats
You can reward your dog with yummy treats such as carrot sticks or unseasoned chunks of meat. But you can also give him dog treats that are as tasty as nutritious, such as beef chews, bacon treat sticks, or freeze-dried treats.
Find a treat your dog will love and work for. This will make him look forward to his next obedience training session.
Give him a dog treat immediately when he obeys you
No matter how you reward your dog, do it right after he obeys you. If you teach him to sit down, treat him immediately. If you wait a minute or two before giving him the treat, he won’t associate obeying you with being rewarded.
Stay in control of your emotions
It will be easier to train an obedient dog if you stay calm and confident. You might have noticed that your dog reacted to your feelings. Therefore, you must control your emotions if you want him to focus on his training.
Your dog will probably get agitated if you get angry, anxious, or annoyed. This will not help if you want to teach him to be quiet or behave around other dogs.
Don’t get distracted, and give him your full attention
You can only expect your dog to take his training seriously if you do. If you don’t want him to get distracted while you teach him some tricks, be sure you don’t get distracted.
Give him your full attention. Be present with him without looking at your phone or chatting with someone else. This is how you will get your dog excited about his training.
Train your dog in different locations
To ensure your lessons are effective, train your dog in different locations. If you only teach him to sit and stay while you’re in your living room, he might need to understand that these commands should also be obeyed when you’re in the park or on the sidewalk. So, train him in different locations and situations.
Be patient
Dog obedience training tips will help you train your dog, but not overnight. You have to be consistent and patient. It could take a few weeks or even months for your dog to understand the commands you teach him. You have to persist and use positive reinforcement to show him that obeying you will earn him praise and rewards.
