1: BE CONSISTENT
Everyone in the household needs to use the same commands and practice regularly, gradually building up, remembering to use short sessions and to reward good behaviour either by treating, affection, praise or a favourite toy or maybe even a play session!!
” A little bit of training will be repaid with a lifetime of living with a well behaved furry friend for life!! “
KEY POINT: KEEP SESSIONS OF TRAINING SHORT, ALWAYS ENDING ON A GOOD POSITIVE NOTE.
2: EARNING FREEDOM
When training your dog around the house, start by limiting the number of rooms he is allowed in, too much freedom too soon can lead to abuse of your house! ( chewing and accidents). The best way is to close doors, use baby gates and crates are great too, used sensibly, ( dogs are denning animals after all!) All theses can be eliminated as the dog learns more boundaries.
3: TRAINING LINE
When teaching your dog a recall command always attach a long training line for safety reasons and to reinforce the command to “come”, especially when your dog decides to do otherwise!!
Practice by calling in your dog and treating, gradually increasing distance as the dog improves. vary the sessions in different places and outside too and finish the exercise with a play or maybe a groom!
4:POINTS TO REMEMBER.
Dogs don’t speak English so different tones of your voice and body movements are understood by the dog much more than commands.
- Arms stretched out, happy face, high pitched voice for a positive recall.
- Rather than leaning over your dog to give a command step back and get good eye contact first then proceed.
- Dogs respond well to hand and arm signals which is useful to direct them the way you want them to go rather than the way they think they should go!!
5: FIND A TRAINING CLUB.
Don’t struggle alone find a Good Citizen Dog Training Club in your area.
This way the club can train you to train your dog!!
You will learn to avoid problems before they begin and will receive help and support with any other problems that may be occurring and answers to questions that you may have.
6: SOCIALIZATION
It is crucial that your pup is socialized as much as possible in the first 16 weeks of their life, even though they are not fully vaccinated they must still experience all smells, sounds and sights that its going to in counter during its life in order for it not to fear later on. Pleases take pup out with you everywhere introducing it to as much as possible. Training and lead work can be practiced at home till fully vaccinated.