Training Tips
Before you begin training your dog, there are some important concepts to keep in mind. Following these suggestions will ensure success in your endeavors.
The first step in any training regimen is obtaining your dog’s attention. The second is motivating them to perform. Third is remaining consistent
The first step to success
Before you can accomplish anything, your dog needs to respond to their name. This is a means of obtaining their attention prior to giving a behavior cue. Examples of behavior cues are the sit, down, come, stay or stand.
Every dog should know how to respond to these cues, regardless of whatever is going on around them.
Begin by pairing a unique sound, or word, with a reward. Most animals respond best to food rewards, especially if they are high value, such as pieces of meat or cheese.
1. Show your dog the food in your hand. Say their name in a happy tone of voice (Get your dog’s attention)
2. When they put their nose next to it, make your unique sound. This is called a Marker. It marks the moment your dog performed correctly. You can use the word “Yes!” Or “Good!” In a high happy tone. Or make a clicking noise in your cheek. (Motivation)
3. Then give the treat. (Be consistent and give the treat every time your dog responds to their name.)
4. Repeat. (Repetition will build a reliable response.)
The second step is to build communication
Once your dog understands how to respond to their name, you can begin to train specific behaviors. Let’s begin with teaching them to come when cued. A cue is a visual signal, such as showing your dog your hand that has food inside. Your dog learns that whenever they see this visual cue, it has a specific meaning. While you will begin by using a visual cue, you will be able to add a verbal cue within 4-5 repetitions. This will teach your dog to respond to either a visual, or verbal cue.
Here’s how to begin teaching your dog to come when cued:
1. Show your hand (we will refer to the hand holding the treat as a target, as your dog will zero in on that as it is the source of their reward.) Hold your target hand in front of you. If you have a little dog, hold it at knee level. If you have a large dog, hold it near your thighs.
2. Say your dog’s name to get their attention. As your dog comes toward you, step back a few feet. Keep your target hand stationary. Your dog needs to remain fixated on the target and if you move it, your dog will go off course.
3. Continually praise your dog as they move toward you. The praise is a keep going signal. It encourages your dog to continue behaving in that manner. In this case, coming toward you.
4. Once you’ve stepped back 4-5 steps, stop and allow your dog to catch up to your target hand.
5. The moment they arrive, use your unique marker sound, “Yes!” “Good!” Or a click with your cheek.
6. Offer the reward. Continue praising throughout. This creates a positive atmosphere which will further motivate your dog.
Once your dog is reliably coming to you on cue with 4-5 backward steps, add more steps. It won’t take long before you can back up across a room, or a yard, as your dog quickly and eagerly comes toward you. When your dog reliably comes toward you, say their name then the verbal cue, Come, prior to each rendition of this exercise. This will teach your dog to respond to their name and know that the cue is meant for them.
Now It’s Time to Build the Conversataion
You can begin with teaching any new behavior using the above techniques. Your dog will always follow their target and you can mark the moment they perform as your dog to associate the cues with the behavior.
Next, will be to cue your dog to do multiple behaviors for rewards. This is called behavior chaining. You begin by teaching the simple actions of come, sit, down or a trick. Then you bring a pattern together, such as come and sit. Or go down and stay. Your dog must work harder to earn the rewards by performing more behaviors to get them, adding more to your conversation.
Do Not Build a Maze
You don’t want to teach your dog to perform a pattern. Leave this trick to teaching mice to learn a maze. Instead, you want your dog to respond to your cue. Therefore, try to not request the same behaviors in the same pattern more than twice in a row. Dogs quickly learn patterns and will tend to perform the pattern to earn rewards instead of responding to your cues.
Here’s some suggestions for changing your conversation around so your dog doesn’t learn a pattern:
1. Do a come and sit.
2. Next do a down and come.
3. Try a sit and a down.
4. Cue the come, sit and then a down.
5. When your dog learns how to stay, sometimes call them to come, or return to them and reward. This prevents your dog from pre-empting a recall as they’ve learned the pattern of only receiving a reward after a recall.
Training Games
You and your dog can more thoroughly enjoy your conversations by creating training games. Some dogs are easily bored with the same patterns or processes. Bored dogs lose their focus. Changing your speed, sharp turns, moving around obstacles or just heeling in the patterns of Letters, Numbers or Shapes, will keep your dog’s focus.
Training time should be fun for you and your dog. Following these training tips will ensure your dog remains focused and motivated as the experience is enjoyable. Always strive to enhance your conversation with new skills in new environments. This builds a stronger bond with your dog and opens a world of great canine activities. You can strive to achieve performance titles or just have fun going on hikes, diving off a dock into a lake or finding lost treasures using your dog’s nose. The sky is the limit when you can communicate with your dog.
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