Effective Dog Training

A dog is a big responsibility but they are a great addition to your family, if you decide to get one. Here are some helpful tips with dog training:

1. Be consistent. If you want to teach your dog a trick, you need to be constant with it and keep drilling the dog until they get the concept. Make sure every time they try to make an attempt; you give them a treat, so they know that is what you want them to do.
2. When they have an accident on the carpet or tile, you have to make sure that the dog knows that is wrong. Take the dog over to their mess and put its face next to it and say, “No!” This way, they learn that this isn’t good behavior.
3. Give your dog a treat every time they do something they are supposed to in the beginning stages. As time goes on and they catch on more, you won’t have to treat them as often. But when starting out, they have to get the idea that when they get a treat, they are doing what you asked.
4. Clickers work very well. This is how we have worked on training our dog. You can get them at Petco for about $1.00. We have trained our six-month old Siberian Husky to sit, shake, high-five, speak, lay down, and she stays pretty well, but that is a process. She also knows how to fetch something and bring it back. The clicker has been a very good training tool. When she sees us with it, she knows she has to listen and every time she gets a click, she knows she has done what she was asked to do.
5. Most importantly, make sure that after a training session you praise the dog and even during the session, so the dog knows they are doing the right thing.

Have fun with your new pet, give it lots of love and play with it often. Dogs need exercise and attention just as babies do. Good luck and don’t forget to use the clicker! It’s inexpensive and very effective!