Dog Training Tips
I’m often asked for dog training tips or “training secrets”, as if there is some magical secret to get dogs to behave and become trained with the swish of a wand! Unfortunately there isn’t…. but there doesn’t need to be either. The real secrets to training dogs can be summarised in just a few key points and they are effective as they are simple.
Don’t waste your time looking for the “thing”, the gizmo, the gadget or the hoojit that will make you a great dog trainer. There isn’t one!
Play
Find what makes your dog “tick”. Many dog owners say to me that their dog is stupid or doesn’t like anything. I’d bet that they do, it’s just you haven’t discovered it. If your dog doesn’t like fetching a ball that you throw, try rolling it, making a hole in it and putting a few treats in it or throwing a different object; maybe a KONG Tails or some scrunched up paper.
Playing with your dog stimulates it, exercises it and most importantly, builds a bond between you. This is critical in training. Before you attempt to start any training, you’ve got to show the dog that you’re fun to be around - always keep it fun.
Keep It Short
Dogs get bored, too! Keep training to short 10 minute sessions, then have a play. Break up the work and mental fatigue. It’s very easy for you to keep going as you know and understand the end goal: you want your dog to jump up, touch your hand and then sit. But the dog hasn’t a clue! Short, fun sessions are a real key part to training success.
Stimulation
Keeping your dog interested and stimulated is an extremely important part of training. When training dogs for TV, film or commercials, I often use a paddling pool for those that like playing in water, to keep them cool and offer something different to stimulate them. Rubbing different scents on the dog’s toys, hiding them and changing your play routines are all great examples of how you can keep your dog stimulated. It’s often a good idea to teach two or three things during the same session to keep the dog interested in what you want it to do. For example, you might start teaching it to target, or “touch” your hand, spin in a circle and offer its paw, so you can alternate between the three.
Pay
If we want our dog to work then we need to pay them well. Just how you wouldn’t go to work if the pay wasn’t satisfactory, neither will your dog. Simply mixing a very small amount of garlic powder into the dog’s daily food can liven up their regular diet enough to reward them but what you give them is really important. Small pieces of cheese are okay but can cause diarrhoea and an upset tummy. The best training treat I’ve found - and which I’m yet to find a dog who doesn’t like! - is Trainer’s Secret, a 100% dehydrated liver treat. It’s endorsed by Dr. Ian Dunbar.
Patience
Lastly, but most importantly of all - patience. Nothing is more important than understanding that the dog doesn’t speak your language. It doesn’t know what you want it to do - that’s our job to show them. If your dog doesn’t do what you wanted it to, or if it does and then suddenly doesn’t, there are very good reasons. Firstly, it may well be bored and just doesn’t want to jump up, spin around or pick up the TV remote for the 15th time. It probably wants to do something else now! Secondly, it may not fully understand. So don’t get angry, don’t punish the dog and don’t give up. Take a break, have some fun and start again but this time, break it down and take it nice and slow.
