12/15/2015 deconstruction siteIf your pup sometimes pairs all commands at the prospect of a treat, deconstruct your pup's commands, offering him or her a reward only for doing a single command at a time - the one you asked for!
2/2/2015 MINI DOG TRAINER IN TRAININGIf you have a young dog trainer at home, help the child add some gravitas to their voice by asking them to say a command the way Shrek (or their favorite male cartoon character) would. Pups respond to lower tones better than high-pitched ones.
12/23/2014 TIMING IS EVERYTHINGWhen teaching Stay, remember not to hold your hand up for the duration of the command. If you gesture for longer than a couple seconds, your pup will rely on your hand being up to stay put, which is problematic as you ask your dog to Stay while you leave his sight.
12/17/2014 ASSIGNING NEW NAMES TO OLD TRICKSIf your pup is a rescue, obedience commands are a great bonding experience. Since sometimes we can't be sure of our pups' past, try creating alternate verbal cues for standard commands. Consider "Perch" instead of "Sit" or "Chill" instead of "Down". This way, you can sidestep any potential negative associations with commands from their past.
12/8/2014 SOCIAL SPINNINGIf your pup can get excitable by people entering his personal space, teaching a Spin command can help desensitize him/her to sudden movements in his proximity.
10/15/2014 Gone FISHIN'If your dog is an office pup, make sure that when left alone in your personal space, you put a "Do Not Disturb: Dog Resting" sign on your door. When startled while resting, dogs can react out of fear. Hence the saying "Let sleeping dogs lay."
10/4/2014 WATching for signalsObedience training is not only a wonderful bonding experience, but helps you tune into your pup's body language. Watch for your pup as he/she juxtaposes relaxed looks (loose jaw, hanging tongue and floppy ears) with alert looks (alert eyes, pointing nose, mouth closed, jaw tense).
10/2/2014 UNLEASHED & UNCENSOREDPracticing on-leash work indoors is great, especially with the leash out of the picture! A good exercise to make sure your pup is taking your lead outside is to walk your apartment or hallway off-leash, ensuring your pup stays to your side, accompanies your pace, and automatically sits and checks in with you every time you stop, as if he/she were tethered.
Many young pups lose focus during a training session. If you are ever in that position, try swapping in new treats for renewed enthusiasm. After all, variety is the spice of life!
9/14/2014 HOLD YOUR HORSESIf your pup lets himself out when you open your door, practice obedience commands in its threshold and routinely open and close it. This will lessen the excitement surrounding the door and make it more rewarding for your pup to stay focused on you rather than bolting into the hallway.
|
Author🐾 dog obedience trainer CategoriesAll Animals As Messengers Commands Cosmic Activity Energy In Training Enrichment Health & Wellness Holiday & Travel Tips Housebreaking Independence Training Loss Of A Companion New Pack Member Socialization & Desensitization Tools & Equipment Toys & Treats Upcycling |