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We want to help you with your cute but chaotic pup and learn to be your dog’s best friend. So, we’ll share anything and everything we know about dogs and even some questions that are searching for answers. If you have questions you want us to answer, bark it out and we’ll do our best to fetch the information. You can contact us by clicking this link.
GRAB OUR MUST-HAVE GUIDE TO THE THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF DOG TRAINING SUCCESS
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When do I add a cue/command?
Teaching your dog cues/commands too early can lead to sloppy behavior and a dog that doesn’t listen. Following is how and when we choose to teach cues to our dogs.
Front Door Chaos? Here’s an easy solution.
Whatever your dog is allowed to practice, they will do more and more…and more…and more.
In animal training and behavior terms, we call this pattern rehearsal. And rehearsing patterns is GREAT when it’s ultimately a behavior your want your dog to do…like sitting in front of you when you call them, or backing away from their bowl before feeding, or spinning, lunging and barking at the door when it rings. Oh, wait, scratch that last one…
Be Consistently Inconsistent in Training
If your dog triggers at certain times of day, with certain actions, like coming home or going for a walk, then you want to help them learn that novelty and flexibility are part of life. You want to be consistently inconsistent in your routine.
How to use food to train (Ditch the Bowl)
Dogs are motivated to do behaviors that bring high value rewards. Ditch the Bowl and use the dogs daily food equivalent to “treat” your dog throughout the day. This not only keeps them motivated, fit and healthy, it helps to build the relationship with your dog because YOU are providing high value throughout the day.
Do I have to use treats when I train my dog?
Change the word “treat” to reward and get creative to reward your dog for good behaviors. But remember food is a high value reward that they need anyway to it’s great to use their daily food allowance/equivalent as rewards throughout the day.
Too much, too soon
When we introduce our dogs to too much, too fast, they can become easily overwhelmed. We want to limit what our dogs have access to until they show us they are responsible enough to have self-control, remain calm and follow our lead.
Train FOR, not IN, a situation
Human nature wants to fix a problem while it’s happening. But that doesn’t work for dogs. We need to use concept training to train FOR a situation, not IN the situation.
What is “concept” training for dogs?
Concepts are the building blocks of your dog’s brain. We work with concept training to help your dog learn to choose to make good decisions and have good behavior, even when you’re not around to give the commands.
How long and how often do I train my dog?
Focus on the fun of games based training, not the duration!
