Gone are the days of strict obedience dog training, so unless you aspire to compete in obedience, relax. Signals like sit, come, and manners are important, but first you need to establish a solid foundation. This includes teaching your dog to exist harmoniously with you and your family and to fit comfortably into our human-centered world.
How do we do this?
Here are 5 dog training tips for beginners to point you (and your dog) in a zen direction:
Familiarize yourself with dog language
Dogs are non-verbal, constantly communicating what they feel, what they want, and what they need. So, understanding dog body language is essential not only for building a strong relationship, but also for being successful in any training, sport, or activity you do together.
Focus on enrichment and meeting your dog’s needs
Let your dog be a dog! Most behavior problems stem from boredom or lack of stimulation and exercise. Enrichment addresses your pet’s species-specific needs by providing varied and optimal opportunities to engage in natural behaviors. Dogs love to sniff, dig, search for food, chew, etc. Give your dog plenty of enrichment opportunities (breed-specific if possible) to keep him happy and satisfied.
Find out what motivates your dog
Each dog is an individual. Since learning and behavior change is based on reinforcement, have fun playing detective, finding out what motivates your dog. Create a food “ladder” by ranking the foods your dog likes and those he likes; the idea is to have a ready made chart of different levels of his favorite foods, a wow factor for him every time you offer the food. Use lower rank foods for easier training demands and switch to higher rank foods for more difficult tasks. Bring out the super snacks for the toughest gigs. Remember, it’s all about the food: experiment with fruits, vegetables, dog-safe cheese balls, and any type of treat he might like. Adjust meal portions accordingly (treats add calories to your dog’s daily food intake!) and avoid foods that are toxic to dogs.
Reminder: Do not give free food or offer unlimited amounts of food all day without a schedule. Not only does this compromise a powerful motivator, but it can also lead to overeating and obesity.
In addition to food motivations, include praise and play as you climb the food ladder!
Manage your dog’s environment
Set up your dog for success. Fall in the trash? Buy a covered tin can or put it in a cupboard. Counter-surf? Don’t leave anything within reach. Shy dog? Don’t bring her to crowded events. Create environments and situations that your dog can handle – don’t throw him into the bottom of the pool.
Reflect and reformulate. Instead of asking, “How can I stop my dog from digging in the yard?” ask, “How can I make sure my dog only digs in appropriate places?” Tip: Read the article to find out how. It gives you something to train (win-win) rather than forcing you to punish your dog (always lose-lose).
Be patient
Learning new behaviors (and changing existing ones!) is complicated – don’t expect your dog to “get it” immediately. Sociologists say it takes an average of 21 days for humans to form a new habit, so expect to spend at least a few weeks teaching your dog new things. Sure, she could learn to sit in a quick session or two, but it’s a whole different ball game for her to generalize or know that to sit means to sit, no matter where she is, what is happening around her or who is around.
Start small, work big. Don’t expect a college-level master’s degree if you put in the effort in elementary school. Again, set her up for success and break your training into smaller steps if necessary.
If your job seems difficult, contact a qualified rewards-based professional trainer. The support and guidance is very helpful for your dog and minimizes frustration for you. Laugh, celebrate small victories, and expect things to be wonky at times. Mistakes are an integral part of learning for you and your dog. Find a rhythm and have fun!
