Dog training tips for beginners

Choose a method, and stick with it. Common methods for training are treat training, or using a clicker. Use hand signals as well as voice signals for every command you make of your dog, regardless of the method of training you use. Dogs respond better when there are multiple ways for knowing what command you are trying to teach them to follow.

Be consistent, don't switch around between different hand signals or voice commands, after all, imagine how frustrating it would be for your dog to try and follow. Once you chose a command stick with it. Dogs are man's best friend and they will do everything in their power to please you, so don't blame your dog when he/she isn't getting it. Instead think of ways to improve consistency, keep things straightforward and simple.

One of the most important "tricks" to teach your dog is to teach him/her how to make eye contact on command. This trick can precede any other trick you teach or perform with your dog and will act as a signal that training is about to occur. It also allows your dog to get to know you and your desires in a very intricate way.

This trick can be taught by simply calling your dog by name. Once he or she arrives, have a treat in hand, and be ready with a verbal signal of your choosing for the command. As your dog aproaches you, let your dog know you have a treat by bringing the treat close enough to your dog that he/sh can smell it, and see it. Make the command, for instace if the command were "ready" say "ready." Repeat the command and say "good boy/girl" as soon as the dog looks in to your eyes. One easy way to make your dog get the command, is to move the treat close to your own face and eyes, and keep your own eyes focused on your dog's eyes. Try and get your dog to sit in front of you looking up in to your eyes. It doesn't help much if your dog is jumping on you to get the treat so if your dog does this, discourage your dog by saying no, then lower the treat but keep it enclosed in the palm of your hand so your dog can't get to it. Lower the treat to your dog's level, and your dog will soon sit to try and find a way to get the treat from your palm. Praise your dog as soon as he'she sits, and bring the treat up to your own eyes. Every time your dog attempts to get up, say no, and as soon as your dog backs down to a sitting position, praise your dog. You may even treat your dog for obeying the first part of the comand (sitting). Then try the command again. Your dog will eventually and quite naturally follow the treat to your eyes, and the moement your dog is focuses in on your eyes, praise your dog and treat our dog.

Remember to keep treats small, so as not to fill your dogs tummy after only a few training attempts.

Also remember that practice makes perfect, so repeat th exercise, and once you are confident your dog has gotten it, try the command w/ out giving your dog a treat. Alternate between treat giving sometimes and no trat giving most of the time for a correctly performed trick.

Believe it or not, there some ways to praise your dog that are better than others. If you follow certain rules for praising your dog, your dog will learn to recognise and always respond to your praise. First of all pay attention to the tone of your voice. Dogs will associate a more lighthearted, and higher, or more 'girly' voice with all that is good. Dogs will associate rough, deeper voices with negativity, just like babies. Try not to raise your voice with your dog, but use tone to let your dog know how you feel about the way your dog is behaving. Tone will work just as well and you will never have to raise your voice with your dog if you make sure to use one specific toned "voice" (or just higher pitches) for praise, and a lower, deeper voice for "no", and similar negative responses to your dog's behaviors.

Give praise every time your dog performs the desired trick. One important rule of thumb to follow while training is to praise every new movement your dog makes to performing the desired trick. For example, if you are trying to teach your dog to bark on command, if the dog even makes a sound such as sneezes when you make the proper command, praise the dog. If every time the dog makes a louder noise when you give the command, praise your dog. Another example: if you are training your dog to play dead (try training the dog to roll over before the playing dead trick), treat the dog as soon as he or she stays for a fraction of a second on his/her back. Treat the dog, and use the clicker, if you want to train your dog by that method. Then use the command again, and when your dog does something closer to the command, like closes his/her eyes, or stays still on his/her back longer than the last time, praise, treat and use clicker.

If you want to eventually train by using the clicker alone and no treats, gradually lessen treat giving by occasionally treating with the clicker when the dog performs a correct command. Then use the clicker and plenty of praise primarily and only add the treats when your dog least expects it on a rare random occasion. If you see your dog getting bored and decide that is the time to bring in the treats again while training, well, you are wrong. If you do this your dog may think he/she can train you, and act bored more often so he/she gets treats more often.

Don't try and train your dog for long periods. The shorter you keep your training sessions, and the more frequently the better. If ever your dog gets bored and starts to misbehave or loses interest and moves on to a different activity, let him/her. You will know at this point that your training session is too long, so give it up, and leave your dog be.

Training should be a pleasuable fun experience for you and your dog, always.