General Dog Training Tips

1. Concentrate on what your dog is doing right. Professional dog trainers

everywhere tell their students to reward their dogs when they do something

right. This “positive training” method is in contrast to training that centers on

punishment. Trainers recommend that owners praise and reward their dogs

with treats and affection for good behavior instead of just scolding them for

bad behavior.

2. Be proactive and keep your dog from behaving badly in the first place.

One of the most important tips that a professional dog trainer will tell his or

her students is that good behavior is not just the responsibility of the dog. The

owner must make every effort to avoid giving the dog the ability to engage in

bad behavior while they are still learning the ropes. For example, if you notice

that your dog likes to chew, it’s important to make sure that everyone in the

home puts their shoes behind closed closet doors to remove temptation.

3. Stop saying NO! One of the biggest mistakes that people make when

training their dogs is saying NO without giving the dog an explanation of some

type. Dogs, much like children, will become confused with a simple command

of NO! Here’s what you should do instead. If your dog is stealing the cat’s

food, tell him NO and then gently guide him to his own food dish. Or, if your

dog is chewing on a table leg tell him NO and give him rawhide or another toy

on which he can chew. Once your dog begins to actually use the new

behavior, reward him with treats, toys and praise.

4. Learn the difference between boredom and separation anxiety. It is

important to determine whether your dog is misbehaving when you leave

home because he is bored, or because he is experiencing a case of

separation anxiety. Figuring out why your dog is engaging in bad behaviors is

usually the quickest way to combat the problem. If boredom seems to be the

issue, you can probably keep your dog from destroying your house during

alone time by providing him a toy stuffed with treats or something else that will

help exercise his mind a little. If separation anxiety is the problem, you will

need to learn ways to desensitize your dog to not only your absence, but also

your “preparing to leave” routine.

5. Consider trying clicker training. Clicker training is a relatively new

technique in the dog training world and involves the owner using a specific

sound to indicate to their dog that a particular behavior is acceptable or

desired. The owner will repeat the “click” and then reward their dog for his or

her good behavior. The positive feedback will encourage the dog to repeat

the good behavior.