Good training makes good pets. Whether
you’re training a puppy or an older animal,
there are some important rules for pet
parents to follow.
1/ Keep it simple. When you’re training your
pet, commands should be short, simple words and
phrases. Sit. Stay. Come. Down. No bark. Heel.
Go potty. Once you’ve mastered the basics together, you can work on more complex behaviors or tricks.
2/ Be firm but gentle. Remember, your dog is trying to learn your language, and he wants
nothing more than to please you. Use your tone of voice to reinforce the action you want your
dog to take. You can also use hand signals to accompany commands.
3/ Be generous with praise. Reinforcing good behavior is best
done with love and attention. Let your dog know when he’s
doing something right through verbal praise, petting, and
rewards like small treats, or going for a walk.
4/ Be consistent. One of the most common mistakes people
make during training is inconsistency. For instance, you don’t
want your pets on the furniture. During training, you choose the
command “Down”. Another family member decides to use “Off”.
Another simply ignores the behavior. It’s no wonder your
dog is confused. Make sure that all family members are on the
same page and use the same commands.
5/ Be realistic with your expectations. Barking, digging and jumping are all normal dog
behaviors, but they’re not really desirable. Changing bad behavior takes time, especially with
older dogs. These types of behavior will take the most time to correct.
By training together, you and your dog can forge an unbreakable bond, helping make your dog
a great companion for years to come.