January is the time for resolutions, and here’s one that will ultimately make your life – and your dog’s life – a lot sweeter: dog obedience training.
Imagine a world in which your dog doesn’t jump on guests, doesn’t try to run out every time you open it, doesn’t bark incessantly at the window every time a stranger or stranger passes by. squirrel, don’t beg at the table, lunge at other dogs on walks, or pull on the leash. Dog training can make a home much more calm, peaceful and pleasant.
Since January is National Dog Training Month, here are some tips and tricks you can start using to help your pet “get on the schedule” and have fun while having fun.
Mark behaviors precisely
Training won’t be fun or successful unless you have an idea of what you want to achieve and how to get there. Communication must be clear so that a dog understands what is expected.
Many dog owners mark the behavior they want to reinforce with a clicker or with small training treats. Whichever one you use, you need to be very precise with your timing and make sure you don’t accidentally mark unwanted behavior.
For example, if you practice polite leash walking, only reward your dog for walking alongside you. If your dog is walking ahead and you stop and call him back, don’t reward him for coming back to you. If you do, here’s what she thinks: “I walk ahead and when my person stops and calls me back, I get a treat.” »
This is definitely NOT what you want your dog to learn. Be very careful never to mark a bad action.
Small steps; Short sessions
Training should be a positive bonding experience for you and your pet. Your dog should be in an attentive mood and treat training sessions as enjoyable play.
For the sake of clarity and to avoid frustration for you and your pet, break down behaviors down to the smallest details instead of trying to learn too much at once.
For example, one way to teach the “drop” signal is to first offer a treat to get your dog to drop a toy. Let the dog play with the toy for a while, then offer him a higher value treat next to his nose. Treat the moment the toy falls. Keep repeating this simple compromise until you are sure your dog knows to drop the toy the second the treat appears.
Next comes adding a cue word like “drop it” or “out” and reinforces the behavior by repeating the “game” over and over again. Short sessions each day and consistency are the keys to successfully proving a behavior.
Hide and seek to reinforce “Stay”
There are many games that you can play with your dog which reinforce the training and make it more engaging than rote repetition. When the weather is too bad for long walks, take some Games up your sleeve can help you and your dog stay active.
Do you like working with dogs?
If you love dogs, enjoy training your pet to learn new things, and want a career in the animal world, consider becoming a professional dog obedience trainer. College of Animal Behavior offers an excellent online dog training course that adds a hands-on element to give students experience working with a local mentor trainer.
ABC’s online program allows students from across the country to enroll and learn dog obedience training without needing to attend a physical dog training academy. Graduates give ABC high marks for student support, and employers recognize that Animal Behavior College’s certified dog obedience trainers know their stuff. After all, they have been certifying dog obedience trainers since 1998!
To learn more about ABC’s dog training program or any of their other animal career certification programs, call 800-795-3294 to speak with an admissions counselor.