It’s one of the most rewarding and important things you can do for your pet. However, it’s sometimes hard to know where to start. We thought we would share some tips with you and your dog to train your dog well since January is National Train Your Dog Month.

• Use positive reinforcement techniques

Most vets agree that positive reinforcement is the best method for dog training in perth. Positive reinforcement training is a method that rewards your pet for good behavior rather than punishing them for bad behavior.

Reward your dog for good behavior and positive responses to your commands. Rewarding good behavior will reinforce the association between good behavior & good things.

You must also ensure that you don’t inadvertently reward undesirable behavior. If your dog barks at or jumps up to greet you, don’t give in or acknowledge it. This will only reinforce the bad behavior. Instead, wait for them to calm down before you give your attention.

• Find the right reward

Some dogs are food-motivated and will eat any kind of treat to reward them. Some dogs are more picky: soft, chewy treats are often preferred over hard, crunchy.

However, some dogs are not interested in food. You can reward your dog with treats such as a play session with a favorite toys or lots of affection.

• Consistency is the key.

It is crucial to be consistent with your training. Consistency is key when training your dog. For example, you should use the same word and the same intonation whenever asking them to do something.

It is equally important that everyone in the household agree on what is best for them. Dogs require consistency in learning new habits. If you don’t let your dog sit on the couch with your partner, it will cause confusion for your dog.

• Train often and little.

Training sessions that are short and repeated over the course of the day is more effective than those that last longer. The American Kennel Club suggests keeping training sessions to five minutes max . Any longer and your dog might become disoriented or frustrated.

Dogs often have difficulty understanding commands in different situations or places. For example, asking for a “sit at home” command is not the same as asking for one on the street. It’s important to practice your training sessions with multiple people, and with different distractions, to ensure your dog learns how to correctly respond to the same command every time.

• You can build up over time.

It can be beneficial to start small, especially when you are dealing with more complex behavior like “stay” or behavior modification (when trying to eliminate undesirable behavior).

Break down behaviors into smaller pieces. If you are training your dog to “come”, praise them when they do so. Once your dog is comfortable with the behavior, it’s easier to continue adding steps.

• Have fun.

Fun training should be enjoyable for both you and your dog. Keep it positive and include play in your training sessions between repetitions.

In addition to obedience training, you might also consider teaching your dog tricks. We humans respond more enthusiastically when we see a dog roll over than we do to a simple sit. Our dogs then pick up that enthusiasm and love to do tricks for us.

It is easy to get distracted by the end goal of training. But, praise your dog for small improvements.

• Applaud the little things.

Do not forget to praise your dog for any improvement. It is easy to get too focused on the end goal of training. However, celebrating small wins will keep you both motivated.

• Work training into daily life.

It’s much easier to incorporate training into your daily routine. Ask your dog to sit, or to respond to another command, before you give them their dinner. Take them for a walk or play with them.

• Use your hands.

Dogs don’t have the same ability to understand language as humans, even though we wish they did. Dogs respond better to verbal commands than hand signals. You can combine the two or start with hand signals first and then add the verbal command later.

• Talk to a trainer about your dog or take a class.

Don’t be afraid to reach out to a professional trainer if you are having trouble. Professional trainers are a great way to quickly get results. They have years of experience that can help you and your dog. You can trust them to have solutions for any problems you might be having.

Do your research before you hire a trainer. You should ensure that they use positive reinforcement techniques. If possible, read as many reviews and get references.