For this reason, I contacted a trainer and started working with him just 2 weeks after I adopted him. I am SO grateful I did! The training has cost me a bucket of money, but every penny has been worth it. Not only is he pretty well behaved (we still have our off days) but we have definitely bonded via the process. When I decided to adopt a dog my primary reason was that I wanted a companion that I could take places and who would be overjoyed to see me everyday when I got home. I think it is partially (if not entirely) because of training that I found this in Milo. So, for this blog post I am going to give you my top ten tips for training your dog! I am by no means an expert! Like I said, we pay a professional trainer to work with us! These are just the things I've found help Milo and me to succeed! So here goes...
1. START as soon as possible.
I can't tell you how many people I know who didn't start training until they'd owned their dogs for months, maybe years. People always think that they should get used to their dog and allow it to get acclimated to life with them before they start training. A week or two is plenty of time for that! I started training with Milo two weeks after I adopted him and haven't stopped since. If we hadn't started so early I guarantee it would have been A LOT more work. You're either working with a blank slate (by starting early) or breaking bad habits before learning anything new. It's your choice!
2. Whatever you do, don't get frustrated!
Dogs can sense emotions in people the same way babies can. If you're nervous around a baby, chances are it will start screaming if you try to hold it. Dogs are the same way. If you are frustrated, your dog picks up on the emotion and will be less eager to listen to you. Not only that, but you may end up screaming or worse, hitting your dog. Frustration escalates into anger VERY quickly. I promise you, no matter what you've been told, hitting and yelling will get you absolutely nowhere with a dog. I don't care what breed, size, or personality your dog has, DON'T DO IT!
3. Put yourself in their shoes (or paws)!
If you do find yourself confused or frustrated, try to understand the motivation behind your dog's actions. This is something that I didn't get for a long time, but it really helps to understand this if you want to bond with your dog! Most of the time when they do something that we look at as "bad", it's a natural response or action. If a dog has a natural inclination to do something, it's going to do it. With a ton of training it will be able to learn otherwise, but you can't look at it as blatant disobedience. It's not like your dog is digging in the yard to spite you. They don't know that you'll have to fill that hole, or even that you don't want it there! All they know is that they feel like they should do it and they can, so they're gonna! Instead of googling "how can I make my dog stop digging in the yard?" try "why does my dog dig in the yard?" You will likely gain a much better understanding of the animal with which you're living. This can work with any issue you may be having. Expecting your dog not to do these things because you don't want them to is kind of ridiculous. That's like expecting a seagull not to poop on your head because you said no. It's just doing what it does, what it's always done! I would not however recommend trying to train a seagull. So it's a little different...
4. Be patient and enjoy the process.
This is something that I'm STILL getting a grip on. Having a wonderfully behaved dog who loves you unconditionally and wants nothing more than to be by your side wherever you go does NOT happen overnight, contrary to popular belief. It takes a lot of work and time. The honest truth is that I didn't realize how much work, time, and money this would require when I adopted Milo. Now, a year later, I could not be happier with the results. I don't regret a single effort, moment, or penny that I've put into this. Have patience my friends, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I don't think I've entirely reached it yet, but it's pretty sunny where I sit. If you aren't enjoying the process, it's going to be really long and miserable. Find a trainer you like, a class that's fun while still being productive, and find a way to make it fun for you and your dog. I truly enjoy working with Milo and love the trainer we work with, so this one has never been too difficult for me. Still, there have been nights when I just didn't feel like going. My trick? I reward both of us after! Milo gets a new toy or treat, and I get to eat some sort of sweet that I shouldn't have in front of the television! LOL
5. Let your dog think!
When asking your dog for something, don't repeat the command if they don't do it right away! Give them a chance to think about it! The video below is of Milo and me during training. You can see when I ask him for a down he tries to persuade me to give him the treat by whining before completing the action. Turn your sound up, I never repeat the command! Proof that he knows what to do, but wants to think and explore his options first.
Place, Sit, Down, and Stand with Milo
6. Make sure they're feeling good.
Make sure that you set your dog up for success physically. Feed them good food, keep up with their vaccinations and flee medication, research and attempt to solve any problems they may be having, etc. If your dog has a sick stomach, itchy skin, or some other issue, it's going to be extra hard for them to focus during training time. This can also be incorporated into number 3. If your dog is itching and it's driving you nuts, think before you yell at them to stop. Examine their skin and consider why they might be itchy. There are so many things that can contribute to skin issues (food, outdoor allergies, etc.)! Basically, pay attention to your dogs needs!
7. Always be POSITIVE.
If you go into each class with a negative attitude, you aren't going to get much out of it. Try to keep an open and positive mind when it comes to training. Dogs are inherently positive creatures, follow their lead!
8. Don't say your dogs name unless your commanding it.
This is something that comes straight from our trainer, Marni Bellavia. I have to say that at first I thought this was a little over the top, but it makes a huge difference! During our first training session, Marni told me never to say Milo's name unless I was asking something of him. This meant that I couldn't say things like "Oh Milo you're so cute!" or "I love you Milo!". In addition, when talking about him in conversation I was supposed to use nicknames like "booboo" or "sweety" instead of his name. I was to ask people specifically not to say his name unless addressing him. At first, this seemed difficult and honestly, strange. I tried my hardest to commit though, and now I see how well it's worked. Milo responds to his name at the drop of a hat. Most of the time his head literally whips in my direction when I call him. If you say your dogs name all the time, they become desensitized to it. It can also be a source of confusion. Think about it, if someone just kept saying "Greta, Greta, Greta" (insert your name) in your face what would your reaction be? I know I'd be like "WHAT?! What do you want?!" That's how our dogs must feel when we repeat their names in baby voices for no reason! So, I use M, the horse, mimo, booboo, big boy, but not Milo when talking about him. Now, do I slip up? OF COURSE! The point is to keep trying. If you do this the majority of the time, it still works!
9. Use commands that make practical sense.
This sort of goes with number 8. Think about the commands you want to use before you begin training. Most people use "no" when telling their dog not to do something. I use "uh-uh". Why? Because what if I'm laughing and talking with friends, they ask me a question, and I respond by saying no. If Milo is near me there is a good chance he now thinks he's done something wrong when he hasn't. In comparison, when will I be saying "uh-uh" in conversation? This is important with release words as well! If you have told your dog to stay, you need to have a word that lets them know when it's okay to move from the position. Many people will use the work "okay", I use "free". It's much less likely that I'll be saying the word "free" than the word "okay" in conversation. This will prevent you from accidentally releasing your dog before you wanted to!
10. Take time to work with your dog every day.
Obviously this doesn't ALWAYS work out. I know what it's like to be busy and no matter how much I love Milo there are some things that have to come before training each day. The important thing is that you make every day your goal, so that you'll probably end up doing it most of the time. If the only time you work with your dog is the hour you're in training class each week, you're not going to get anywhere. I can tell you from my own experience. On the weeks when I was lazy or busy, we made very little progress regardless of what was going on in class. Devote time to your dog!!
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Well, that's all I've got! I could probably go on and on forever but these are the things I've learned the most from being in training for nearly a year! I've learned all of this from experience and training with Marni Bellavia! If you live in my area and are looking into training you should DEFINITELY check her out! Links below!
Marni's Training Company: Humane K9 Inc. Professional All Breed Dog Training
Humane Society of Broward County: HSBC
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