9 Basic Dog Training Tips 

You may not realize it, but you’ve been training your puppy from the first minute you got her! For instance, each time you say her name and she moves from where she is to where you are, she is learning the command “Come.“ You just have to add the word “Come” routinely so she makes the association.

Here are nine great tips to help you successfully teach your puppy the basics:

Simply set aside about 10 to 20 minutes daily to work with your puppy.

1. Have one person in the family conduct the training. Even if everyone in the family is using the same verbal commands, their timing will be slightly different, which could confuse the dog. It should be someone who is patient. Have other family members work with the dog later, after her learning is well under way. Just be sure everyone in the family is using the same commands. If the puppy seems confused or backslides when more than one person works with her, return to having only one family member conduct the training.

2. Use positive reinforcement. Reward the dog as she learns, and never punish the dog or become unpleasant when she doesn’t catch on right away. If the dog associates obedience with something pleasant, she is more likely to obey. If she associates obedience with scolding, she won’t learn as well. Training is not the time to issue the word “No.” “No” should be used only to correct inappropriate behavior. A puppy that doesn’t catch on right away to training is not misbehaving. She just hasn’t yet learned what you want her to do. Use treats to encourage your puppy. Don’t use them every single time, however; otherwise you’ll find yourself with a dog that only obeys when you have a treat in hand!

3. Teach one command at a time. Move on to an additional command only after the dog has caught on well to the first.

4.Keep your voice cheerful. Some dogs respond best to a very playful, coaxing voice, whereas others respond better to a slightly stern–but still pleasant–voice. Again, experiment to see which tone of voice gets you the best response.

5. Keep your sense of humor. Puppies are distracted easily and can try your patience. Focus on your puppy’s accomplishments, no matter how small they are, and enjoy your time with her. She won’t be a puppy for long, after all.

6. Train in various places. All the commands can be practiced in the house, in the yard, or with the dog on leash at a neighborhood park. If you vary the places you train your dog, more likely she’ll learn to obey wherever you are. Training her in different places will also help socialize your puppy.

7. Train your puppy as you play. For instance, if you are playing fetch with a ball, ask your puppy to “Sit” before throwing the ball. Say “Come” as she returns with the ball. This reinforces your formal sessions, and since playtime is fun, it will help the dog learn to associate obedience with something pleasant.

8. Integrate training into daily life. As soon as your dog learns a command, begin using it routinely, not just during training sessions, and continue to reward the dog appropriately. Say “Heel” as you go from the kitchen to the living room, for example, and reward her when she obeys. Integrating commands into daily life as soon as possible will help ensure that your dog learns to listen in all types of situations, not just during your training sessions.

9. Do not expect a dog of any age to obey every command every single time. Dogs are living creatures, not robots. They have good days and not-so-good days, just as people do. Sometimes they concentrate better than others. This is why keeping your dog on a leash anytime she is not in a fenced-in yard or in the house is imperative. Most dogs can, however, learn to obey commands most of the time if you are persistent with training.

 

Dog Training Tips

Got a problematic pooch and need some fast and effective dog training tips? "Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan to the rescue! The legendary dog-training guru shares his proven techniques for humans to be strong pack leaders and improve their dogs' behavior. 

 

Dog owners make training mistakes

SheKnows: What is the biggest mistake that pet owners make with their dogs?

Cesar Millan: The most common mistake I see is not following what I call the fulfillment formula -- that is, exercise, discipline then affection. We tend to give affection, affection, affection and this creates unstable dogs and bad behavior because then you have trouble earning your dog's trust, respect and loyalty.

Dog training formula: Exercise, discipline and affection

SheKnows: How can owners instill discipline in their dogs, other than the usual "sit" and "stay" commands?

Cesar Millan: This is about leadership and energy. Most training seeks to teach dogs how to obey commands, while my philosophy is more about rehabilitation through exercise, discipline and affection. A dog may be very well-trained and still be unbalanced, just as a balanced dog may not be trained. We need to start with the principles before we can get to the techniques (training methods) and that is how we achieve a positive outcome (good behavior).

Lead your dogs by example

SheKnows: What if a dog receives one or two walks a day and still misbehaves?

Cesar Millan: The walk is exercise and that's great -- but that's only part of the formula. Dogs need discipline, too -- this is where rules, boundaries and limitations come in. Leadership is about showing the dogs -- through your actions and energy -- what you expect of them. Remember that you have to be consistent. If you break the rules, they will too!

be a strong pack leader

SheKnows: And what if a dog is constantly destroying the house?

Cesar Millan: The dog is trying to tell you something! Either he's not getting enough exercise to drain his energy, he's bored and understimulated, or you are not being as calm and assertive a pack leader as you need to be. The reality is that most people have to go to work and leave their dogs alone for several hours a day. So you need to get the dog, right from puppyhood, used to that reality so the dog gets used to being alone without exerting frustration.

Walk dogs into calm

SheKnows: What can dog owners do to reduce the likelihood their dogs will misbehave when the dogs are left alone in the house?

Cesar Millan: It helps to start the day with a good, fast walk. And that's not a walk where the dog is peeing on every tree and barking at every other dog on the street … which will just put him in an excited state. Then when you lock him up inside the house with that kind of energy, he's more likely to be destructive. You want him in a calm, submissive state and a brisk walk, run or bike ride is the best way to achieve that.

Also, find activities that stimulate his mind and challenge him, like search-and-rescue activities. Try a treat ball or a Kong toy, have him wear a backpack on the walk, go for a pack walk with your neighbors and their dogs, or play a game with him, even for 10 minutes before you leave the house, that challenges him to use his nose.

It's very important to analyze your own emotions and feelings. Are you trying to get away from something? How do you feel about your relationships? Remember that dogs are a reflection of us, so when we work with them, we are also working on ourselves.

Dogs are mean – or are they?

SheKnows: Are some dogs inherently aggressive?

Cesar Millan: All dogs can become aggressive, but the difference between an aggressive chihuahua and an aggressive pit bull is that the pit bull can do more damage. That's why it's important to make sure you are 100 percent ready for the responsibility if you own a "power" breed, like a pit bull, German shepherd or rottweiler. Often we blame the breed, but in my opinion, it's not the breed, it's the owner. The owner has to be the pack leader and provide exercise, discipline, then affection. If you do that, you'll have a sweet, loving, and balanced dog – no matter what breed!

Puppy mills lead to problem dogs

SheKnows: Can you comment on the problem with puppy mills?

Cesar Millan: Puppy mills – breeding without consciousness – often result in dogs that are wired wrong, with neurological problems due to the devastating breeding and living conditions they are in. We need more awareness on this to change the situation. It's important to note that aggression isn't the problem. It's the outcome of a problem.

no bad dogs, only bad dog-owners

SheKnows: Have you ever worked with a dog whose behaviors you could not change?

Cesar Millan: No, but I've worked with humans who I could not change. In many of the red-zone cases I see, the human is missing the fundamentals and not fulfilling the dog's needs. They are not loving to the highest degree because this takes putting the dog's needs first -- and doing what you need to in order to earn the dog's trust, respect and loyalty by providing leadership through rules, boundaries and limitations. Once those principles are mastered, the techniques can be applied and a better outcome achieved.

Tips to improve your dogs behavior

SheKnows: What's one action that pet owners can take that will improve their dogs' behavior?

Cesar Millan: Dogs have found themselves in an odd predicament by living with humans. In the wild, dogs don't need humans to achieve balance. They have a pack leader, work for food and travel with the pack. When we bring them into our world, we need to help them achieve balance by fulfilling their needs as nature intended. This takes exercise and discipline before affection, and always maintaining your calm, assertive pack leadership.

The best ways to manage your dog's behavior:

1. Create a schedule that includes a daily 30- to 45-minute power-walk in the morning, at the very least. This is critical for your dog's health, both physical and mental.
2. Set aside time every day to provide mental exercise by maintaining rules, boundaries and limitations. When these needs are met, the affection you give to your dog will be channeled as a reward.
3. Always walk out the door ahead of your dog when leaving the house. This will show your dog who is in the leadership role. On walks, make sure that your dog is not in front of you, pulling you down the street. Instead, keep your dog to your side or behind you. This will also demonstrate to your dog that you are the alpha figure.
4. Give your dog something to do before you share food, water, toys or affection. This way the dog earns his treat. For example, have him or her perform the "sit" or "down" command.
5. Dogs seek attention from you. But by paying them that attention when they want it, you're reinforcing the bad or hyperactive or anxious behavior that you're trying to avoid. Practice -- no touch, no talk, no eye contact -- and see how you fare. You might be surprised at how quickly the dog settles down and looks to you as his pack leader for direction.