Every dog owner wants a well-behaved, adorable dog at home, but dogs are naturally energetic and playful. There are no naturally perfect dogs—every well-behaved dog is a result of proper training. Below, we’ll share some easy training tips to help you raise a well-behaved dog!
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Learn to Wait
Waiting is an important lesson for dogs that helps develop their patience and focus. You can have your dog sit or lie down, and if they follow the command and stay still for a short time, reward them. However, if they move, you’ll need to start over. To reinforce their obedience, hold a treat in your hand, and when the dog hears the cue “yes” or “eat,” then give them the treat.
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Remembering Their Name
To help your dog remember their name, it’s best to choose a name right when they first enter your home, rather than waiting until they grow up. Pick a simple name that’s easy for them to remember—complicated names are harder for dogs to recall. At first, your dog won’t know their name, and that’s okay. When you call their name and they look at you and make eye contact, reward them. After a few successful repetitions, your dog will learn their name. Once your dog is familiar with their name, you can move on to the next stage of training.
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Training Time
The best time to train your dog is before meal time. Before each meal, spend 10-20 minutes training your dog while they’re slightly hungry—this makes training easier since dogs love food. Aim to train your dog 2-3 times a day, but try not to exceed 15 minutes per session. If you train for too long, your dog may lose patience and the training effectiveness will decrease.
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Hand Signal Commands
When training your dog, ensure that hand signals and verbal cues are consistent, or it could confuse them. The simpler the hand signals and commands, the better. For example:Sit: Command “sit,” hand signal: Extend your right arm to the side, with your forearm raised, palm facing forward in an “L” shape.Good job: Command “good” or “well done,” hand signal: Gently pet your dog’s shoulder or chest.Shake hands: Command “shake hands,” hand signal: Extend your right hand in front of your dog’s paw.
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Correcting Mistakes Immediately
When your dog makes a mistake, you need to stop them right away and correct their behavior. This helps your dog understand that what they did was wrong and prevents them from repeating the mistake. If you don’t correct them promptly, your dog may continue the same behavior. Avoid hitting your dog when correcting, as it can harm your relationship and create distance, making training harder.
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Rewarding Immediately
When your dog follows a command, it’s important to reward them immediately. Dogs love rewards, and consistent rewarding helps them learn faster and more effectively. If the reward is food, your dog will be even more eager to follow commands and perform tasks.
So, if your dog performs well, you can give them extra rewards to encourage even more enthusiasm for training. Be sure to give clear commands and allow a short pause between them, so your dog doesn’t get overwhelmed.
