Dog Training Tips

There are many approaches to training dogs. At Home-to-Home we advocate techniques that encourage and reward desirable behavior rather than correct or punish undesirable behavior. We believe such methods promote effective communication and a mutually rewarding relationship in which dogs are happy and eager learners.
The following are general tips that can help you build a foundation for successful training. To learn to train specific behaviors and to accustom you and your dog to working around other people and dogs, we recommend obedience classes. You will find books and videos about training dogs using positive reinforcement techniques and a list of local trainers under resources.

Dogs are always learning whether or not we are always training. Pay attention to your dog's behavior even when you are not actively training. Praise calm, attentive, well-mannered behavior whenever you see it, whether or not you gave a command. Let your dog know what pleases you.
Until your dog is reliably well-behaved, don't give him run of the house. Keep him with you so you know what he's up to. When you are away, or when your attention is focused on other activities, confine him in a safe environment, such as a crate.
Be clear and be consistent. Everyone involved in training the dog should use the same words and gestures every time a command is given. Set the rules and stick to them ; If you don't want your dog to jump up on visitors, don't encourage him to jump up on you.
Training should always be a fun, positive experience. Train when both you and your dog are relaxed and attentive. Before starting a formal training session, take a walk or play a game you both enjoy. Give your dog a chance to burn off excess energy and relieve himself. Take breaks between training exercises to play a little fetch or other fun games.
Training takes concentration and patience; if you are short on either, wait and train at another time. Dogs are very sensitive to our moods and their behavior reflects that sensitivity. If you are feeling pressured by time or are otherwise under stress, the training session is likely to end in frustration for both you and your dog.
Food is a powerful, primary re-enforcer that can be used to focus your dog's attention during the initial teaching of a new skill. During the first six to twelve repetitions of an exercise, give tiny, tasty bits of food as a reward following every correct response. Begin fading away the food rewards after those first six to twelve repetitions. Intermittently replace the food reward by verbally praising or petting your dog instead and then, once the correct behavior is established, gradually eliminate using food as a reward.
Dogs live in the moment, so praise (and reprimands, if you choose to use them) must be carefully timed in order for the dog to understand their meaning. Praise a correct response to a command as it happens . Training will go much faster if you give your dog a happy, upbeat �Good!� or �Yes!� as he performs the action, not after. If you choose to correct your dog for undesirable behavior, it is even more important that you communicate precisely what you disapprove of as your dog misbehaves. Punishment after the fact can be very harmful and leave your dog confused and frightened.
There are three reasons for failure to obey a command: your dog may not yet fully understand what you are asking him do even if he sometimes gets it right; he may be distracted and not paying attention; or he may think that obedience is optional. Simply repeating a command won't help. Repeating a command several times before your dog responds reinforces the impression that he can obey when he feels like it. Show him again what it is you want him to do. Train in a quiet place where he can concentrate on you. Add distractions or move to a busier environment only when he consistently demonstrates that he understands how you want him to behave. If you suspect your dog may not respond to a command - perhaps he is off leash, at the far end of the yard and barking at a squirrel - don't give the command. Go get him, instead, and go back to training in a quieter environment.
Keep training sessions brief and always begin and end on a positive note. If you work beyond your dog's attentiveness or your patience, training will become a sour experience that neither of you looks forward to. Short sessions several times a day, if possible, will be most successful, but one 15 minute session daily is better than an hour once a week. Start with something simple that your dog does well so that he gets an immediate reward. Keep your dog's interest by repeating each exercise only a few times per session before moving on to something new. End the session on a positive note, either with something he already knows and does well, or immediately after he has succeeded at a new skill. Recess is a great reward for good behavior in class.