Tips for Training

from Professional Trainer Montana C. Hayes

When it comes to training your puppy or dog, simple training hints can make a world of difference. We've put together a list of easily implemented tips can make a big difference in life with your dog.

  • Suggested Puppy/Dog Supplies
  • Training Guidelines
  • Rewarding Alternative Behavior
  • Training Tip
  • When Rewarding Your Dog...
  • Practice Socialization Weekly

    • Suggested Puppy/Dog Supplies

    A crate in your home for house training. Can use old blankets on floor for comfort and easy cleaning.

    An adjustable doorway gate. Keeps him in a safe play area.

    A weight and size appropriate flat collar. A six-foot and 20-foot (non-expandable) training leashes. Cotton is the most comfortable for the handler.

    A set of two weighted bowls for food and water. Stainless steel is the most hygienic.

    Remember to raise your dog’s water and food bowl if the dog is going to be medium/tall, tall and giant.

    A lamb's wool toy for comforting and snuggling during times of anxiety.

    A rope bone toy for biting, chewing, fetching and tug of war. A tasty dental bone for keeping teeth clean.

    A bottle of dog shampoo and conditioner for squeaky clean bodies and lustrous coat

    A water bottle and bowl in your car for drinking when away from home. Dogs get thirsty too.

    A bottle of spot-cleaner and training spray.
    Click here for our obedience class supply list.

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    Training Guidelines

    Rewards are given for everything “good or right” that your dog does. Even if your dog makes an effort in the correct direction, reward him.

    Get your dog’s attention, i.e., call his or her name prior to giving any training command.

    When giving commands correctly you should be clear and use a short command once.

    Releasing your dog from a command is just as important as giving the command. An example might be to say "OK".

    When training your dog, initially use hallways, doorways and quiet rooms with minimal distractions.

    Always hold your leash with both hands during training, dog on your left. Do not wrap your leash around your hand or wrist.

    Any training exercise should be initially established by an adult to reduce confusion on the dog’s part, and then have your children try.

    Dogs, like any other animal can be trained in any language. While you are in the United States start with English, just in case your dog runs away, you have a dog sitter, or you might give him away. This will make your dog more universally trained. Dogs can be bi-lingual, too. If you want to use another language, use it for special commands, not routine commands.

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    Rewarding Alternative Behavior:

    If you’re attempting to eliminate an undesirable behavior, remember to reward your dog for engaging in some other behavior that is appropriate. For example, if you’re attempting to eliminate jumping up on your guests, reward your dog for sitting, which is both incompatible with jumping and is a more desirable greeting. Other examples are chewing on a Nylabone rather than the table leg (or you) or being quiet rather than barking. This concept is extremely important for all dogs, but especially puppies under five months of age when their lifetime personalities and habits are being formed.

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    Training Tip

    A cardinal rule in correcting problem behavior is: Don't correct after the fact! In almost all cases, your dog will not associate a correction with behavior that was engaged in five minutes or five hours ago. The so-called “guilty look” is really a response to your tone of voice, your body language, and your dogs’ recognition of similarities between the current situation a previous correction (poop on carpet + owner entering room + owner raising eyebrows + owner approaching dog = punishment). “Repeat performances” are typically a result of not addressing more basic issues such as properly managing the dogs living environment, providing adequate exercise, teaching and rewarding correct behaviors and consistently correcting inappropriate behaviors at the instant they occur.

    A special note for puppies: Don't allow the puppy to do something now, at his or her present size, that you may not want him/her to do when fully grown.

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    When rewarding your dog...

    It is important for you to provide a combination of rewards.

    Toys and treats are a great way to lure your dog for the puppy come game.

    If you use treats as a reward you don’t have to give them each time.

    You can always use your dogs’ food as treat rewards.

    If you use treats as a reward remember to cut down on the quantity of food you feed.

    Using multiple rewards provides your dog with a clear understanding that he “got it right.”

    Remember train for short periods of time (5-10) minutes a day - multiple times per day.

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    Practice Socialization Weekly
    Take your dog to 1-3 new places each week and meet 2-5 new people.

    Remember to use dogs greeting manners. Invite one friend over who will help you teach greeting manners.

    Be sure to give visiting guests treats to give your dog when he exhibits appropriate/good behavior. Tell them about the multiple rewards you can offer the dog.

    Be sure to keep up on your dogs social skills with you meet new people.

    Keep up K-9 social skills (meeting other dogs). Remember always ask permission of the other dogs’ owner prior to introducing the dogs. Remember - greet with a loose leash.

    If you have or are planning to have children, or grandchildren, now is the time to socialize with small children.

    Remember rewards are given this week for everything “good” or “right” that your dog does, bad behavior should be ignored if not dangerous.

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