The Best Dog Training Methods Proven To Work
Most agree that there’s no better love than what you get with a dog. However, living with an untrained dog that exhibits unwanted behaviors can be challenging. Learning how to train a dog is a must for you and your dog to live more efficiently.
It’s easiest to begin training a canine when they’re puppies, though training an older dog isn’t impossible. It may take some time for them to catch onto the techniques. Your dog should be well-trained in no time if you’re consistent, patient, and follow the correct methods.
Let’s dive into the most common types of dog training and the best methods to follow.
Positive vs Aversive Dog Training
The purpose of training sessions comes down to either increasing the likelihood that your dog does what you want or decreasing the chance of them doing what you don’t want. Positive dog training focuses on associating their commands with a positive experience.
With positive reinforcement, the dog obeys you and gets rewarded with a treat or praise. This teaches the dog that when they do what you want, they get something out of it. Plus, your dog wants to make you happy, which is a reward in itself.
On the other hand, aversive dog training focuses on doing something unpleasant to suppress unwanted behavior. Aversive training methods may utilize unpleasant sounds, physical corrections, harsh scolding, or pain from a shock or prong collar.
In this guide, we will focus on positive reinforcement. Studies show that positive reinforcement works more efficiently and is better for your dog’s overall health. Unfortunately, aversive training can lead to more behavioral issues in the future. You must train your dog correctly to avoid excess stress for you, your dog, and others around your pet.
Basics of Dog Training
Before diving into the different types of dog training, we must cover some techniques beforehand. Here are a few things to remember as you go through this article.
Using Treats
Many dogs are food motivated and will be happy to obey your commands when you offer them a treat. While we recommend using treats initially, avoid becoming too reliant on them. If you find that your dog isn’t listening to you, it may be because they only obey when they know a yummy snack will follow.
We suggest using a combination of stimuli to train your dog, like praise, hand gestures, and clickers, to avoid relying on treats alone.
Clicker Training for Dogs
We suggest clicker training for dogs because it’s an excellent tool for positive reinforcement. Although it isn’t necessary, a dog learns new behavior more quickly with this tool.
As the name suggests, a clicker makes a noise that signifies your dog has done an excellent job. They’ll start associating the sound of the click with obeying a command.
If you implement the clicker, ensure you time the click with the moment they obey.
Hand Gestures
Because dogs communicate with body language, using body language during training can be highly beneficial. Use a hand gesture with a phrase like “come” to better communicate your command with your dog.
You can learn more about body language training in the free workshop, “How Your Dog Can Become As Obedient As a Service Dog. There, you’ll learn the best training process from the dog trainer, Dr. Alexa Diaz, Ph.D. in animal behavior, lead animal behaviorist at the K9 Training Institute,
House Training Sessions
House training, or potty training, is one of the first things to work on with your pup. To begin, you’ll want to find a big enough crate for your dog to stand up and turn around.
The right size crate will help with potty training because dogs don’t typically soil the area where they sleep. This controlled space allows them to go through unsupervised periods without letting them sneak off and use the bathroom in your house.
Create a Schedule
Ideally, the following should be at the same time(s) each day:
Talk with all household members to ensure everyone will follow the same schedule. It may help to write it down or print it and place it where everyone can find it.
It’s important to note that small puppies cannot fully control their bladder until they’re about five months old. Generally speaking, a young puppy can hold their bladder for an hour each month of age.
So, as time goes on, you can extend the time between potty breaks.
Encourage Outside
When potty training your puppy, encourage them to go outside by repeating the same word or phrase like “go potty.” Use a phrase that you won’t use in any other situation. Once your dog does their business, repeat the term to help instill it.
As you and your puppy become acquainted, you’ll start to recognize the signs your pup is about to poop or pee. When they show their signal that they’re about to go, use the phrase beforehand rather than waiting until they start.
After they do their business, offer a treat that your dog enjoys. Only reward once, and ensure it’s the exact moment they’re going. Otherwise, your dog may think you’re rewarding them for going outside.
Once your dog gets the hang of things, you can use an encouraging phrase like “good potty” rather than offering a treat.
Crate Training Dogs and Puppies
Some people use crates as a punishment, which is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a pet parent. If you had a dog growing up who hated going to their crate, they likely didn’t receive the proper training.
Your dog should view their crate as a safe space when its environment is overwhelming. It can take time for your dog to get used to its crate, but once they do, it’ll enjoy being in it.
Additionally, crate training can help prevent your dog from chewing items in your house. The crate gives them a space where they can go while you do household chores or other activities.
Introduce Your Dog to Their Crate
Before leaving your pup in a crate, you’ll want to familiarize them with it. Choose a location in your home where family members spend most of their time, like the living room.
Add a soft blanket or pet bed to their crate. At first, keep the door off or propped open so your dog can explore the crate whenever they like. Some dogs will quickly explore their crates and may even begin sleeping in them regularly.
Feed Your Dog in the Crate
Dogs are food motivated, so feeding them in the crate can create a positive association with it. Feed them each meal in the crate until they’re comfortable being there.
The first few times you feed them, you may want to close the door while they eat. Then, open the door as soon as they finish. Leave the door closed a few minutes longer each time until they remain in the crate for about 10 minutes after eating.
If your dog whines, it may indicate that you increased the time too quickly. Try to leave them in the crate for a shorter time after their next feeding.
Practice Leaving Dog in the Crate For Longer Periods
Once your dog finishes their food and relaxes in its crate without showing any signs of anxiety, you can begin keeping them in there for small chunks of time when you’re at home. It can help to leave a few toys in there with them.
Vary the moment you put your dog in the crate during your “about to leave” routine. Try to keep them there between 5-20 minutes before leaving.
While it can be challenging, avoid emotional or prolonged departures. Praise your pup for getting in their crate, offer a treat, and quietly leave. Similarly, you want to act relaxed when you get home.
Continue to crate your dog for short periods while you’re home to avoid them associating their crate with being left alone.
Consider Crating at Night
Because puppies often need to urinate during the night, crate training while you’re asleep can be a good idea. Although it’ll help them hold it, you’ll still want to take them out if they whine at night.
Keep their crate within earshot. Older dogs should also be near you at night so they don’t associate the crate with isolation.
Once your pup sleeps comfortably in its crate at night, you can gradually move it if you like. However, spending time with your dog strengthens your bond, even if you’re asleep.
Leash Training Dogs and Puppies
Every dog should have leash training, even if you have a backyard. You’ll need to leash your dog at some point, like taking them to the park or other public places.
Your dog should ideally walk on a loose leash. You’ll need to train your dog not to pull or lunge, making it a more positive experience for you.
Here is the best method for leash training:
Basic Dog Commands
There are basic dog commands that every dog should know, including speak, drop, come, and stay. Not only does the command training process make your life easier, but it offers your dog essential mental stimulation.
Begin obedience training in a quiet, indoor area. Choose one word or a simple phrase for each of the basic commands. Choose a hand gesture to use along with the words to enhance learning.
Dogs understand body language more than verbal cues, so choosing a specific gesture for each command is more effective than saying the phrase alone.
Advanced Dog Training
Once mastering the basics, many dogs learn more complex behaviors more easily. Advanced dog training helps keep your dog mentally stimulated and strengthens your bond.
Training is an ongoing process that you’ll continue throughout your life. Like humans, if your dog doesn’t get enough practice, it may forget some of what they’ve learned. It’s essential to continue obedience training throughout their life. Plus, it’s a great way to bond with your pet.
Struggling To Train Your Dog?
Training a dog can be a lot of work, especially for new owners. Thankfully, some tools can help you turn your “average” dog into a pet that behaves similarly to a service animal.
My dog is a stubborn breed, so I tried everything to train him. One of the best training tools I’ve come across is a free workshop, “How Your Dog Can Become As Obedient As a Service Dog.” Of everything I’ve tried and the methods I’ve used, the tools in this workshop work the best.
Most dog training videos were relatively basic and didn’t have what I needed to train Petey. They evolve their training models and continually improve, so I tried it.
Most workshops start with commands like “sit” and leave out some behavioral issues like excessive barking or jumping on people.
Additionally, the K9 Training Institute teaches non-aggressive training techniques and doesn’t leave you reliant on treats. This is key because most dogs, as my own did, will begin acting tenacious once you don’t offer them a snack as a reward.
Check out the free workshop and learn how your dog can become as obedient and calm as a service dog.
Breed Specific Training
When we talk about how smart a dog is, what we are really asking is how trainable it is. Since each dog breed is different and has its own personalized traits some are easier to train then others. This means that each dog breed will need to be trained in a different manner. Here are some of our top breed specific trainings:
