Think Like a Dog
Try to understand training from your dog’s point of view. Dogs live in the moment. What they did an hour or two ago is quickly forgotten—which is why operating in your dog’s perception of time, which consists of the last two minutes, is critical. This means that, if you are trying to stop negative behavior, do it right away. Bringing it up later is just confusing to your pet. For example, if you can, catch your pup in the act of going potty inappropriately. If you wait, you’re simply wasting your time thinking it’ll understand why you’re upset.
The Good and the Bad
Here’s a good question to ask yourself when training your dog: Are you rewarding the good behavior and never rewarding the bad behavior? While this may seem obvious, you need to be consistent with treats, praise, and toys for only good behavior to avoid ending up with a bewildered pet. This can happen when you offer a reward based on your emotions instead of the dog’s behavior. For example, allowing Fido on the couch “just this once” (when the house rules say “no dogs on the furniture”) because you’re too tired to deal with the situation will result in confusion and unsuccessful training. From a bad barking habit to jumping up on people to potty training—pay attention to when and how you reward. Only reward good behavior.
Enlist Some Help
From local animal shelters and YouTube videos to books by experts and referrals from your local vet—look to professionals to help with training. Explore the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, which encourages socialization and schooling for dogs to become well-behaved companions. Using tried and true methods can go a long way in helping you find training methods that work well with all dogs or with certain dog breeds.
You can also look to sound supplemental help with omega-3 fatty acids to support your dog’s cognitive function, behavior patterns, brain activity, memory recall, and balanced behavior. Seek out a supplement that’s also a chewy treat for your dog. Make sure it comes from a clean source like Atlantic salmon, with DHA and EPA attached to phospholipids for better absorption and added peptides. A supplement with these critical cell-building nutrients assures you of getting high-quality, pure, effective omega-3s while avoiding rancid or unstable fish oil products.
It’s never too early or too late to incorporate training into your dog’s life. All it takes is some time and tenderness to make your pet’s world better. So do your best friend a favor—commit to training.
5 Quick Training Tips!
- Positivity works. Yelling and anger doesn’t.
- Reward small steps. Don’t insist on perfection.
- Don’t overdo it. Start with small training sessions.
- Be consistent.
- Always give your dog adequate time and attention.