90 Tips And Techniques


For Training Man’s Best Friend



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1. General Dog Training Tips

2. Housebreaking Advice

3. The Basic Commands

4. Stopping Undesirable Behaviors

5. Teaching Your Dog Tricks
General Dog Training Tips

1. Concentrate on what your dog is doing right. Professional dog trainers
everywhere tell their students to reward their dogs when they do
something right. This “positive training” method is in contrast to
training that centers on punishment. Trainers recommend that owners
praise and reward their dogs with treats and affection for good
behavior instead of just scolding them for bad behavior.


2. Be proactive and keep your dog from behaving badly in the first place.
One of the most important tips that a professional dog trainer will
tell his or her students is that good behavior is not just the
responsibility of the dog. The owner must make every effort to avoid
giving the dog the ability to engage in bad behavior while they are
still learning the ropes. For example, if you notice that your dog
likes to chew, it’s important to make sure that everyone in the home
puts their shoes behind closed closet doors to remove temptation.


3. Stop saying NO! One of the biggest mistakes that people make when
training their dogs is saying NO without giving the dog an explanation
of some type. Dogs, much like children, will become confused with a
simple command of NO! Here’s what you should do instead. If your dog
is stealing the cat’s food, tell him NO and then gently guide him to
his own food dish. Or, if your dog is chewing on a table leg tell him
NO and give him rawhide or another toy on which he can chew. Once your
dog begins to actually use the new behavior, reward him with treats,
toys and praise.


4. Learn the difference between boredom and separation anxiety. It is
important to determine whether your dog is misbehaving when you leave
home because he is bored, or because he is experiencing a case of
separation anxiety. Figuring out why your dog is engaging in bad
behaviors is usually the quickest way to combat the problem. If
boredom seems to be the issue, you can probably keep your dog from
destroying your house during alone time by providing him a toy stuffed
with treats or something else that will help exercise his mind a
little. If separation anxiety is the problem, you will need to learn
ways to desensitize your dog to not only your absence, but also your
“preparing to leave” routine.


5. Consider trying clicker training. Clicker training is a relatively new
technique in the dog training world and involves the owner using a
specific sound to indicate to their dog that a particular behavior is
acceptable or desired. The owner will repeat the “click” and then
reward their dog for his or her good behavior. The positive feedback
will encourage the dog to repeat the good behavior.


6. Be patient, persistent and consistent. These three behaviors on the
part of an owner will develop similar behaviors in a dog. Patience
means that you understand that learning new behaviors may take some
time and a lot of practice and repetition. Persistence means that
you, as the owner, do not give up when training does not seem to be
going well. Consistent means that your dog knows what to expect from
you. For example, if you always say NO when your dog is misbehaving,
they learn to recognize NO as a sign of disapproval. Conversely, if
you only give treats for good behavior, your dog will learn to
recognize such positive feedback.


7. Start early. As soon as you get a dog, you should begin training in
some capacity. If you are getting a late start, it may take some time
to catch up. The key to remember is that training is often nothing
more than reversing bad habits and behaviors. If your dog is young,
they haven’t had a chance to develop a significant number of these bad
behaviors and training will be simple. With an older dog, you really
have to unteach everything the dog knows about behavior and start to
reteach behaviors that you find acceptable.


8. Be kind and gentle for best results. An owner who constantly punishes
his or her dog for bad behaviors is bound to be a lot less successful
than an owner who is gentle and kind, rewarding his or her dog for
acceptable behaviors. Consider offering your dog plenty of praise,
and be gentle when redirecting his attention from a bad behavior to
one that is more acceptable to you.


9. Have reasonable expectations. For example, if your dog misbehaves at
home you are wise to expect that he will misbehave at the dog park or
in the yard. Therefore, if your dog is having trouble paying
attention to your commands you will want to make sure to keep him on a
leash when outside. If your dog jumps on people in the house, expect
that he will be rough with other dogs. You can reverse these
behaviors through positive training, but you need to realize that bad
behaviors will most likely continue regardless of the circumstances
until they have been unlearned by your dog.


10. Always enforce your commands. If you give commands, but do not enforce
them, your dog will learn that there is no reason to listen to you.
On the other hand, if you back up your commands with reinforcement he
will quickly learn that you mean business. For example, if you tell
your dog to sit and he ignores you, gently push him into the desired
position and praise him. Always praise good behavior as a means of
enforcing your commands.


11. Use the ONE command rule. Only give your dog each command one time.
If you want your dog to sit, tell him SIT! If your dog decides to
ignore the command the first time, gently place him into the sit
position and then praise him. Do this with every command, so that
your dog doesn’t think that your commands are optional. Stick to the
ONE command rule, and your dog will quickly learn to take your
commands seriously.


12. Clearly define your commands. If you expect your dog to follow
commands, then it is imperative that he understands what it is that
you want him to do. For example, if you are trying to teach him to sit
you will only confuse him if one time you use the command SIT and the
next time SIT DOWN. If he’s confused he’ll most likely just ignore
you. And this can lead to a vicious cycle. So, pay attention to the
commands you are teaching and don’t confuse your dog by being
inconsistent.


13. Teach your dog to read your tone. Tone is just as important as the
actual command that you are giving. Therefore, try to always use a
consistent tone when issuing a command. Yelling a command will be
less effective than just using a firm and authoritative tone. Pick a
tone, and stick with it. Your dog will begin to recognize that tone,
and respond to what you are telling him more effectively.


14. Analyze stubbornness. If you find that your dog is stubborn and does
not want to listen to your commands, there may be a simple
explanation. Look for signs to see whether you are giving commands
that your dog understands, whether your dog knows what to do when they
hear a certain command and whether the command is creating an
uncomfortable feeling in your dog. Most likely, you need to simply
repeat training for a specific command and make your dog feel more
comfortable through rewards and praise.


15. Never use your dog’s name in anger. You should try to reprimand your
dog without using his name so that there is no negative association
with the name itself. When you praise your dog, call him by name so
that the dog responds happily when he is called by name. You may find
that simply using the dog’s name will get him to come to you eagerly
in just a short period of time.


16. Earn the respect of your dog. If you hit or scream at your dog, he
will quickly lose respect for you. And instead of becoming a loving
companion, will become reserved and fearful. Therefore, be sure to
avoid training when you are in a bad mood and avoid negative
reinforcement whenever possible. Staying upbeat will make your dog
more willing to do whatever it is that you expect from him and help
the two of your form a good relationship.


17. Never use a training technique that is not natural and comfortable for
you. If you are using a technique that does not come naturally, your
dog will sense your hesitation as quickly as he will sense fear or
anxiety. This can lead to your dog ignoring any commands given and
cause frustration for both of you. Therefore, work to find techniques
that you understand and feel comfortable with before starting to train
your dog.


18. Consider an obedience training class. There is no shame in asking for
help with training your dog. Some people are simply not equipped to
train their dog on their own, either due to a lack of patience,
inexperience or not enough knowledge. Investigate different obedience
training classes in your area and sit in on a few to determine whether
or not they might work for you.


19. Consider a training club. Some kennel associations offer training
clubs to their members and the general public. These groups will
often allow member access to professional trainers, and the knowledge
of other members. Some breeds are more difficult to train than
others, and having this type of resource available may be an excellent
asset to your own training program.


20. Learn about your dog’s breed. Different dog breeds may respond better
to different methods of training. Dogs of different sizes may also
require different types of training. For example, if you have a small
terrier who likes to jump it is less dangerous to all involved than if
you have a St. Bernard that weighs in at 150 pounds who likes to jump!
You will need to concentrate on different areas with different breeds
and sizes of dogs, and knowing what to expect is half of the battle.


21. See yourself as the team leader during training. You are not the only
one responsible for successful training sessions. If you see yourself
and your dog as a team in training, you will be much more successful
than if you assume the burden of all responsibility. You need to be
aware of everything that goes on during training, because you are the
leader. However, realize that your dog must be a willing participant
for training to succeed.


22. Remain calm and relaxed. Your dog will sense fear, anger and anxiety.
Therefore, in order to be effective you must stay calm. Issue commands
in an authoritative voice and be firm and consistent to keep your
dog’s attention. Any behavior on your part that is out of the ordinary
will keep him from staying focused and reduce the effectiveness of
your training efforts.


23. Be consistent. If you aren’t serious about wanting your dog to
perform or stop a specific action, then do not issue the command.
Otherwise, you are going to teach your dog that you only mean what you
say some of the time. This will lead to confusion on your dog’s part
and frustration on yours. It’s much easier to only issue commands that
you will enforce.


24. Recognize and respect your dog’s needs. Just like people, you will
find that when a dog’s basic needs are not being met he will misbehave
more often. Be sure that you are providing quality food, plenty of
water, constructive socialization with people and other pets, adequate
shelter and safety and lots of exercise. When these needs are met,
teaching your dog the basics will be much easier.


25. Practice, practice, practice. Practice makes perfect, isn’t that what
your mom always said? Well, dog training is no exception! If you’re
going to work on training your dog, make sure that you practice
consistently for several 5-10 minute intervals throughout the day.
Focus on practicing one skill at a time until your dog has mastered it
and then move on to something new. Be sure to revisit already learned
tricks and behaviors regularly though so they are not forgotten.


26. Expose your dog, slowly over time, to different situations. It is
critical to emphasize to your dog that you expect him to behave
consistently regardless of his surroundings. One of the best ways to
do this is to socialize with your dog. Introduce him to new people and
other animals (dogs, cats, etc.) so that he learns to be social. Take
him into unfamiliar surroundings whenever feasible so that he learns
that regardless of where he is you are still there and in charge. This
will allow you to have more effective control, and will alleviate
anxiety caused by unfamiliar people and surroundings that can lead to
misbehavior in the future.


27. Find out what works. Not every child learns the same way, and not
every dog learns the same way. Therefore, you should attempt to use
different training techniques until your find one that you are
comfortable with, and that works with your particular dog. The
general rule to remember is that if a technique isn’t working after a
week, you should try something else.


28. Remember that training should not be harsh. Harsh training will make
your dog mean – and afraid. You definitely don’t want either of these
situations, so try to always focus on the positive and to reward good
work with treats and praise. If you punish your dog for a bad
behavior, he will stop doing that behavior temporarily. But, if you
replace a bad behavior with a rewarding behavior there is a higher
likelihood that you will end up with a well-behaved dog.


29. Use a short leash for training purposes. Leashes come in many
different lengths, some reach up to 100 feet or more. However, when
you are training your dog, you should always use a leash that is
around 6 foot long and comes with a loop that you can slip your hand
through, wrapping it around your fingers to ensure that the dog
doesn’t get away from you. When your dog is on your left side, keep
the leash in front of you with the loop around your right hand. This
will help you to keep the leash short and to maintain control.


30. Start early and keep at it. The most effective time to train any dog
is when they are a young puppy. However, if you are training an older
dog, it is best to begin as soon as possible in order to teach your
dog to obey you. Also, it is important to keep at your training
efforts until your dog masters all of the commands that you may issue.
Training is a commitment that must be entered into seriously,
otherwise you may find yourself right back where you started.


31. Familiarize yourself with your dog’s parents. If possible, try to
spend time with the parents of your dog. Sometimes this is not
possible, but when it is an option there is a lot to be learned. By
watching the behaviors of the parents, you will be able to spot
similarities and potential problems that should be addressed before
they become an issue. A good example of what might be a potential
problem is aggression. If you notice that your dog comes from two
aggressive parents, know that there is probably a genetic
predisposition to aggression and consider professional obedience
training in this situation.


32. Hire a professional. Sometimes people have the best of intentions when
they get a new dog, however time and other responsibilities may make
it impossible to train a new dog adequately in even the basics of good
behavior. Consider a professional dog trainer in your area if you
don’t have the time or experience to train your dog properly.


33. Do not leave your dog alone for long periods. When your dog is in
training, it is important that he never be left alone for long periods
of time. Otherwise, you will be unable to provide necessary
reinforcement for good behaviors and to divert the dog’s attention for
negative behaviors. This can result also in boredom or anxiety, which
will definitely lead to destructive behaviors. So, if you are leaving
your dog alone, place him in an appropriate sized crate in order to
keep momentum with training and to protect your home while you are
away.


34. Teach your dog that nothing in life is free. This interesting training
program is best used after basic commands like sit, down and leave it
have been learned. The goal is to stop your dog from being
disobedient by reinforcing who is in charge. For example, if your dog
senses that you have a treat, make him sit before you give it to him.
And, if he gets excited when it’s walk time make him lie down until
you put on his leash. Never give in – if your dog doesn’t do what you
command, you should not give him the reward he seeks. By using this
technique, you will be reinforcing the basic obedience commands and
showing who is boss at the same time.


35. Find out what makes your dog tick. One of the best ways to start
training your dog is to figure out what motivates him. Some dogs are
more motivated by treats, while others prefer extra lap time. When you
know what makes your dog happy, you can use that as motivation for
good behavior and also as a reward for a successful training session.
This is a commonly used practice by professional dog trainers, and
although it may take some time to get a handle on what makes your dog
tick, it is definitely the road to successful training.


36. Establish pack structure early on. The sooner your dog realizes that
it is you, and not him, that leads your pack – the better off you will
be. Establish boundaries for your dog from the beginning by placing
him into a crate during initial training and by always using a leash
when outside. Let him know that you will give the commands and he
will obey them. You need to establish trust between yourself and your
dog so that he understands from the beginning that you will not hurt
him and that he does not need to fear you.


37. Use an invisible fence. An invisible fence can be used to mark the
border of your yard, or to border the area where your dog is allowed
within the yard. An invisible fence is a great way to train your dog
to stay on your property when he is outside, because it will deter him
every time he gets near the boundary. The problem is that should your
dog get out he will also be deterred from getting back in. If you do
use an invisible fence, remember that other animals and people will
not be able to sense the presence of the invisible fence. So be sure
to clearly mark your yard to keep people from crossing the fence until
you are sure that your dog will not attack anyone that he views as an
invader.


38. Determine the ground rules before you begin training. One of the
common hang ups that people experience with dog training is not
deciding in advance which behaviors they will or will not tolerate.
For example, some people will let their new puppy nap on the sofa but
decide later that they don’t want dog hair on the furniture. They
then need to re-train their dog that getting onto the sofa is not
allowed. Make a list of the behaviors you don’t want to see, and you
will have a better idea of where to begin. It is always ok to reverse
a behavior, but is easier for you and your dog if you set the rules at
the beginning and don’t change them in the middle of the game.


39. Train your dog to be less sensitive. Dogs can have many of the same
fears as humans, and part of your training efforts should be
concentrated on teaching your dog how to handle fear and anxiety. A
good example is thunder. Many dogs are afraid of the loud noise for
which they cannot locate a source. If you are able, purchase a CD
with thunder noises and play it in the background while you are in the
home with your dog. When the dog starts to get anxious, tell him NO
and redirect his attention. Until you are certain that you have
desensitized your dog, be sure to place your dog in a crate so that he
is contained whenever there are loud noises.


40. Stick to small time intervals when training. Dogs do not have long
attention spans, and they tire quickly of the same activities.
Therefore, for effective training you should break up your sessions
into 5-10 minute intervals throughout the day. You can work on one
command for a few minutes and then play with your dog for a while.
After a break for water and a quick nap, you can start again with a
second command or maybe even work on leash-training. Don’t expect to
train your dog in a weekend – or you will only end up frustrated with
a completely confused dog!


41. Be aware of the importance of timing. Dogs are not like children. If
you punish a dog just minutes after a bad behavior – chances are that
they will never make a connection between the punishment and that
behavior. You need to catch your dog in the act of an unacceptable
behavior if you want to correct what he did wrong.


42. Define training for yourself first. If you are going to be a
successful trainer for your dog, you need to know in advance what
training means to you. What are your goals? Do you want a perfectly
behaved show dog, or would you be satisfied if your dog learned to
come when you call him? There is no definitive answer for what
training means – it’s a matter of preference that only you can define.
But, make the decision before you begin so that you know what your own
expectations are.


43. Know the non-verbal commands that you are giving as well as the
verbal. When you are training your dog, he will pick up on more than
just the commands you issue verbally. Some astute dogs will learn that
a hand to the left means – go left. Others may assume that because
you are grumpy when you tell them to sit, they will be the object of
your wrath should they listen to you. Training is about action and
reward. If you give your dog non-verbal clues and commands, it is
likely that they will develop a response. Therefore, pay attention to
your posture, tone of voice and attitude during training sessions.


44. Feed your dog only at scheduled times. House breaking is dependent on
a schedule. It is imperative that a young dog be given food three
times each day at the same time, and that the food is left available
for only 10-20 minutes or so. After time is up, remove the food and
take your dog outside. In between feedings may lead to accidents, and
free-feeding will definitely lead to accidents. Therefore, increase
your chances of successful house breaking and keep your dog healthier
by feeding only at the times you have scheduled.


45. Remember that the key to a well-behaved dog is giving him plenty of
exercise. If you don’t make sure that your dog gets plenty of
exercise, you are letting your dog down and possibly setting the stage
for aggression and misbehavior due to boredom. When you give your dog
a lot of exercise, he will be tired and spend time resting. If your
dog is not tired, he will get bored and have to look for ways to
entertain himself. Unfortunately, that could mean chewing, chasing
other animals or barking and howling.


46. Maintain eye contact. Dogs cannot learn properly if they are not
focused on your commands. During training sessions, make sure you have
your dogs attention at all times and that you’re making eye contact.
Using hand signals rather then verbal commands is a good way to ensure
that your dog will be focused on you.





Housebreaking Advice


47. Housebreak your dog. The best way to housebreak a dog is to take him
outside after every meal. You should not play with your dog outside
until he has relieved himself, so that he learns why he is being taken
outside. If after about ten minutes, he has not relieved himself you
should take him inside and place him in his crate for 10 minutes or so
and then repeat the process. It should not take very long for him to
get the idea, especially if you have a very young dog.


48. Watch for signs when housebreaking a dog. Dogs are fairly consistent
in their behaviors, and by simply watching a dog outside before he
relieves himself, you can get valuable information that will make
housebreaking easier. For example, if your dog always walks in a
circle before relieving himself it is important to recognize this
behavior and to take the dog outside as soon as you notice it. This
will help you to get to know your dog’s behaviors, and help make
housebreaking easier.


49. Consistency is key when housebreaking a dog. When you are
housebreaking a dog, there are several things that you can do to make
the process easier. First, stay outside with your dog as much as you
possibly can, so that he becomes comfortable with his surroundings.
Second, take your dog outside immediately after he eats or drinks and
try to keep him outside until he relieves himself. Reward him for the
good behavior and go back inside. If you would prefer that your dog
use a specific area in your yard, you need to take him outside on a
leash until he begins to use that area without prompting.


50. Crate training will make housebreaking a dog easier. Unless your dog
has a medical condition that makes it impossible, most dogs will
refuse to soil the area where they sleep. If you place your dog in a
crate while you sleep or are away from home, there is little chance
that you will return to find the crate soiled. Therefore, when
housebreaking your dog, keep him in the crate unless he is out to eat,
drink or play. Immediately after the designated activity, take the
dog outside to relieve himself. Reward successes, and praise your dog
and show affection before returning him to the crate. After a while,
you will be able to extend the non-crated time and see less accidents
than if you hadn’t used the crate.





The Basic Commands


51. Train your dog to heel. Getting your dog to walk right by your side is
important for your dog’s safety. Most people try to use a leash,
pulling the dog forward to get him to heel. However, using a treat is
a more effective technique. Stand next to your dog, holding a treat
in your hand at hip level on the same side as the dog. Take three
steps, saying “heel” one time as you do so. If your dog has noticed
the treat, he will most likely automatically follow your command.
Repeat for 5-10 minutes each day, making sure that your dog is aware
of the treat. Give your dog the treat, and offer a huge amount of
praise for successful training sessions.


52. Teaching your dog the “Leave It” command. This is probably one of most
important things that you will ever teach your dog, because it is a
command that can protect his safety. Issuing this command should
divert the dog’s attention from whatever has caught his eye, be it
furniture or rotted food on the road. The best way to teach your dog
the leave it command is to simply use it to get his attention, and
then to offer a distraction. You will need to work on this command
for some time in different circumstances until your dog realizes that
this command means to stop whatever he is doing and to look to you for
what he should do next.


53. Teaching a dog to come to you. First-time dog owners often become
frustrated when they say COME and their new dog stands there looking
at them. Unfortunately, dogs do not understand commands
instinctively. A good way to start teaching the come command is to
say COME any time you see your dog moving in your direction. Then
heavily praise him for coming to you, even though he was doing this
anyway and not necessarily in response to your command. Teaching your
dog to come to you in this manner makes training less intense and is
very rewarding for both you and your dog.


54. Teach your dog to sit. Sit is usually the first command that people
want to teach their new dog. However, you might want to consider
getting your dog to come to you first, and then teaching them the sit
command before issuing the reward. Instead of simply pushing down on
the dog’s rear end, consider placing one hand on his lower back and
one hand under his chest. Then, say “sit” while simultaneously
applying downward pressure on the back and upward pressure on the
chest. Reward your dog with treats and plenty of praise for sitting
on command.


55. Train your dog to take a walk with you. Many people seem to believe
that it is natural for a dog to walk on a leash with its owner.
However, walking a dog requires training first! You must teach your
dog to heel, or stay by your side. And, you must teach him that it is
never ok to pull the leash and try to break away from you. It is
important to walk your dog, so that he gets plenty of exercise and
socialization. However, unless you take the time to train him properly
first you will end up frustrated and will definitely not enjoy your
time spent together.


56. Train your dog to lie down. The “down” command is one of the first
things that a professional trainer attempts with dogs. The most
effective method of coaxing a dog into the down position (where the
dog is lying on its belly) is to lure him to the ground with a treat,
or piece of food. While guiding the dog into position, issue the
command DOWN. After several practice sessions, your dog will be a pro
at this simple command.


57. Teach your dog to stay. Once you have taught your dog to sit, he will
be ready to learn to stay. Place your dog in the sit position, and
reward him with a treat. Now, place your hand in front of the dog’s
nose and say “stay”. Begin to back away with your hand still out.
Say “good” when your dog stays in place, and release the dog to come
to you for a reward in a few seconds. Each time you repeat this
successfully, make the time interval of staying longer until your dog
will stay on command for up to a minute. Always offer treats and
plenty of praise as a reward for a job well done. It is best to teach
your dog to stay in a quiet place, however you should alternate
practicing at home and in a dog park or other public area to reinforce
that stay means stay regardless of the surroundings.


58. Teach your dog to settle down. Younger dogs especially tend to get
wound up very easily - sometimes with no external stimulation.
Therefore, you are wise to teach your dog how to go to “time out”. Do
this by issuing the command PLACE or RELAX and your dog’s response
should be to go to the designated spot and to lie down until you call
him back. To teach this command, catch your dog when he is wound up
or pacing around incessantly. Put on his leash and allow him to
continue for a few moments. Then, issue the command and gently guide
him to the designated place, where you will place your foot over the
leash in order to keep him in place while he lies down. At first, you
may need to stay in position with your foot on the leash for 5 minutes
or more until he has calmed himself. Do not relent – you may need to
devote more time. After a few sessions of training this technique,
your dog will probably be more than willing to retreat to his time out
space for a few minutes upon your command.


59. Train your dog to let you wipe his paws before entering the house.
Dogs are different from people – they are rarely bothered by dirt or
mud on their paws. They also do not realize why you would prefer they
not leave mud streaks all over your new carpeting. Avoid problems by
getting your dog into the habit of sitting near the entrance door on a
mat or towel until you have issued a command of INSIDE. But, before
you issue that command take the time to wipe each of his paws of all
dirt and mud.





Stopping Undesirable Behaviors


60. Replace bad habits with good habits through reinforcement. If it
annoys you that every time someone comes to visit, your dog jumps all
over them, you need to find some other way for your furry friend to
greet guests. Start by determining what you would like your dog to
do. Maybe you would prefer that he come and site by your side when
people arrive. Then work on teaching your dog to sit, and reward him
heavily with praise and treats when he does. With this technique, you
are teaching your dog a new habit to replace the bad behavior that you
want to break by replacing the bad behavior with something that brings
praise and rewards.


61. Interrupt bad behavior and show your dog how you want him to behave.
Catching your dog in the act is one of the best opportunities for
correcting bad behavior. Interruption is a great technique that
involves interrupting a bad action by getting your dog’s attention.
Yelling “stop!” in a low pitch voice is usually enough to divert
attention to you. At that point, gently show him what you would like
him to do instead. And, don’t’ forget to reward the dog for good
behavior when he does it!


62. Make sure that your puppy is not biting during play. Playing is a
puppy’s favorite activity. But invariably they get too wound up and
occasionally someone will be nipped by those pointy puppy teeth.
Obviously, biting is something that you will want to stop as soon as
possible. Instead of punishing your dog for biting by yelling or
putting him in timeout – just simply stop playing with him and ignore
his pleas for more play for 5-10 minutes. Then, resume playing and
giving him lots of positive feedback for good play. This will help to
end the biting habit before it becomes a problem.


63. Catch your dog in the act of misbehaving. Correcting a dog well after
they have done something bad is completely useless. Unless you are
able to stop the dog in the middle of the behavior, chances are that a
reprimand will have little meaning to him. Whenever possible, catch
the dog in the act and redirect his behavior to one that you prefer.
This simple step will help your dog to become well-behaved much faster
than a series of reprimands for behaviors they did some time in the
past.


64. Realize that even negative attention can reinforce a negative
behavior. Often times dogs misbehave to get your attention. When you
overreact with negative attention you may actually be “rewarding” your
dog with the attention he seeks. A better strategy is to ignore the
negative behavior and to redirect the dog to something more positive.
Then, praise heavily to reward him.


65. Train your dog NOT to chew on furniture. Chewing is one of the
problems that is universal for dog owners. It is more common for
puppies to chew than older dogs; however the effects on furniture are
very much the same. To stop a dog from chewing you will need to catch
him in the act, and divert his attention to a dog toy or other item
that you don’t mind him chewing. When he stops chewing the furniture,
reward him with a treat and a lot of praise so that he begins to see
chewing the appropriate object as a rewarding experience. Never punish
your dog for chewing, as anxiety and fear will almost always make
chewing habits worse instead of better.


66. Train your dog NOT to bark. Barking is completely natural for a dog,
and some breeds are more “talkative” than others. However, to save
your sanity and the sanity of everyone around you, it’s important to
stop your dog from barking excessively. When your dog starts barking
tell him “good work” for alerting you. If a problem is not
immediately noticeable, tell your dog BE QUIET while putting a treat
in front of his nose. When the barking stops, wait a few seconds and
allow your dog to have the treat. The next time you repeat this, make
the wait time longer. If your dog begins to bark again, repeat the BE
QUIET and start over. You will find that your dog will bark only when
necessary after repeating this many times.


67. Train your dog to never beg when people are eating. One of the most
annoying things about visiting people with dogs is having the little
critter beg for food the entire time you’re eating. As a dog owner you
need to pay special attention to this behavior. There are many
methods for keeping a dog from begging at the table, but the most
effective is to simply ignore the dog entirely while you are eating.
You should also offer the dog a toy filled with treats that come out
during play, while you are eating. During the training phase, this
will keep your dog distracted and keep him from begging at the table.
After you’ve finished eating, take your dog away from the table, and
offer him a treat and praise for good behavior.


68. If you have children, realize that the responsibility does not lie
entirely with your dog. In most cases where an otherwise well behaved
dog bites a child, it is because the child somehow harmed the dog,
which prompted a defensive move like biting. Therefore, when you have
a dog and children together in the same home there needs to be just as
much training for the children as there does for the dog. Teach your
children from a very young age what is and is not appropriate behavior
towards your dog. Do not allow small children to climb on, hit, pull
or otherwise threaten your dog in the same way that you teach your dog
not to growl or bite.


69. Train your dog to stop barking unnecessarily. When your dog is
outside, does he bark continuously at everything that moves? If you
want to stop this behavior, consider a bark-control collar. This handy
device issues tones for both approval and disapproval from a special
collar that can be controlled from a distance. You will find that the
feedback mechanism will quickly help your dog to become independent
enough to be left alone outside without constant supervision.


70. Training a dog not to bite. It is very important to never let your dog
put his teeth on you intentionally. This will also protect you from
having it happen accidentally. Anytime your dog (especially if he is
a puppy) opens his mouth to chew on you, grab his snout and say NO
BITE! If this doesn’t work, you should also try tapping his nose at
the same time. The goal is not to frighten the dog, but to get the
message across.


71. Teach your dog not to run outside every time the door is opened. This
is a common problem and can be best alleviated by simply teaching your
dog that he is not to go through the door until you tell him OUTSIDE.
This will take time, but when you are taking your dog out tell him
OUTSIDE as you pass through the door. Then, praise him for the good
behavior. If he tried to run through the door and you haven’t issued
the command, use the LEAVE IT command to distract his attention away
from the door.


72. If your dog has a problem with aggression, start from the beginning.
If you are experiencing problems with an aggressive dog, it is
probably time to reassert your position of authority. A good way to do
so is to start with the basics of obedience. Aggression that is not
the result of a physical or mental issue can almost always be turned
around once the dog realizes that you are in charge.


73. Train your dog not to chew on your belongings. In the beginning, the
responsibility is completely yours. The rule is simple. If you don’t
want it chewed, put it out of reach of your dog. And, don’t confuse
your dog by offering him an old shoe to chew on. Dogs do not know the
difference between your old shoes and your NEW shoes. They simply
recognize your scent and assume that it is ok to chew on items like
this that carry your scent. The same does for socks, stuffed animals,
eyeglasses and even remote controls.


74. Train your dog not to dig in the yard. Dogs like to dig holes for a
variety of reasons. If you spend time outside watching your dog, you
will quickly determine if your dog is a digger and why he might be
doing this. One reason that dogs will dig holes is to find a cool
spot for a nap. Perhaps you need to create a shady spot for your dog
to lie, or perhaps you need to show him where the cooler spots are.
The key is to catch your dog in the act of digging, and to issue the
STOP command. Then gently guide your dog to a cooler spot for his nap
and reward him.


75. Train your dog not to dig under fences. Some dogs will try to dig
their way out of confinement. If you have a fence around your lawn,
watch your dog to make sure that he is not going to try to escape. If
you see him starting to dig under a fence, you need to interrupt him
in the process and divert his attention with a toy or other activity.
Then, issue rewards for his good behavior instead of punishing the
negative behavior.


76. Train your dog not to bury things in the yard. Most dogs will hide
their possessions by instinct. One of the ways to hide things is to
bury them in the lawn. If you would prefer that your dog not dig in
the backyard, the best way to stop this behavior is to not allow
treats and other items that are chewed or eaten outside of the house.
Dogs will rarely try to bury toys, so allow those playthings outside
instead.


77. Train your dog not to steal food. Training your dog not to beg at the
dinner table is not enough. It is important for you to be able to
place food on a coffee table or counter without having it “stolen” by
your dog. Therefore, start early by placing a piece of food on a
table in front of you. The second that your dog notices the food, he
will make his way over to investigate. Issue the STOP command or DOWN
command in order to interrupt him. Then reward him with a toy or
praise when he has left the food. Repeat this often, and once you are
confident that your dog will not take the food with you watching,
leave the room and watch from a doorway. Repeat the same process if
your dog moves toward the unguarded food. This technique takes time,
but unless you want to find your dinner tossed onto the floor and
being eaten by your pet – it is a good practice to start early.
During the training, be sure to never give your dog human food, or to
leave food unattended unnecessarily.





Teaching Your Dog Tricks


78. Teach your dog to shake hands. A neat trick that is easy to teach and
easy to learn is shaking hands. To teach your dog this trick, get him
into a sitting position and say “shake” as you reach down and take his
paw and gently shake it. Repeat this many times, and reward your dog
for cooperating with praise. When your dog lifts his paw on command,
reward him with a treat and even more praise.


79. Teach your dog to wave. Waving is a simple trick that may require some
time for your dog to master. Place your dog in a sitting position,
and wave to him by simply lifting one hand. Then, give the command
“wave” while doing this and touching one of the dog’s paws with your
non-waving hand. Praise your dog for paying attention and reward him
with a treat when the trick is done correctly. Another way to get
your dog to lift his paw is to place a small sticker on the bottom of
one paw before issuing the wave command.


80. Teach your dog to roll over. Roll over is a fun dog trick that every
owner wants to teach. Get on the floor with your dog and coax him
onto one side. Then, give the command “roll over” while placing one
hand under the dog’s back and one on his tummy. Help him to roll over
while giving the command. Then, praise your dog for cooperating. If
your dog is large, you may instead get the dog on one side and use
food in front of the nose to coax the rollover. Give the dog the food
once the rollover is complete and offer praise. After a few days, your
dog will be rolling over with less, or no assistance and coaxing from
you. Be sure to reward this behavior very positively!


81. Teach your dog to catch. Catch is a fun game that you can play with
your dog for years to come. Teaching a dog to catch is actually quite
simple when you use food as the toy in the beginning. Stand in front
of your dog and say “catch” as you toss a treat to the dog. If the
treat is caught, allow your dog to eat it. If not, be fast and grab
the treat before your dog does. Repeat until the food is caught
successfully and always reward your dog with not only the treat, but a
large amount of praise as well. Move on to tossing a toy once your
dog is willingly catching the treats. Reward your dog with a treat
for catching the toy, and offer treats occasionally along with plenty
of praise.


82. Teach your dog to fetch. Fetch is a game that most dogs really enjoy.
You can teach your dog to fetch by throwing a ball for him to catch
and return to you. Throw the ball just past your dog and say “fetch”
as he goes after the ball. Once the ball has been caught, he will
want to play again and return the ball you. After your dog becomes
good at fetching the ball, move on to sticks and other objects.
Remember to always reward the return of the object with a treat and
plenty of praise.


83. Teach your dog to crawl. To teach your dog to crawl, you will need
several treats. Get your dog onto the floor, lying on his or her
tummy. Then, place your hand firmly on his or her back and place the
food on the floor a bit out of reach for your dog. Slowly move the
food away, while telling the dog to “crawl”. Your dog will
instinctively try to stand. Keep your hand in place and wiggle the
food a bit. Your dog will eventually crawl toward the food. Reward
your dog with the treat and an ample amount of praise. This trick can
take some time to learn, so be patient and keep working at it until he
will crawl on command. Always praise good behavior!


84. Teach your dog left from right. Believe it or not, it is possible to
teach your dog the difference between right and left. This is a cool
trick that is quite simple to teach through repetition. To teach this
trick, stand behind your dog and say “left” as you toss a treat or
ball to your left. Repeat this with left, until you only need to
issue the command, without tossing a clue. Reward your dog with heavy
praise and treats. Next, move on to “right” in the same way. Teach
one, and then the other so that your dog does not become confused.


85. Teach your dog to follow you. The command, “follow me” can be quite
powerful and is very rewarding for your dog. It is best to teach this
command without a leash whenever possible. The goal is to get your
dog to mimic your actions, so that if you walk left or right your dog
will follow you. To get your dog to do this, you simply need to
entice him or her with plenty of treats and lots of praise when they
follow the command.


86. Teach your dog to move from one side of you to the other. Keeping your
dog on a leash, and taking him or her for a walk is the first part of
this trick. With a pocketful of treats, you should be able to teach
your dog to switch sides in no time at all. Put your dog on your left
and a treat in your right hand. Place your right hand behind your back
to where your dog sees the treat and say “switch” as you pull the
treat, with the dog following, to your right side. Repeat, and have
your dog move to your left.


87. Train your dog to bark on command. Teaching your dog to bark on
command, using “bark” or “speak” can be a great way to teach him when
NOT to bark as well. To begin, familiarize your dog with the command
that you will use, and issue the command. When your dog barks, give
him a treat. Once he has mastered barking on command, you can issue a
QUIET command and reward him when he stops barking. It is best to
teach one command at a time, in order to avoid confusion and
frustration.


88. Train your dog to tell you when he needs to go outside. Dogs cannot
speak to us, so it is impossible to assume that we can read their
language without some training on both ends. Try this simple trick
and teach your dog how to alert you when it’s time to go outside.
Hang a bell from the door that you most frequently use to take your
dog outside, and every time you take him out have him bump the bell.
Then praise him heavily. There will quickly be an association between
the bell ringing and the door opening. After a week or so, you will
be surprised to hear the bell ringing and to see an anxious pup
sitting there ready to go outside.


89. Teach your dog to dance. No longer is dancing just for people! You
can very easily teach your dog to dance, alone or with you. When you
catch your dog jumping up, issue the command DANCE, and take his paws.
At that point, give your dog lots of praise and even a treat to
reward his good behavior. Because you are using this command to
redirect the dog’s attention from jumping there is little effort. Just
be consistent, and issue the DANCE command while taking your dog’s
paws and redirecting his actions to something positive. This is a
great way to keep your dog from jumping on guests at the front door.


90. Teach your dog to find something you have lost. This is a more
advanced trick that is often used with assistance animals. However,
it can come in quite handy for anyone. The idea is not to have your
dog find something specific, but instead to find anything with a human
scent. Take your dog outside and hide something like a shirt with
your scent on it. Tell your dog to find, and lead him in the
direction of where the shirt is hidden. After a while, you will no
longer have to lead the dog and you will find this handy the next time
you drop something outside.