4 Steps to Training a Dog
It seems like a challenge, right?
I mean, you teach your dog how to be a “good dog.” But what does that even mean? How long does it take? When does it start? How do you even do it?
I get it - there are so many possibilities and questions revolving around dog training that it can be really overwhelming. But let me be the first to tell you a secret: dog training is an everlasting endeavor. However, despite the time involved, it builds such an incredible relationship between you and your pup. You’ll finally get to know why dogs are labeled “man’s best friend!”
So there you have it, an answer to one of the questions: “How long does it take?” You’re going to be working on training for the remainder of your dog’s life. What does that mean? When you first get your pup, training will take up a big chunk of time and dedication. As your dog starts to learn what is good and bad, things start to fall in place. You get to a point where you really understand each other, then you get to enjoy maintenance (but don’t think it gets monotonous, you can make it as fun as you want!).
Hang in there, I have 4 steps on how to train your dog to do anything.
When do you start?
You can start as soon as you get your dog home. Have a puppy or a rescue? No need to wait until they get acclimated, the better you communicate with your dog, the better they can understand you, and work to make you happy.
Dog training comes down to a very simple concept: controlling the consequences of your dog’s behaviors. Consider when your parents used to say “Everything has a consequence.” These are very clear “If, then” situations. If I do something wrong, then I receive an unfavorable reaction. If I do something right, then I receive the best reaction.
When it comes to dog training, an “unfavorable reaction” does not have to be a roll of newspaper to the snout. Dogs are pretty simple in the fact that they do what works best for them. When they jump up, it’s because they get immediate attention that way. So an “unfavorable reaction” to the dog would be not getting the attention. If your dog is jumping up, turn your back to them or stare at the sky until they get off. Give them the attention only when they keep their paws on the ground. They will pretty quickly understand if they jump up, they get no attention. If they stay on the ground, they get attention.
4 Steps to Training a Dog
This is where we get to the questions of “How do I train my dog?” and “What does a ‘good dog’ mean?”
Step 1: Decide what you want your dog to do
You have to create a plan for what behaviors are acceptable, and what behaviors are unacceptable. Envision what kind of lifestyle you want to have with your dog, then write down the characteristics and behavior traits your dog will need. Most of the world expects every dog to know the five basic commands: sit, down, stay, come and heel/here. From there you can get more specific about what other behaviors you’d like your dog to have. Be careful not to plan for behaviors you don’t want. You can train a dog to do something, you can’t train them to do something that doesn’t exist. For example, you can train your dog to sit when people are at the door, but you can’t train them not to jump on people at the door.
Step 2: Make the Behavior
To make behaviors, you have to reinforce them. But to reinforce them, the behavior has to happen first. Some behaviors happen more often and come more easily to dogs than others. For example, you can teach sit and down relatively quickly, but walking on a loose leash can be a bit more challenging. Here are a few methods to getting dogs to do behaviors you want:
Environmental Barriers
This is a method of creating an environment that makes it easier for the dog to perform the desired behavior. You can use tools like gates, leashes, or walls to create the desired behavior. If you want your dog to stop jumping on people at the door, set up a baby gate that prevents your dog from getting to the door. Then you have your dog sit before they get to greet the person who is entering. If you want your dog to relieve themselves in a specific place in the yard, create a distinct spot with borders that doesn’t look like the rest of the yard. When it’s time to potty, put your dog on a leash, and walk them to their spot to do their business.
Lures
This method is most effective with treats, but you could use toys or other exciting items for your dog. Hold the treat in your hand, and guide their head in the direction you want them (where the head goes, the body follows). To ask your dog to sit: hold a treat in your closed hand, bring the treat to your dog’s nose, then lift it over their head between their ears. When the butt hits the floor, deliver the treat. This take a few tries to figure out the correct positioning for your dog, and the appropriate speed to move the treat. But it creates behaviors quickly.
Shaping
This is a very fun method of training for dogs, because it allows them to use their brain to figure out what you are asking. You hold treats in your hand, and you let your dog offer you behaviors like sit, down, paw, etc. When they guess the right behavior, they get the reward. Repeat a few times before changing the behavior. Dogs like to use their brains, and they like to please their humans; this could be a fun game for your dog to try to understand you better, and what you need from them. This method works best when they have already established behaviors you expect. You could use shaping as a long term maintenance game, or a way to get your dog working to please you.
Capture
This method works really well if it is difficult to lure your dog into the position, like a bow. When the behavior naturally occurs, you reward them for doing it. It can also be a great method for training puppies or dogs with super high energy that cannot focus well. When they naturally sit, or down, you reinforce with a treat and a “yes.” Soon your dog will understand they get rewards for doing something for you.
Step 3: Reinforce it
The more you reinforce a behavior, the more your dog will repeat it. All dogs are food motivated (if you think your dog isn’t, then you haven’t found the right treats). Use treats, affection, praise, and toys to reward for the good behavior. Before you deliver your reward, mark the behavior with a “yes” or a “good,” this way the dog knows the treat is coming for the behavior they created directly before the marker word. This is also where you can associate a word for the command. Some command words include: sit, stay, down, come, place, up, here/heel, bow, paw, speak, find it, etc. This is where you can be creative, and have fun teaching your dog tricks.
Step 4: Practicing
Now it all comes down to practice. It’s best to start in low distraction areas like at home, before moving to higher distraction areas like the park. Solidify the skill, then up the ante with more distractions. The more you practice, the quicker your dog will get the hang of the behaviors you’re expecting.
It’s more fun to keep the training sessions short so your dog doesn’t get bored. Start with sessions of 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and use some good treats that get your dog excited. If training treats don’t do the trick, you could try hot dogs, chicken, or cheese. And don’t forget to make it fun! The more you get excited about the good behaviors, the more your dog will want to perform them. Play some games, as mentioned in the “shaping” section.
Once your dog has gotten the hang of the behaviors you’re asking for, and they can be performed reliably in different locations, you can begin phasing out treats. This is when the dogs have learned these behaviors are acceptable, and the reward is praise. This is also when you can start to teach more tricks.
Your dog’s brain is similar to yours. Dogs love to make their people happy, and they love to learn. The reason why training never ends is because your dog is always looking for new behaviors to communicate better, and to have a greater bond with you. If you teach your dog how to communicate with you correctly, you’ll be a very happy dog owner, with a content and intelligent dog!
Most of the information in this blog is what I’ve learned from a book by Tamar Geller, “The Loved Dog,” and also from a blog from The Preventative Vet. Both sources are listed below, plus some extras if you are interested in other sources.
More Information:
“The Loved Dog” by Tamar Geller
https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/how-to-teach-your-dog-to-do-anything
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/dog-training-obedience-training-for-dogs
https://www.thesprucepets.com/six-weeks-to-a-well-trained-dog-1118224
Written By: Gabby St.Martin
Gabby is a dog walker and writer for Dog Tired Adventures. She loves being active, the great outdoors, and loving on her Doberman.