Tips for Training Your Dog

It’s Dog Trai ning Education Month! Training is absolutely crucial for Man’s Best Friend! Proper training is crucial for teaching Fido how to be a good boy. It will also help you and your pup bond more closely, by improving communication and reducing friction. Here, a Jacksonville, FL veterinarian offers some advice on training your canine companion.

F  irst Things First

We know, Fido is adorable when he does cute tricks like Shake Paw or Stand Up . However, you shouldn’t start on the fun stuff until your furry buddy has the basics down pat. The most important commands are Sit, Stay, Heel, Come, and Lay Down. Leave It and Drop It are also useful. Make sure your pup knows these before you start teaching him to Roll Over.

Time It Right

Don’t work with your canine pal when you’re in a bad mood. Man’s Best Friend is very intuitive! Fido will be able to read your mood. You don’t want him to form a bad impression around training.

Offer Rewards

Dogs get very proud of themselves when they know they’ve done something properly. (Cats, of course, could care less, but that’s another topic.) Make sure to reward Fido every time he gets something right. Treats are great training aids! Just don’t go overboard: you don’t want to overfeed your furry student. It’s also important to pet and praise your pooch regularly.

Don’t Bore The Pup

Fido may get restless with long classes. Shorter lessons are usually better. Even ten minutes a day will be beneficial!

Be Patient

It’s very easy to forget that dogs don’t understand the nuances of human language. To Fido, Sit may not necessarily mean the same thing as Fido, sit down right now ! That’s why using the same words or phrases each time is very important.

Choose The Right Place

At first, only train your pooch in quiet areas, where there are no distractions. Eventually, you’ll want to teach Fido to obey even if there is a squirrel in the classroom. For now, though, focus is key.

Have Fun

Training is actually a great way to spend time with your dog! Think of it as an investment in your friendship with Fido. Just as with any other relationship, building and maintaining that special bond takes some work.

Do you have questions about your dog’s training needs? Contact us, your Jacksonville, FL clinic, today!