Patience and consistency are vital in feline training. — Freepik
Positive training is gentle and effective. Put simply, you reinforce the behaviour you want. You can do this with praise, patting and the occasional treat.
Pups have lots of energy and short attention span. Organise 10 minutes playtime, and follow with a five-minute training period
During those five minutes, focus on one task: for example, sitting.
Clarity and consistency in your actions will help your dog learn.
To teach a pup to sit, say, “Sit” and gently push your dog’s bottom until it sits. Then, instantly praise by saying “Good dog!” and patting. Do this repeatedly.
Tip: As dogs are very visual, use hand signals with voice commands.
For your training times, keep at it for days if needed, until the dog gets it every time. Only move on to the next task during training time (like, give a paw) when she’s learned to sit when asked.
When the pup is chewing your favourite slipper, remove the shoe and present your pet with a chew toy. Praise them when they chew the toy. Chalk up your lost shoe to the learning curve.
Yes, it’s tough but all young creatures act destructively sometimes. Think of your pet as a three-year-old child, and be patient and loving.
To find a trainer who uses positive training techniques, ask, “How often do/will you hit my dog to teach him/her?” If you get a lecture on the futility of hitting a pet, you have struck gold!
