A Lab’s Life

I’ve got them laying around and I’m bored with the T.V. right now.  So, it’s time to type.  Without any more hesitation, I present these training tips for your reading pleasure (good luck, and the first two are probably the most important):

• Be cheerful when practicing with your dog
• Keep your training sessions short: 5-10 minutes several times a day
• Practice in different locations in your home, the den, the kitchen, the living room and the back yard.  dogs do not generalize, we need to make sure they can work with us no matter which room we are in.
• Play with your dog (this is hugely important, too).
• CONSISTENCY! Whatever you are working on with your dog, be consistent with them
• Make sure you praise your dog for coming to you (duh), give them a treat, and celebrate with them.  COMING TO YOU IS THE BEST THING THEY CAN DO ALL DAY
• Call your dog for positive reasons only.  If you need to cut their nails, give a bath or give a pill, go to them
• PLAY WITH YOUR DOG!
• Use your most excited, happy voice when calling your dog.  As I mentioned before-no one likes to come to an angry voice.
• Praise your dog for sharing what they have in their mouth, trade the dirty sock for a cookie, talk “silly” to help them share.  Give them a toy to replace whatever they had in their mouth.
• Keep your dog on leash during their training to help them be successful
• PLAY WITH YOUR DOG!
• Give your dog a “spot” in the rooms that you frequent.  A towel, rug or dog bed that they can go to in the den, the office or kitchen
• Discipline can happen only when you catch your dog in the act of an unacceptable behavior!
• Play a clicker game, teach a new trick instead of going for a walk when it’s too cold or hot outside
• PLAYING with your dog helps to create a special bond between you