Teaching your dog to do certain things can be a challenge. Dogs, just like people, can be stubborn or hard to train. You can find yourself scratching your head wondering what to do in order to get your dog to do the right thing. It is time consuming and frustrating to try to figure out how to teach dog commands. You may have tried several methods to no avail. Don’t worry, this is normal.
The main thing to remember is that you want your dog to know what you want from them. You should not punish your dog for unwanted behaviors. In fact, the opposite is true. You should reward good behaviors in order to reinforce them. This will create a positive association between you and your dog.
There are many ways to reinforce your dog’s obedience. Giving treats and/or dog treats (for puppies) are a great way to reward your dog with positive reinforcement when they do the right thing. Another method of reinforcement is to play games that use positive reinforcement. Here are some tips on how to teach dog commands and using rewards to reinforce your dog’s new behaviors:
Reward your dog with praise when they do a good behavior. If you use a hand signal while saying “Good Boy!” or “Good Dog!”
Assistive shaping. You can also give your dog a treat for an assisted shaping session. With an assisted shaping, the dog will get lots of attention and be rewarded with treats for being obedient. This is an excellent way to get your dog to understand that all of their actions are desired outcomes. This is a great training technique for how to teach dog commands and shaping.
Correction. Once your dog has been well trained, you can still use correction to reinforce new behaviors. If you catch them misbehaving, use a firm “No” and wait a few seconds before giving them the correction. Correcting in this manner won’t cause fear but it will let them know that they are doing something wrong.
Free rein. You can also give your dog a treat for free shaping. You do this by having them perform an action that is desirable. For example, if you are training how to teach dog commands and you notice your dog pulling on the leash, you could take a treat away and then say “Free Shape!” Your dog will then try to free run and will succeed if they are attentive enough. If not, they will most likely continue their behavior.
Punishment. If you find that your dog is causing trouble at home, or your dog is exhibiting unwanted behavior such as biting, you can use a firm “No,” and then say “No!” while pointing to the behavior you want them to stop. Once they have stopped their undesired behavior, give them a bit of praise and a dog treat. This may be the most important part of training new behaviors because it gives the dog a clear signal that their actions will get a reaction from you.
Dog markers. Many dog training instructors use dog markers to teach dog commands and other obedience techniques. Markers can be made from foam, clay, wood, or even string. They are usually blue in color, but you can paint them any color you choose to identify which behaviors you are trying to correct.
When you first begin using dog markers, make sure that you put them on the appropriate area. Dogs have a tendency to forget where they should put their markers once they are done playing, so you need to keep track of where they placed them. Once your dog has used the marker correctly several times, start moving it to other areas that you want him to stop unwanted behaviors from occurring. For example, if your dog is urinating in the house, try putting the marker next to the door. He will eventually work his way down the hallway and out the front door.
Dog collars and leashes. A dog collar or leash is often used to teach commands and other obedience techniques. If your dog has some behaviors you don’t want, like jumping up on guests, then consider spicing up his obedience training with a leash or collar. Some people also use dog leashes or collars for their pets to help teach basic commands.
Assisted shaping. Many dog trainers use assisted shaping or free shaping to teach dogs new behaviors. This may sound similar to “free training,” but “assisted shaping” is actually a completely different technique that helps your dog know what behaviors are acceptable and what behaviors are not. In this technique, your dog receives lots of visual and physical cues as he learns new behaviors. Once your dog knows exactly what behaviors are acceptable, you can take away these behaviors that are creating problems in your home.
