Off leash dog training is an essential part of dog ownership. It lets your dog get used to being on a leash and also improves its behavior. A dog that isn’t used to being around people on a regular basis will naturally be very shy and nervous, not to mention that it might get injured if it’s not handled properly. However, these problems can be eliminated with the right training! Here are some dog training tips for more advanced dog owners.
Dog training can often be a challenge because dog trainers aren’t always sure what the best way to approach it is. The good news is that there are many dog trainers out there who do know how to get the best results from their clients’ training. The bad news is that most dog trainers don’t live in households with a lot of children around. So how can a dog trainer to ensure that their dog training is effective?
One dog training tip is to keep rewarding and/or high value treats within reach while dog training. By doing this, your dog will learn that when it receives a treat it has done something positive, and it therefore needs to practice more to get another reward. If the dog doesn’t receive a high value treat after giving it the initial reward, then it needs to work harder to receive higher value treats. If you make sure that you always have treats on hand, then your dog will learn that when it performs a desirable action, it gets a reward.
Another important factor to bear in mind with dog training is to always give rewards even when the behavior isn’t as desirable as desired. If you’re a bit nervous about using reward in dog training, then it’s okay to use a clicker or a verbal call to get your dog’s attention and perform the desired action. Just make sure that you always use the same command and voice at all times. Using different voices or commands for different behaviors is only confusing and ineffective. Once the dog knows what behavior is desirable, using treats or even a verbal call is a much more effective method of training.
The third dog training tip to keep in mind is to set the right expectations with your dog. Always allow your dog to go through the learning process without receiving any negative consequences. It is very easy to correct your dog’s behaviors when they are misbehaving. But, you should also never punish them for their actions if you don’t catch them in the act. Your dog needs to see you make the right decisions every time. And, by consistently implementing these right expectations into your dog’s life, you’ll be able to train them easily and quickly.
Another very important thing to remember is that your dog understands when they are receiving a treat. Sometimes it may take a while for your dog to understand that they are getting a treat, and in the beginning you may find yourself getting frustrated with them. But, don’t let this frustration get the better of you. Just ignore your dog when he is not doing what you want him to do, and give them a treat when they do it right. Soon your dog will realize that what you want is also what they want, and they will start to do it with much more confidence because they understand that you are not punishing them for something that they are not doing.
One last tip to keep in mind is to make sure every time you practice off leash training that you have a consistent stay cue. When you give your dog a stay cue, they must learn that this cue means stop. Your dog needs to understand this before they will know what to do with the leash. The easiest way to teach your dog a stay cue is to use your hand as a stay command and move your thumb over your dog’s shoulder blade area, making sure that your dog understands that the move means stop. As your dog gets better with the stay command, you can add other distractions to the training session to make sure that your dog gets it.
Off leash exercise with dogs can be a lot of fun, but it does take some patience. Patience and consistency are vital if you want to get your dogs to learn quickly. By starting off with simple exercises like the ones we have mentioned, you ensure that you will never lose control of your dog and they will always know the proper behavior. With these tips in mind, you will be off to an excellent start with leash training your dog!
