Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Spring is coming...

When I start a new class I always teach the first lesson without dogs present. This gives me the opportunity to have little to no distractions and focus on teaching and answering questions.

Our dogs work the same way...when teaching something new make sure to be in a comfort zone (living room, kitchen...) with no distractions. Make sure your dog is hungry if you're using food treats and a bit tired. Training after a short walk seems to work well. I find you can keep your dog's attention a bit better. Make each training session short (3 to 5 minutes) and fun! If you have fun so will your pup. If training is bland or frustrating, you and your dog won't want to practice!

Keep it simple, fun and use lots of praise.

Mike

A tired dog is a happy dog

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