How to Train a Dog To ...

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO SIT

Training a dog to sit is one of the most basic commands, and the starting “default” position for many other more advanced commands, so it’s a good idea to train your dog to sit as soon as you can. Start by giving your dog a treat whenever she obeys your command to sit, whether it’s in the midst of misbehavior or not. (If your dog is misbehaving, always ignore the behavior, so as not to reinforce it, and give the sit command only after it stops.) It won’t be long before your dog is trained to sit on command. Once you’ve trained your dog to sit, you can improve on the training by gradually increasing the length of time your dog must remain quietly seated before you reward her with a treat and praise. Over time, you will train an obedient, patient and sitting dog. (PetMD)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG USING A CLICKER

You can add a clicker — a simple noise-making device — to any behavioral training program. Dog training with a clicker adds a powerful and positive dimension to your efforts that only grows stronger the more you use it. It also offers the benefit of giving your dog an audible cue without your having to shout. To begin training your dog with a clicker, use the device every time you give your dog a treat. Once he associates the sound of the clicker with getting a treat, use the clicker (and provide a treat) only when your dog performs the action you want to train him to do. He’ll soon learn to respond to the clicker with the desired behavior. Just don’t run out of treats! (PetMD)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO STAY OFF THE FURNITURE

The key to training a dog to get off the furniture is to teach the difference between “off” and “on.” Before you can train your dog to stay off the furniture, you’ll train him to get on the furniture in the first place. Show him a piece of food or a treat and place it on the furniture while giving the “on” cue. Once your dog is on the furniture, use the same technique to train him to get off the furniture on your command. Show him a piece of food and lure him off the furniture. When he does it, give him the treat and lots of praise. He’ll soon understand what to do when he hears the “off” command. Make sure to also provide your dog with a comfortable bed in a safe place of his own where he can go to rest. When you command him off your furniture, lead him to his own bed. Soon enough, your dog will learn to stay off the furniture entirely. (Vetstreet)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO STOP JUMPING

The reason a dog jumps up on you is because she wants your attention. The key to training a dog to stop jumping, then, is to not respond with attention. Obviously, this means not responding positively with petting and affection, but it also means not responding negatively by pushing the dog away and/or yelling at the dog not to jump. (Even negative attention is attention.) Ignore your dog when she jumps. At the same time, use your sit command to train your dog to sit as an alternative way to ask for attention. Every time you play with your dog, or pet her, or give any sort of attention or affection, command her to sit first. If she jumps, break eye contact and walk away. When she stops jumping, command her to sit, and reward her with attention when she does. Give calm, quiet attention so you don’t rile her up and get her jumping again. She’ll get the picture before long, and you’ll have trained your dog to stop jumping. (PetMD)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO STOP BITING

The difficulty of training a dog to stop biting can vary depending on the dog’s personality and his reasons for doing it — it could playful, or a displacement behavior — but the same basic techniques should help you curb the unwanted biting. As with most unwanted dog behavior, never reward it with attention — not even by shouting “no” or punishing the dog. If your dog mouths you, simply break contact entirely and walk away. After a short while, re-enter the room and, if the dog is calm, quietly praise him. Be consistent! If you like to roughhouse with your dog occasionally, your positive response to playful biting in this context will confuse your dog about when it’s OK to bite. If you want to train your dog to stop biting, you must teach that it is not OK to bite under any circumstances. (PetMD)

HOW TO GET A DOG TO STOP DIGGING

The best way to train a dog to stop digging depends on the reasons why the dog is digging in the first place. Often, the cause is simple boredom. It could also be due to a lack of adequate socialization. Some dogs, particularly young ones, simply have a ton of excess energy to work out. Or your dog’s breed may also be to blame. If you can remove the root of the problem, the solution may be simple. Bored dog? Provide toys or other activities to keep her stimulated. Is the dog digging cooling pits to cool down on hot days? Consider investing in air conditioning or some other way to cool down your home. Unfortunately, some breeds’ instincts hard-wire them to dig. Getting your dog to stop digging will be a lot more difficult or even impossible if her breed means she was literally born to dig. In this case, be zen and take the path of least resistance. If you can’t train your dog not to dig, build her a digging pit, one area specifically provided for your dog to dig in, like a sandbox for child. You can at least train her to dig in the right place. Put her favorite toys in the digging pit and actively encourage her to dig there. When she tries to dig outside the pit, correct the behavior and bring her to the pit. She’ll soon learn where to go to indulge her digging instinct. (PetMD)

HOW TO GET A DOG TO STOP BARKING EXCESSIVELY

First of all, if you want a pet who never barks, don’t adopt a dog. You wouldn’t expect a cat to never meow, or a human to never talk. If you have a dog, you must be OK with the fact that it will bark. That said, excessive barking should be addressed, especially if it is a new and troublesome behavior. First and foremost, do not reward the barking dog with the attention it seeks. Instead, use the dog’s quiet moments to give him praise and affection in order to reinforce the idea that staying calm is good behavior. In these moments, also keep yourself and your praise calm so as not to excite your dog. Try learning what triggers incite barking in your dog. If you can anticipate a barking episode, you may be able to distract your dog from it. If necessary, you can employ training devices like head halters, bark-activated alarms, bark-activated citronella collars, or water sprayers to curb the excessive barking. (PetMD)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO USE AN INDOOR POTTY PAD

Pee pads are not an alternative to regular walks, and training a dog to use an indoor pad should not be used by the lazy as a primary method of housebreaking. However, it may be appropriate for some owners to use potty-pad training as a supplement to their dogs’ regular routines. Examples include dogs who are recovering from injuries, or who live in climates where extreme weather may make it occasionally treacherous to venture outdoors. To anticipate such circumstances, indoor training may be helpful. When you’re not at home, confine your dog to a pen or a small room, and cover the floor completely with pads to acclimate your dog to voiding on the pads. When you are at home, release your dog from the confined area only after you observe she has used a pad. Then over time, gradually remove one pad at a time from the area. This will train your dog to use a single indoor potty pad when necessary. (Petfinder)

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG TO HEEL

First, know that training a dog to heel is an advanced technique, and the increased level of difficulty requires increased time and patience for you to teach the skill. To train a dog to heel, your goal is for the dog to want to stay close by your side, not feel forced to be there. Stand with your dog at your left leg, facing the same direction as you (the heel position). Gain his attention and eye contact, then take two steps forward. If the dog moves with you in the heel position, reward him with a treat and praise. Continue this until your dog can reliably heel two steps at a time, then repeat until he can heel for four steps, then six, then eight, then 10. Now add the spoken “heel” command into the mix until your dog can reliably heel on command. Begin to add longer walks, turns, and varying speeds in the heel training. By gradually increasing the difficulty over time, you will steadily train your dog to heel on command every time. (Dog Training Central)