Consistent Training of your New Puppy or Dog

Working with your dog is a lifestyle, not a chore.

Bringing a new puppy or dog into your life can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, it is important to remember that owning a dog is a responsibility that requires consistent training and attention. Consistent training can help ensure that your dog is well-behaved, happy, and healthy. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of consistent training with your puppy or dog and discuss how to incorporate daily training into your routine.

Time Spent Daily:

Consistent training should be a daily activity that you engage in with your puppy or dog. Training sessions do not have to be lengthy or tedious, but rather should be short and focused. The recommended time spent daily on training depends on the age, breed, and individual temperament of your dog. However, it is generally recommended to spend at least 15-20 minutes a day working on obedience training, socialization, and other important skills.

Use of Treats:

Using treats is a common and effective method of positive reinforcement when training your puppy or dog. We suggest using your dogs breakfast and dinner as motivators for training. This helps to limit calories and maintain your dogs daily needed intake of food vs loading up on extra treats. Treats should be used to reward good behavior, such as sitting on command, walking nicely on a leash, or coming when called.

When using treats, it is important to keep them small and low-calorie to prevent overfeeding and weight gain. Additionally, it is important to gradually reduce the use of treats as your dog becomes more skilled in their training.

It is also important to understand the importance of treat levels of reward and how to use regular treats or food, vs a high value reward.

Corrections from a Balanced Training Perspective:

While positive reinforcement is important, corrections are also necessary to discourage bad behavior and reinforce good behavior. Corrections should be used in a balanced training approach that combines positive reinforcement and discipline. The goal is to create clear boundaries and expectations for your dog without using excessive force or punishment.

For example, if your dog jumps up on guests, a correction could be a firm "off" command, followed by positive reinforcement when they stop jumping. This helps your dog understand that jumping is not acceptable behavior while also reinforcing good behavior when they follow the command.

In summary, consistent training is essential for ensuring that your puppy or dog is well-behaved, happy, and healthy. It requires daily commitment, the use of positive reinforcement with treats, and the use of corrections from a balanced training approach. By incorporating these elements into your training routine, you can help your dog become a well-trained and well-behaved companion for many years to come.

Choosing your Motivator (treat) and correction:

Choosing to use balance training means getting to know what your dog is motivated by, as well as what corrections it best responds to.
Corrections do not mean it has to be a painful thing. Removing a treat for instance, can be a form of correction. and if your dog responds well to it, you have your correction right there.

For some, these two things can be difficult to determine what is best to use, that is where finding a balanced trainer you feel confident in their appoach in makes a world of difference in helping you navigate the process. We at Lucky Dog Training can assist you in finding that right balance in our Private Lessons, Day and Board and Train Programs and our Virtual Consultations. Be sure to consider setting up your consult or Virtual Session TODAY!