Training your dog is one of the complex tasks you’ll undertake as a pet owner, but it is crucial for their safety and obedience. A strict training regime will usually involve a lot of repetition and consistency on your part. This can be boring not only to you but also to your furry friend. However, there are ways to make the training process fun while teaching them the necessary skills. Here’s how.
Adequately Prepare
Collecting everything you need for the training session before you start will make things go more smoothly. It includes plenty of treats to reward your dog for good behavior. Not forgetting, a plan for what you want to achieve in the session, and keep it short to avoid tiring out either of you.
Do you need a unique collar, leash, or toy? Get everything organized and within reach before you start. Opting for a wifi dog fence on Halo Collar assures you of your pet’s safety even when you take breaks. You can let the dog roam the backyard or the house and not worry about it running off.
Include Warm-Up and Cool-Down Time
You would never start running a race without stretching first; the same goes for training your dog. Spend a few minutes doing some simple obedience commands that they already know, like sit or stay.
The effort helps them focus and get into the training mindset. End with a few more basic commands as a cool-down. It will help your dog transition back to regular life and not be so fixated on the training session. Also, don’t forget to praise and give them a treat for a well-done job.
Change Up the Location
If you always train your dog in the same place, they may start to associate that space with work and become less enthusiastic about it. Try changing your locations to make things more interesting for both of you. It could mean training in the park one day and the backyard the next.
If you have the means, you could even take your dog to a friend’s house or on a camping trip to mix things up. If the dog loves the outdoors, train more often in locations with lots of smells and sounds to stimulate their senses further. With a GPS-enabled dog collar, you will have no trouble keeping track of your pet as they explore new surroundings.
Use Different Training Tools
Training tools make the process fun and interesting for your dog. There are many ways to keep your pet engaged, from clickers to Kongs. Using different toys during sessions will maintain their interest, keeping them guessing.
As a bonus, certain toys can also help with specific behaviors you try to encourage. For example, Kongs can be stuffed with treats and used as a way to keep your dog occupied while you are away.
Try New Commands
Don’t just stick to the basics when training your dog. If they already know how to sit, stand, stay and come, add some new commands to the mix. This will keep their attention and interest in the training process. You could teach them tricks like rolling over or playing dead.
If you want to keep things simple, add a new command to the existing behavior. For example, teach your dog to “sit” and then progress to “sit pretty” or “sit up.”
Make a Game Out of It
Training doesn’t have to be all work and no play. There are many ways to make the process more fun for you and the dog. One way is to turn it into a game. Hide treats around the house, then have your dog search for them, or set up an obstacle course in your backyard. You could even create a scavenger hunt using items from around the house. The possibilities are endless.
You’ll Both Have More Fun
These are just a few ways to make strict training more fun for you and the dog. You’ll maintain your dog’s attention and keep them engaged in the process by changing things up and keeping things interesting. With a bit of creativity and effort, you’ll be able to turn training into a fun and enjoyable experience for both of you.
photo cred: (Image Credit Pexels)
Love our content? Share it with a friend or link it to social media. Like short clips of cute household pets? Training tips? Follow us on instagram @nydognanny or on YouTube at nydognanny. Have some news you needs to get to dog and cat parents stat? Email info@newyorkdognanny.com with your article pitch.
