Things to Think About

  • The foundation to your training should be engagement and relationship.

  • Keep your expectations fair and realistic

  • If you expect something, then expect it every time you ask for it

  • Think about treats in terms of ‘units of a reward’ for effort

  • Remember repetition, NOT duration. Five 1-minutes sessions can be better than one 5-minute session

  • Mark for action, feed for position

  • Name a perfect behavior, not an imperfect behavior. Get the quality you want before you tell the dog what it is called

  • Work on generalization to work on getting the behavior to happen in a variety of environments and situations

  • The challenge level should always be that in which your dog can succeed

  • Ask your dog what they are capable of doing. Do not over-face your dog

PUPPY TRAINING: WHERE TO START?

  • How does my puppy learn?

  • Understanding the types of rewards we can use

  • Hierarchy of rewards

  • Housebreaking

  • Crate training (driving in, settling & release cue — including in the car/new environments)

  • Addressing separation anxiety, attachment and independence/confidence

  • Socialization, exposure; sound surface, experiences & building positive associations

  • Exposure to noises and the real world/surface exposure

  • Touch sensitivity including collar grabs

  • Marker word/clicker training

  • Learning name, focus, engagement (including toy play)

  • Addressing jumping and how to prevent

  • Addressing play biting/mouthing and how to redirect

  • Understanding elements of distance, distraction, duration and working your dog through stimuli

  • Nutritional needs, chews, etc.

  • Recall and building value with handler/owner

  • Impulse control/leave it

  • Resource guarding/trading objects/"give"

  • Sits & downs (with stimuli)

  • Release cues

  • Hand touches & touching objects

  • Heeling & walking (including not pulling)

  • Stay

  • Shaping (sending to bed/mat)

  • Demand barking