Top Dog Training Tips for Montreal Area Dog Owners
1. Start Training Your Puppy Early
Puppies abosrb information all day long. The earlier you start training the better the outcome will be in teaching obedience and good manners. Think of this: Puppy jumps up and gets petted. What did it learn? Jumping up =reward. Instead, pet your puppy before the jump – or even better yet teach your puppy to sit and then ask her to sit before petting and what did the puppy learn now? Not only did your pup learn to sit which is valuable for so many things all their life – but they also learned a polite way to interact and ask for petting. Take this concept and apply it to your many moment throughout the day with your pup and you will start to see nice changes in behaviour.
2. Learn How To Speak Dog Clearly
Learning basic dog psychology and learning theory is key if you ant to be an effective communicator with your dog. It is so easy to blame the dog, get frustrated and settle for a frustrating life with your pet under the guise of “Wel… He’s juts stubborn”. Understanding your dog’s temperament, genetics (you can’t fight DNA – more on this in another article) drives and thresholds will take you a lot further in goals as a dog trainer. I work with many dogs each year who were labelled as stubborn or untrainable by not only their owners but even by other dog trainers when the reality is that the training was not done in a clear and logical way. Ouspi, a young Labradoodle is a prime example of this. His owners worked with a trainer prior to coming to Family K9 Dog Training. That trainer called him stubborn and dumb. Thanksfully they looked further into training for their pet and he is a wonderful dog and very capable of excellent behaviour.
Take a look at his video here and also another video here where he looks like he does not want to play fetch and in a better of minutes is bringing the top to my hand.
3. Use Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is an effective training method. Reward your dog with praise, treats, or playtime when they exhibit the desired behavior. This will motivate them to repeat the action in the future.
4. Socialize Your Dog
Socialization is crucial for a well-behaved dog. Expose your canine companion to different environments, people, and other animals in Montreal and all over as much as possible. I often feed & play with my puppy in new environments, bring him into local shops and allow people to interact with him in proper, controlled interactions in order to help shape his view of the world. This will help them become comfortable and confident in various situations.
5. Seek Professional Help
If you’re having difficulty with your dog’s training, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Family K9 Dog Training has a 30 year track record of helping Montreal area dog owners and can provide expert guidance and tailor training programs to suit your dog’s specific needs.6. Be Patient and Persistent – Set Realistic Expectations
Training a dog takes time and patience. Be persistent in your efforts, even if progress seems slow at times. Consistent training sessions and positive reinforcement will yield positive results over time.
7. Stay Updated with Training Techniques
Stay informed about the latest training techniques and methodologies. Attend workshops, read books or articles, and consult reputable online resources to enhance your knowledge and improve your training approach.
