Tasley Dog Training Club

Tasley Dog Training Club

tasleydogclub@aol.com

01746 764332

Handy Hints

General training tips:

Before you start training, collect your thoughts and concentrate on what you are doing
Don’t expect your dog to work harder, or concentrate more than you do.
Use clear, definite commands when training; don’t have running conversations which your dog does not understand.
Praise and reward on time, not five seconds after your dog has responded to you.
Decide on what motivates your dog, (food, praise, toys) and use them when training
A reward is what the dog perceives as a reward, not what you decide on.
Don’t rely on equipment (collars, leads, harnesses etc) to control your dog
Build a relationship in which your dog loves to acknowledge you as a fair, competent leader.
Never train when you are feeling irritable or ill.
Be consistent in praise, and in the behaviour you expect from your dog. (Works with children too).
Work out what commands you want to use, what they mean, and then write them out
Pin up a training plan on your fridge door.
Keep a diary of your training successes, and congratulate yourself!

Walking on the lead:

Dogs don’t pull on the lead, owners do.
Teach your dog to understand than your command of ‘heel’ means that if he places himself next to you leg, he will be rewarded.
The reward can be food, toys, praise, or a combination of all three.
Zero tolerance of not listening to you when on the lead is the key to success.
Spend as much time walking your dog on the lead, with him in the correct position, as free running.

Recall:

Your dog must feel both respect and a love of being with you if he is to return when you call.
You need to teach this in a safe environment before trying it outdoors.
When out on walks, call your dog in frequently, rewarding him and letting him go again.
Ensure that coming to you is a rewarding, positive experience.

Stay:

Ensure that staying where you left him is rewarding for your dog. Leave him a pace at a time, rewarding each time you return. Do this at home, out on walks and in the car.
Leave your dog in both the sit and down positions, but never too long in the sit.

Agility:

We use agility to teach your dog that listening to you is good fun.
Basic dog training exercises can become dull, agility makes it fun.
Never jump your dog over a jump of more than 6 inches high.
Send your dog over equipment and back to you: this improves your handling skills.
Don’t rely on food treats, use enthusiasm.
Make jumps out of flower pots and garden canes, seek out second hand tubes.

Scent work:

Ensure that the dog always wins this game!
Use treats placed under flowerpots with holes in
Build up to hiding toys under flowerpots
Move on to hiding toys around the house and garden.
When competent in this, drop toys out on a walk, sending your dog back to find.
Ensure you keep the command the same each time.

Good Manners:

When thinking about your dog’s general behaviour, ask yourself this question: if your dog was a small child, would you tolerate this behaviour happily?