dog training the fun way Archives - Page 5 of 10

Best morning routine includes your dog

Even the grumpiest getter-upper has a better start if dog games are part of the morning routine. You have to give your dog breakfast anyway. Why not turn it into a game to start the day?

Torque plays "Tap!" during his morning routine with Hope. — Torque plays “Tap!”

You don’t have to go anywhere, or prepare anything special. The dog food’s already there. You’re there. Your dog is with you. Wouldn’t a game of “Tap!” make you smile? How about making a dog-training game out of making breakfast? Teach your dog to open a cabinet, just by attaching a rope to the handle. Wouldn’t that be adorable?

Productive morning routine

According to the giant search engine, the trend since the start of the year includes making morning routines more productive. While resolutions have gone by the wayside, now people are getting realistic and looking for good ways to make the most of their days.

It’s not easy to build a new routine – habits are almost as hard to make as they are to break. According to studies we’ve seen, it takes anywhere from 28 to 250 days to form a habit, with most people falling into a range of about 66 days. That’s more than two months!

It’s no wonder resolutions don’t happen. Especially since most aren’t fun. They may be good for you, but let’s face it. If it were something you enjoyed, you wouldn’t have to resolve to do it.

Training games are different

But you do enjoy playing with your dog. You must, or you wouldn’t have a dog. So start small for a new morning routine. When you measure out your dog’s food, set five pieces aside. And ask your dog to do something (time for Kitchen Games!), either one thing five times, or five different things (sit, stand, down, paw, spin). When the five pieces are gone, you can feed your dog as usual.

Or, if you find yourself smiling and having fun, use more of your dog’s meal to keep playing. And that’s how you start to form a new morning routine that’s not only productive, but fun as well.

Give your dog time and tools

Do you give your dog time? Or do you expect your three-month-old puppy to be housebroken in a couple weeks? Leash-trained in a month? Stay out of the trash / laundry / mud instantaneously? It would be interesting if dogs came pre-programmed for all the “right” behavior. But they’re not machines. They’re living, breathing, thinking beings. And dogs need time to learn.

Say you’re out in public and you see a parent and child about two years old. The child is on a crying jag, screaming, kicking, and out of control. And the parent shouts and smacks the child.

You’re shocked! It’s obvious the child is overtired and the situation needs calm, not escalation. You don’t expect a two-year-old to know how to act in public, be perfectly potty-trained, and a pro at self-soothing. But many people expect a months-old puppy to be all of that and more.

Why positive reinforcement dog training “fails”

Positive reinforcement dog training is the best, scientifically proven means of training your dog. It works on people, it works on dogs. It doesn’t work fast, and it’s often misunderstood. Just like a human child is given time to learn at their own pace, without repercussions, dogs need time to learn, absorb, and practice good social behavior.

Lately there’s been a lot of nonsense floating around social media that positive training equals letting a dog do whatever it wants, whenever it wants. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dogs trained with positive reinforcement understand the limits of behavior and abide by them because they know. Not because they fear punishment if they fail.

Complete opposites

The nastiest trend in dog training lately is “balanced” training. From the explanations, it seems like this is a capricious mix of punishment and reward. If the dog does something good, it’s rewarded. If it does something “bad,” it’s corrected. But how is a dog supposed to know which is which? And how is “good” different from “bad”? Can you imagine living life at someone’s whim? Never knowing when something you do is going to end in pain? Dogs deserve better.

Until your dog understands how to be “good,” it’s up to you to limit the dog’s options for “bad.” If your dog steals shoes, keep shoes out of reach. Does your dog dig in your backyard? Go with him and keep him on leash. If your two-year-old child is fascinated by trucks, you stop him from running into the street. You don’t wait until he’s in traffic to act. You teach him not to do it. And pain isn’t part of the lesson. When one strategy in the 2-Minute method isn’t working the way we expect it to, we move to another: our “Plan B” – never a painful lesson.

Frustrating for the dog

One of our students has a bright, exuberant Miniature Poodle who she wants to compete with. One of his persistent problems in Hope’s competition Obedience class has been with the recall exercise. Instead of running straight to his Mom, at least half the time he runs over to Hope and starts jumping on her “Hi, I’m here!” “Hi!” “Hello!” “It’s me!”

Since Hope never encourages him, rarely looks at him, pets him, or talks to him, she didn’t understand why he does it. Until last week. His mom brought him into the building on leash, and he immediately spotted a new person. The dog ran over to this person while his mom said “He’s going to jump on you.” Since classes are at a dog daycare facility, it didn’t bother the person. Hope, witnessing this, told the dog’s mom she shouldn’t allow it. And was firmly told to mind her own business.

This dog will never understand why it’s okay to jump on a random man in the lobby and not the judge in the Obedience trial. His mother could easily turn this around – the dog is smart and eager to learn.

Keys to dog training

Dogs are easy to train if you abide by the key rules:

Be consistent. The rules are always in effect. Either it’s never okay to jump on people, or it’s always okay. Dogs know black and white. Shades of gray are alien.
Learning takes time. Be patient. You’ll know when your dog starts to think about their choices. Be on the lookout for those moments of decision – when your dog thinks before acting. That little hesitation before choosing the right thing is a triumph. Celebrate all the little wins.
Until your dog knows, control access. Remember there are three ways of dealing with dog behavior. Ignore the things you don’t care about. Manage the things your dog doesn’t know yet. Train the things you want your dog to know.

Give your dog the tools and the time

The best time for dog training

Simon loves to play dog training games anytime. — Simon loves playing training games anytime.

It’s never a bad time to play dog training games. Whether we’re talking about the time of day, the phase of your life, or how old your dog is. Truthfully, your dog is learning from you all the time – how to behave, what you like, what’s acceptable, and absolutely what’s not.

We talked to a person today who’s interested in doing “stuff” with her dog. She has a three-year-old Labrador Retriever and knows he’s smart. He can “do stuff.” And she’s reached a point where she knows he’s not living up to his potential. He can do more. And she wants to give him that chance.

How much training

It surprises first-time dog owners that dogs are intelligent beings who thrive on challenges. The before-dog fantasy may have included cuddles on the couch, or everywhere companions. But it probably didn’t incorporate the laughs, frustrations, and surprises in store.

When people adopt dogs from rescues or shelters, they tend to be all gung-ho on training class right away. They don’t realize it takes weeks before the dog adjusts to the new environment. At first, it’s more important to let the dog decompress and start to relax. For these dogs, 2-Minute sessions may be ideal. Just a little bit at a time, and always fun.

Getting a puppy is a bit different. Puppies aren’t “blank slates,” but they don’t have the baggage that rescue dogs carry. Puppies are ready to absorb and learn from day one. But they don’t have the attention span or stamina. Or, for that matter, the retention. For these dogs, the short, fast, fun games are perfect.

When to get “serious”

Like the woman we spoke to, there comes a time that you look at your dog and realize how much more they’re capable of. The long walks and “fetch” sessions are routine and getting a bit boring. Maybe that’s when you start investigating what more there is for you and your dog.

All of the dog sports exist for fun. Some you and your dog can play in the comfort of your own home, like “Trick Dog.” Others need wide open spaces and knowledgeable instruction to keep you and your dog safe, like agility. When you start to look around, you’ll find a myriad of possibilities for every dog/handler team.

Good foundation

Every single dog sport starts with the relationship between you and your dog. That’s what we’re doing here. 2-Minute Dog Training will build the focus, willingness to try, the trust, and the partnership between you and your dog. When you explore the world of dog sports, take your 2-Minute dog training games with you. There’s no limit on what you and your dog can achieve.

Play Canine Kitchen Games

You don’t need a lot of space to play training games with your dog. Not much time, either. While you’re waiting for the water to boil for your pasta is a perfect time to play some Canine Kitchen Games!

If you’re like most people, lots of the time you spend at home is in the kitchen. It’s the hub of every home. And where you’re hanging out, chances are your dog is, too. Why not have a little fun while you’re there?

What are Canine Kitchen Games?

Any dog training game that doesn’t need “stuff” can be a kitchen game. And there are even some you can use kitchen stuff to play.

"Touch" is a great canine kitchen game. — “Touch!”

“Touch!” is a perfect kitchen game. Even if you only have enough room for you and your dog to stand, you can play. All you need is some treats and your hands!

Another good Canine Kitchen Game is “Tap!” and you won’t even have to wash your hands.

If you want to get fancy and you have enough room, put a big bowl upside down and play some hind-end awareness games. Once around in either direction with the dog’s paws up on the bowl. It only takes a minute, you’ve had some fun with your dog, and accomplished something!

You can even play Puppy Pushups as kitchen game.

Spin it around!

Another option is to teach your dog to spin. Most dogs seem to love it and it’s an easy one to teach. This is one of the rare games that we actually use a lure to begin teaching. While standing, hold a treat by the dog’s shoulder. When they start to turn toward the treat, just keep moving it until the dog makes a complete circle. Some dogs make it all the way around the first time. If your dog doesn’t, start over and give the treat before the dog breaks out of the circling position. You may have to work an increasing arc before you get a complete spin. Meet your dog where they are – then ask for more.

You can teach your dog to spin in both directions. It’s a good idea to give them different names, we use “Spin!” for one way, “Turn!” for the other. Use whatever words you can remember – and keep straight in your mind for clockwise and counter-clockwise. It also helps to move your hand in the direction you want your dog to spin.

Use waiting time

Canine Kitchen Games are great for times when you’re waiting, like in the veterinarian’s office. Or times when you’re out on a walk and don’t want your dog to see the bunny across the street. If you’re in your own yard and want to distract your dog from the person passing by. Or you’re next in line at an agility or obedience trial and want your dog to focus.

These little games have lots of uses. They don’t take much time or effort to learn or play. You can play them anywhere without any prep. And they’re another opportunity to smile and play with your dog.

Find a Dog Training Buddy

Have you ever thought about finding a dog training buddy? The holidays are the most social time of year. There are lots of opportunities to chat with friends, colleagues, relatives about all sorts of stuff. Quite a few of those conversations may mention dogs – especially if you’re trading “naughty” stories.

Dogs meeting other dogs — Friends helping friends with dog training.

If you keep your ears open, you might find a good match for a dog training partner. It’s a good idea to have someone watch you and your dog (either live or on video), trade problem-solving ideas, and discuss training issues and triumphs. It’s not strictly necessary, but it is nice to talk with someone else going through the same thing you are. The best and most experienced dog trainers welcome another opinion, idea, or suggestion.

Check for compatibility

If you like the idea of sharing your dog-training games with a friend, be sure you have similar ideas about how dog training should be done. There are still punishment-based, and “balanced” training adherents who don’t understand, or even denigrate positive reinforcement training. It’s one thing for us, as training class instructors, to lay down the law of “No pulling, no popping, no corrections!” It may not work in a one-on-one situation.

Your dog training buddy doesn’t have to be a steady date, or even a regular appointment. You can certainly check in with each other only occasionally. But it’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off, especially when you hit a plateau or obstacle in your training.

Another set of eyes

Because we’re sisters, Fran and I (Hope), know each other very well. We’re also able to push each other’s buttons and get on each others’ nerves. But in our dog training lives, we’re on the same page – finding the best way to communicate with our dogs. With our own dogs, we’ll often watch each other’s training. And having another viewpoint can be just what you need to move forward.

Everybody can get stuck. You may become convinced that a certain path is the right one – but your dog just isn’t catching on. And while you can clearly see that what you’re doing isn’t working, you may not have another idea. Just having another person’s thoughts may help you find an alternative.

As an example – I’m starting to teach Torque, my French Bulldog, the Utility Obedience Directed Retrieve exercise. In competition, three identical gloves are spaced evenly at the end of the ring. The judge tells the handler which glove the dog should get. The team starts with their backs to the gloves. When the exercise starts, the team turns around to face the correct glove and the person sends their dog to get it.

Torque was peeling off as soon as we started to turn. Even if we came to a stop, he didn’t seem to understand that not just any glove would do. I tried using different objects, varying the distances between them, starting closer to the “right” glove – lots of variations on the theme.

Suggestions from the “peanut gallery”

Fran could see that I was at a loss. Torque just wasn’t understanding the “directed” part of the Directed Retrieve. He was getting the thing, bringing it back to me, dropping it on command. But the first part was elusive. Fran mentioned that according to the rules, that when we turn around I could ask Torque to “sit!” before sending him. I wasn’t doing that, even though it’s part of the rules. And just that change, a pause to focus, is making a big difference for Torque’s understanding.

It may seem natural for people – if somebody’s pointing at something, that’s the thing to interact with. But it’s not as natural for dogs. Sometimes we lose sight of how differently dogs’ minds work. With just an outside suggestion, you may be able to break through whatever barrier’s in front of you.

Help’s always available

If you can’t find a dog training buddy who is open to playing training games with their dogs, we’re always here to answer your questions, watch your videos, and offer suggestions. Building your dog’s understanding is just as important for family companions as it is for those heading for Obedience or Rally competition. It’s the gateway for everybody’s best life. It’s a bit sad that those people (and their dogs) are missing out.

Dog Training Game: Step on it

One of the best ways to encourage your dog to be curious and make good decisions is to play “Step On It!”

Torque playing "Step on it" — Torque stepping on a mat

It’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. And it’s always a bit of a shock when we introduce it in our puppy classes. The people who thought their puppies were bold, naughty explorers are surprised when their puppies are reluctant to try it.

The more the merrier

The game is simple to play and you can do it with anything, anywhere. You can play it one item at a time, or have a few stations set up to play.

Get some varied, flat materials. We use bubble wrap, cardboard, cookie sheets, yoga mats, wire grating, mesh screening, aluminum foil. The bottom of the item has to be flat, but you can certainly use boxes or, this week in particular, foil roasting pans are a great choice.

Have your dog on collar or harness and leash, just so they don’t leave the play area. Many dogs will disengage and “check out” when they don’t know what’s expected of them. Especially if your dog has been conditioned that you always tell them what to do, they’ll be reluctant to try new things.

How to play

Basically, you stand by the flat object, clicker in one hand, treats in the other, and that’s about it. To free up your hands, you can step on dog’s leash, giving him/her lots of slack, but not able to leave the area.

Click and reward for any interaction your dog shows with the object. If he/she looks at it, even a passing glance, try to catch the moment, click and reward. Up until now, the game is similar to “Boxey.” Toss the treat on the object, rather than feeding from your hand. We want the dog focused on the thing, not on you for this game.

If the dog looks at the object, click, and toss. Up to three times. By all means talk to your dog, encouraging him/her to “check it out,” “go see,” “what’s that?”

After your dog has been rewarded three times for looking, ask “What else?” It’s time to ask for more. If your dog has taken the treats tossed on the object, it’s already a little bit familiar and they should be ready to sniff it, paw it, step on it, etc.

Asking for more

For each advance, reward no more than a few times before asking for more. You can either use one object at a time, keeping the sessions very short, or set up a few different things so your dog learns to generalize exploring different things.

Don’t worry if your dog doesn’t get very far the first time. Familiarity with the game will encourage them to try the next time.

If your dog doesn’t engage with the object at all, just lean over and stare at it. This is where the hardest part of dog training comes in – doing nothing. It’s really difficult to just stand there, talking to your dog, and wait for them to get with the program. We understand. But you can do it, and your dog will learn more and better if you’re patient. Resist the temptation to lure your dog to the thing by tossing the treats on it or in it. We’re rewarding, not luring. The difference is teaching your dog to make good decisions, instead of just following commands.

Goal of the game

Eventually, the game’s objective is to get your dog to either stand or sit completely on the flat object, whatever material it’s made of, whatever noise it makes, wherever it is. This is a confidence-building game that’s particularly beneficial for dogs that tend to be timid or wary. It encourages them to explore their world, knowing that you’ll be right there, side by side.

Easy and Fun Dog Training

Games are easy and fun dog training. And, over time, the most effective and long-lasting learning for your dog.

Long term benefits outweigh short-term attention in dog training.

And that’s where we see people getting frustrated and tempted to use aversive methods. Just this week one of our puppy class students pleaded to use a pinch collar on his five-month old Golden Retriever. Because when he tried it, he got better attention immediately.

That’s the way aversives, pain training, works. You’d pay attention, too, if it was the only way to not get choked.

Long-term gains

Fortunately, this man does want to do better by his puppy. He’s a long-time aversive trainer, so positive, game-based dog training is new to him. He was accustomed to instant obedience from his dogs. But he had to enforce that throughout their lives. They didn’t obey because they understood. They obeyed because they wanted to avoid pain.

The issue with this puppy is that she’s smart, curious, and five months old. The other dogs and people in class are more interesting than her people. So the first step is to be more interesting than anything else around.

Building the bond

He’s used to tugging on the puppy’s collar whenever he wants her to look at him. It’s going to take a conscious effort on his part to change that. It’s habit to say her name and pop the collar, not even giving her time to move her head.

The hardest thing in positive reinforcement dog training is waiting. Patience is not only a virtue, it’s a requirement. Jack’s assignment is to say his puppy’s name and wait for her to look at him. Not say anything else. Not let her go wandering off. Just wait, calmly.

Eventually, with nothing else available to do, the puppy will look at him. And that’s when he pounces with a celebration and reward. That reward is whatever is most valuable to the puppy – food, a game of tug, or on-leash fetch, or even a little wrestling match.

She will learn that looking at her “dad” is the most fun thing to do. It always, every single time, results in happy, fun games. It’s the best thing ever! And that’s how you build your bond with your dog.

Checking in

Jack and his wife are under instructions to reward their puppy every single time she looks at either one of them. They have treat bowls in every room in the house, and pouches to carry outside. For three months, since they got her, the puppy hasn’t been encouraged to engage with them. The focus has been on the toy, the food, the leaves blowing down the street.

They will be able to claim her focus if they make the investment. What gets rewarded, gets repeated. If the puppy is rewarded every time she looks at them, she’s going to look at them a lot more. And, when her people are more interesting, she’s less likely to find everything else so distracting.

Long-term investments pay off

When the puppy understands that looking at her people will always result in good stuff, it’s a lesson learned for life. It may take longer to penetrate than choking. But it’s a conversion worth making. Nobody really wants to hurt their dog. When you know better, you do better.

Dog Training Games Video Is Priceless

Get over yourself.

Your dog training game video will help you in training your dog. — Your dog training game video will help

That’s the message I (Hope) have to tell myself whenever we talk about doing a new dog-training-games video for 2-Minute-Trainer. It doesn’t matter what I look like, sound like, or wear. It matters that we’re helping people have more fun training their dogs. That’s the thing we know how to do, are pretty good at, and want to share.

And these days, more people watch than read. So to get out the message of positive, fun, fast dog training, we use video. It’s the message that matters, not the medium.

Unexpected benefits

Something pretty magical happened when I watched the videos of my training with Torque. In almost every single one, I was laughing and having fun with my dog. Maybe that’s the most powerful message in all our training. There are lots of great reasons to play training games with your dog. The best one is that it’s fun for both of you.

We highly recommend that you take video of your training games with your dog. You don’t have to let anybody else see it, if you don’t want to. It’s for you.

Keeping a record

I was having a not-so-great day until I watched the video with Torque. Just seeing my own expression change from serious to joy, because my dog was impatient to play with me. It turned the whole day around.

No matter what happens on any tomorrow, I will always be able to look at that video and see the happiness – mine and my dog’s. If you ever doubt that your dog is enjoying your training games, watch the video. Look at your dog’s rapt expression. Their intensity and eagerness to play will motivate you to play even more dog training games.

If you record your sessions regularly, you’ll also have a precious record of how far you’ve come from where you started. Try to take video at least once a week. You’ll be glad you did. Especially for those times when you don’t seem to be making headway. Reminding yourself where you were, and how far you’ve come, is a real boost.

Going viral

If you’re hoping for internet fame and figure out the secret, by all means go for it and share it with us. Our video Spotlight Series seemed to be growing; the first four videos had geometric growth from week to week. (Booker’s “Dance” is below.) Maybe ironically, the video that brought such joy has almost no views. We may not know the magic formula for internet stardom. What we do know is how special the relationship with our dogs is, and capturing that for posterity is priceless.

Dogs Tell On Their Trainers

Dogs tell us everything we need to know to be effective trainers. It’s how well we’re paying attention that makes the difference. Dogs are really honest – brutally so. And they’re excellent at pointing out the gaps in our training. Dogs are notorious for tattling on their trainers.

Boston Terrier on a balance disc to illustrate Dogs Tell. — Simon’s “crouchy-hovery” stand started on the balance disc.

Simon demonstrated the point this week. The “Stand” exercise has always been challenging for him. Fran had to change the word to “Station,” after he became convinced that “Stand” meant sort-of-crouching with his butt in the air. Stand has always been a weird bugaboo for him. (Learn more about starting new, rather than fixing it in the tip: “Don’t Fix Your Dog.”)

Lately, he’s been spot-on when he hears “Station” in the “Stand for Exam” exercise in Novice class. From the heel position, he pops up like a champ, and stands like a stone for the “head, shoulder, hip” examination. Naturally, we expected that he now understands what “Station” means.

Take nothing for granted

We found out – not so much. When we’re out in the yard, we play recall games with the dogs. They run back and forth between us for treats. Sometimes they get rewards just for coming. Other times they have to “do something” to get a treat. The other day Hope said “Station!” to Simon as he came to a stop in front of her. All he had to do was stand still. He did everything but.

Fran tried it – after all, he is her dog and training partner. Same result – down, sit, back up, etc. Everything but the stand we were looking for. She tried again with Simon at her side instead of in front of her. Perfect “Station!”

Dogs always tell

Simon was telling us, clear as day, that he understands “Station” only in context. He hasn’t generalized it at all. It matters where he’s positioned, where we’re training, and who’s asking him for the behavior. And, when he told us, we’re listening to him.

When your dog highlights the gaps in training, don’t be disappointed or frustrated. If your dog understands parts of the whole, you’re on track for filling in the rest. Just like you taught your dog the parts he/she knows, you can build understanding for the whole behavior.

Work the arc

In the example of Simon’s “Station!,” we’ll start by working a step at a time. Literally. Starting at heel position, we’ll take a step away, return and reward “Station!” if he stays put. Then we’ll take a small, side step away before we say “Station!” and see if he understands. We’ll gradually work in an arc, until we can stand facing him and he understands when we give the command.

Once dogs understand a word means the same thing no matter where you are, what you’re doing, or who says it, they’ve got it. The same holds true for hand signals. It may need a refresh once in a while, but it won’t be starting from scratch. As long as you use the command or signal once in a while, it should stay in their memory banks.

Use Mom voice with your dog

Dogs are capable of understanding hundreds of words. However, that doesn’t make them great conversationalists. When talking to your dog, keep it short and simple. And use your “mom” voice.

We have some dog training students who seem to have non-stop discussions with their dogs. And, predictably, their dogs pay little or no attention when they talk. What the dog hears is like the nonsense syllables of adults in the Charlie Brown cartoon shows: “Blah, blah, blahbity blah.”

Mean what you say

You and your dog make a great team! — Your dog’s primary job is to be a good companion!

Sometimes, you just talk to your dog. You’re just relaxing and hanging out, so you share the day’s events, or talk about plans. Or even just sing along with whatever song is playing. Dogs are great companions – that’s their number one job. And if you’re doing it right, you may even get that adorable head tilt.

Then there are times when you need your dog to pay attention and you want him/her to do as you say. Whether that’s “Stay!” when you’re carrying groceries into the house, or “Sit!” instead of jumping on Grandma when she’s offering a treat.

Those are the times you need your dog to understand and obey. We hesitate to use words like “command” or even “obey.” They convey a harshness that’s not necessary.

Mom voice

It’s more a tone of voice that lets the listener know you’re serious. Remember when your Mom asked you to take out the trash? You probably either ignored the first request, or responded “In a minute.”

For the second ask, her tone was less asking and more telling. And the third time, she used “mom voice” and you got up and took out the trash.

It didn’t mean she was angry – just that she really meant it that time. When you need your dog to obey, use that Mom voice. You don’t have to sound harsh, or belligerent. But you do have to sound like you mean it and that you expect your dog to do what you’ve said.

Silence is golden

If the first part of the equation is short, definitive speech, the second part is equally important. Once you’ve said “Dog, Sit!” shut up. Wait for your dog to process what you’ve said and do it.

If you keep talking, or repeat the command multiple times, your dog will either disregard the meaningless chatter, or wait for you to sound like you mean it.

We see it all the time. When the dog doesn’t do something instantly, the person repeats it. And teaches their dog that saying “Sit!” happens some number of times. It becomes a part of the behavior.

Part of the routine

Before you know it, you have a dog that waits until he/she hears it three times before doing it, whatever it is. Dogs are good at learning patterns. If it’s your pattern to chatter and repeat, it could be a factor in why your dog is slow or seems confused.

One of the most overused words dogs hear is their own name. Especially when people bark their dog’s name to get their attention. Either add a command to tell your dog what you want (and reward them for doing it), Or acknowledge and reward when your dog looks at you when you say his/her name. As we’ve said before, your dog’s name doesn’t mean much by itself.

Don’t neglect to give your dog a reason to pay attention. Deliver the information your dog needs Clearly and concisely. And always reward (treats, toys, praise, pets) when they do what you said.

Clear, concise communication is the goal.