Tag: training never ends

So much dog training, so little time

Feeling overwhelmed by all there is to teach your dog? There’s so much dog training to do! Especially if you have a puppy or a newly-adopted dog. There’s just so much! From the daily routine, to potty-training, to leash walking, to jumping, barking, etc. The list goes on and on.

You don’t need to “fix” everything all at once. There’s no schedule, or deadline. Your relationship with your dog, your partnership, will grow over time and whatever issues you have will melt away as your dog’s understanding grows and strengthens.

Pick just one thing

Another consideration is how very tired you are with a new dog in the house. A new addition sucks up a lot of time and energy – without accomplishing much of anything. Or having much fun. We understand. You’re not alone.

And that’s why it’s vital to carve out those two minutes to have fun with your dog. Everyone can find two minutes to play! It doesn’t have to be the same time every day. Or the same place. 

All you have to do is decide. Play a dog training game around the last thing your dog did that was annoying. Or naughty. Or wonderful! You can also play games to reinforce good behavior.

It gets done – one little bit at a time

We come from a long and not-so-proud heritage of pack-rat personalities. We never reached hoarder status, but there was too much stuff. To turn things around, we just decided to do it. It’s probably the origin of 2-Minute-Trainer. Because we grabbed a timer, set it for 15 minutes, and tackled whatever mess was in front of us.

You can decide to play training games with your dog, too. You won’t “fix” everything in a day. It takes time. And the progress is incremental. But one day you’ll look around and realize – we did it! Our home was tidy! And you’ll look around one day, sooner than you think, and realize you have the world’s best dog!

So much dog training to do, but start with one annoying behavior at a time.

Don’t even try for big chunks. Nibble away! If there’s a specific behavior you want to change, picture the change and parse it into the smallest possible steps. Work one step at a time, and soon they’ll all be done. Remember the Lao Tzu proverb: The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. 

So much dog training

All dog training, even little Puppy Push-ups games, address the three things we all want: better manners, increased trust, and expanded confidence in our dogs. When you have no ideas for today’s game, fall back on something your dog already knows and loves. 

If you want to change it up, do it in a different room. Or outside. Just know that every single 2-Minute Training session you spend with your dog will have lasting effects. The relationship between you and your dog will grow geometrically as you play dog training games.

When are we done?

The short answer? Never!

Put another way – when are you done learning new stuff? We hope the answer is the same – never!

The game might change

Of course you’ll move on from the basics. There will come a day when your dog runs to his/her “place” when the doorbell rings, or knows to “sit” before dinner is served, or resists jumping when a guest comes in the house. 

Training changes over time, but it doesn’t ever have to end. 

Dog = toddler = learning sponge!

Dogs have often been equated to toddlers – they have the mentality of three-year-olds. Throughout their lives, they’re sponges – always able to learn new things, always up for a new game. No one would ever think to stop playing with a little kid! Why would you stop playing with your dog?

Training is playing

When you’re starting a 2-Minute-Training session with your dog, look at it as “We get to play now!” Not as “time for (insert least favorite subject here (math)) class.”

And remember how your perspective on that changed, too? When you were a little kid, before you even went to school, you played “pretend” school. Did it stop being fun when you got to the real thing? That’s sad. Whatever was done to stop the fun – don’t do that!

Stuck? Change it up!

If you’re stuck on a particular step, either take a break, or take a step back. Do something else. Look at it a different way. Change the routine.

Even when we’re trying to perfect a skill required for competition in dog sports, we don’t work on it every session, or even every day. Take a break. It’ll come. There’s nothing wrong with “mixing it up!” As a matter of fact, it’s a good thing. 

Dogs have favorite behaviors

Most dogs have favorites. If things aren’t going great with something new – revisit that old favorite. Hope’s Torque absolutely adores his “Tapping” behavior – he alternates touching his front paws on Hope’s corresponding foot. When he’s frustrated by something new, he goes right back into “Tapping” mode – hoping to coax Hope into doing something more comfortable than the new thing. 

And he usually gets his way – after another attempt or two at the new skill. That way everybody’s happy.

If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong

If training with your dog is a chore, if it’s an obligation rather than a joy, something’s wrong. That’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Something’s gotta change – an attitude adjustment, a different perspective, a bit of a break. 

You never have to be done with playing with your dog.