Equipment & Basic Attention
Dog Training Tip-March 2023
The day is finally here, you have welcomed your new four-legged family member into your home, and you are excited to begin your journey together as best friends!
You have done your research well and chosen your educated certified trainer who understands the value of reward-based training and avoids fear and intimidation in their methods. Set up your plan to work at your dog’s pace to teach foundation and life skills and safely introduce active socialization. This will allow you to address together any behavior concerns that may pop up along the way.
Let’s review some of the basics to help get you started on the right path, right now.
First choose the correct walking equipment and adjust it to fit them properly. Front clip harnesses will help you feel in control and set you up for walking success along with a basic standard 6–8-foot leash.
• Blue 9 Balance Harness
• 2 Hounds Freedom No Pull Harness
• Pet Safe Easy Walk Harness
The front clip harness works against their oppositional reflex to pull and allows pain free learning, encouraging your dog to check in for frequent attention and respect the end of their leash while out on walks.
It is super important to work on your bond by practicing your handling skills. Pair your calm touch initially with treats and always read their body language for consent. Take your time when you are introducing new equipment and tools, so they can be active participants. You want your hands to always mean good things.
Remember the goodest of boys and girls are not born that way but are made by your commitment to continual training!
The most important foundational skill is learning to capture and reward your dog’s attention. You want your dog to check in often and ask for your direction. You also want them to know their name and look to you when you call it. These are important initial steps for teaching recall and loose leash walking.
Start by teaching your dog a conditioned reinforcer. This will act as a bridge or reward marker and allows you to get precise with your timing! It tells the dog exactly what they did right and that a reward is coming. It will also allow you to properly use and fade out food rewards. “YES” is perfect, unlike a clicker, we always have it with us and it sounds sharp and unique to our dogs. The best part is that you can use their mealtime kibble in addition to your other healthy treats.
• Start by having a handful of treats, it does not matter what your dog is doing.
• Say “yes” and wait a second to deliver the treat.
• You do not want to confuse them and say “yes” at the same time as you are giving them the treat.
• Continue this step at least 20-30 times per session and do multiple sessions over a couple of days. You can then start to randomize it so they can learn it further.
Teaching and Learning Name Attention:
• Start with a handful of treats and no distractions.
• Say your dog’s name ONCE and hold the treat to your eye.
• Wait it out! Make some little kissy noises or something to get your dogs attention and be creative.
• When your dog looks to you, say “yes” and immediately reward them.
Once your dog begins to understand this part you can delay the praise and rewards and begin to phase out the lure.
• Place the treat about six inches from your eyes and say your dogs name ONCE.
• They will look at the treat. Wait it out for them to look to your eyes.
• When they make eye contact say “yes” and reward.
• This will be your new benchmark for eye contact. As you practice, you can slowly move the treat further from your eyes until it is out of sight.
Practice this skill with your dog in all types of environments and distractions to proof it up and remember to only say your dogs name only once.
Capture your Dog’s Offered Attention:
Often as dog owners we do a great job of ignoring them when they are behaving and only come to life when they are not. We want to teach our dog that looking to us means wonderful things and that YOU are high value to them. This will help them learn to check in with us in all types of environments and distractions.
• Make sure to start off with no distractions.
• Keep your food rewards on you but not in sight.
• When your dog looks to you, say “yes” and reward.
This is a behavior that you will want to practice and reward often. Especially when we begin walking outdoors, we do not want the outside world and all its distractions to be more exciting and BECOME the reward. Make sure you practice and proof it up in all types of settings.
You will be surprised how fast your dog will pick up on their new skills and your trainer will be impressed! Training is so bonding and provides such valuable enrichment. Keep your sessions short and remember that your dog is always learning from you and their environment. And most importantly, HAVE FUN!
