Want your dog to listen every time? Stop talking! Silence says more than words!

Stop talking and start using body language. That’s right! Dogs are super smart and so much more intuitive than we give them credit for.

Body language & emotion is what our dogs are really in tune to. When you are excited and loud, you’re dog will be also. When you are anxious or worried, so is the dog. When you are calm and in control of your emotions, the dog can be too. First off we don’t take a newborn human baby and just let it learn on its own without direction, you have to teach them the behaviors you expect that are acceptable. Same with a puppy, it will be destructive and unruly if it isn’t taught what is expected and what is acceptable.

Set your dog up for success by rewarding good behaviors only. Dog training doesn’t mean one session, it is everyday encounters with your dog in all situations. Positive reinforcement is the way to have a healthy trusting relationship with your dog. They will want to do anything to make you happy, and be a loyal companion to you.

When training you should always have a dog on a lead, my favorite collar and lead is a no pull nose collar and multi length lead. https://amzn.to/3wvZeRQ. If you prefers halter, this front clip no pull halter is great https://amzn.to/3PxXfE3. Get the energy out with a walk or play time first. Before training make sure the dogs attention is on you and keep it on you throughout, this is the most important rule of them all.

When training use less words, use more body language and actions to show them what you want. Be patient, calm and wait for the behavior you expect, then you proceed to move forward. Don’t even take a step out of your door until they settle and turn attention to you first. Hold the lead, just stand there facing the door and don’t say a word. They will eventually look to ask why you aren’t going. When walking on a lead you don’t need to say a word, you stop and lift slightly on the lead and wait for the dog to sit and look up at you.

To stop pulling when walking on a lead, again don’t say a word and when they pull the leash tight change directions and go the other way without speaking. They learn to watch you and your cues, it teaches them to always have their attention on you. After they learn these cues and are doing the action or behavior you can start naming it as a heel, stop, sit or whatever you are teaching them.

Short lessons more frequently with the dogs full attention are way more productive. You don’t want long lessons where the dog looses interest giving only partial attention.

When the dogs attention is on you, instantly reward. Teach a dog with a single behavior/command/correction/redirection. Give that command once, the dog is on a lead so you can make sure they do the command you want. That way the dog knows exactly what you want, and there is only the option to obey. If you have to say come four times and your dog finally decides to come to you, they see commands as an option.

Be patient & be calm in body language & emotions. You will have to repeat, and repeat as many times as it takes. The more you repeat calmly and with consistency, the quicker the dog learns.

The behavior/command/correction/redirection doesn’t mean you have to use words. It can be a slight quick lift in the lead to correct or turn of direction to redirect attention back to you. Sometimes it is a stop of motion completely and wait for the dog to calm and turn his direction back to you.

Yes we can teach them word commands also, but one authoritative word is all it takes when speaking to a dog. Don’t yell and tell the dog everything they are doing wrong or use harsh punishments. You just simply DO NOT reward the bad behavior in any way, with touch or attention.

If they don’t know what you want, redirect and show them what you are asking of them. Show them the behavior and once they know how to do that behavior, then you can name the behavior. You don’t teach a toddler what an apple is by just saying apple, you show them an apple first and then you tell them the name is apple. That is how you teach a dog a new behavior or command. Show them how to sit (hold a treat in front of their nose up high almost out of their reach so their head is up and move hand backwards slightly, the bum usually goes down). Reward, repeat and make sure they sit, then start putting the name to it. They will catch on quick.

Don’t talk to or touch the dog while showing bad behavior, wait for the behavior you want. When the dog turns it’s attention to you and does the right behavior, immediately reward them.

Dogs are simple, we humans complicate things with too many words, emotions & harsh punishments. Calmly teach, correct, redirect and repeat.

Teach your dog so you can enjoy your dog! Make sure to have some fun with your dog while training and build a bond. Your dog will be your best friend for life!

My favorite no-pull dog head collar & leash make training your dog easy. No yanking on their neck. This collar simply guides the dogs nose in the direction you want, no more pulling. Also this multi-clip leash is very versatile for training, giving it different lengths or uses for training any size dog. https://amzn.to/3wvZeRQ

If you only need a no pull nose collar-

https://amzn.to/3sMQwMO

If you only need a lead-

https://amzn.to/3wxrPWM

If you prefer a harness for your short nosed breeds, this front clip harness is the way to go. This harness simply guides the dogs chest in the direction you want, no more pulling. https://amzn.to/3PxXfE3

Get communicating with your dog in a language they understand, body language, eye contact and cues. Good luck and happy training.

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