Dog Training Tips

January is National Train Your Dog Month! If your canine pal hasn’t completed his petucation yet, this is a wonderful time to work with him. Training is of course crucial for teaching Fido how to be a good boy. However, it’s also very important for safety reasons. Here, a New Orleans, LA veterinarian offers some tips on training your dog.

All dogs should know basic obedience commands. Sit is usually the best to start with, as it’s the easiest for Fido to learn. The four other crucial ones are Lay Down, Come, Heel, and Stay . Teach these one at a time, and don’t move on until your four-legged friend has mastered each one.

One of the most important aspects of dog training is just being patient. Our canine companions don’t all learn at the same rate. Some pups pick things up very quickly, while others take longer. Never punish or reprimand your pooch for not learning quickly enough. This may cause Fido to dislike his training sessions. That’s the last thing you want!

Consistency is also very important here. You may find that there are several methods for training dogs. Once you’ve decided which route to take, stick to it. This is also something to remember when working on vocal commands. Don’t tell your canine buddy to ‘Come’ one day and then tell him ‘Fido, come here now!’ the next.

Keep your furry friend’s training sessions fun and interesting for him. Part of this entails keeping classes short and sweet. You don’t want to bore Fido with long classes. About 15-20 minutes a day will do just fine. Also, only work with your pup when you are in a good mood. If you’re grumpy or stressed, Fido will quickly pick up on it, and may feel uneasy.

Rewards are a huge part of training. Offer your pooch treats and praise when he does something right. Treats also make great rewards. You’ll want to go with small portions. If Fido gets too full, he’ll be more interested in napping than in learning!

You don’t have to stop training Fido once he has the basics down. Teach Fido a cute trick, or move on to advanced training. Many dogs like learning new things!

Please contact us, your New Orleans, LA vet clinic, anytime. We are here to help!