Success in Training

Ensuring that you have a successful training session starts before you even engage with your dog. Have your treats broken up to pea sized pieces and set them aside so that you don't need to break them up while your dog is attentive during training. Make space in your house so that there is plenty of room to work. You should also remove distractions to make it easy for your dog to focus. Think about what you want to work on for your session and anticipate any challenges or triumphs that may come up during training. Be prepared to reduce the difficulty of the training if your dog is having a hard time grasping the lesson. Also be ready to celebrate a big achievement or milestone. Your sessions don't need to be too long. About ten to fifteen minutes should suffice when working on new skills, and five minutes is enough for refreshers. Find ways to incorporate distractions when your dog is efficiently moving during training and displaying a clear understanding of the task. Above all, you want your dog to be excited to train and come back for another session so keep it fun and always end on a positive note.