Train like you walk, one step at a time- or rather one paw at a time since we are talking dog training! But in all seriousness, patience and understanding go a long way in effective training.
Another way to think about it: your pup is learning a new language when you are training them, something that is a challenge for us even when we want to learn a new language. We know that it can be pretty overwhelming, but celebrate every victory and learn from every mistake and you will go very far.
We also recommend you start basic obedience training sooner rather than later to ensure your dog learns good behaviors from an early age. If you are unsure when to start, give us a call and we will be happy to set up a free training consultation, as our trainer will be able to evaluate your dog to see if we are a good fit and which program may be best.
We like to think of a dogs crate as a cozy space, not a place of punishment! Your dog should think of its crate like you think of your own bedroom. The reason is pretty simple- dogs are originally pack animals, which utilize dens for sleep, recreation, and safety; so wolves are to a den as a dog is to a crate. We know it isn’t the exact same thing, so that is why crate training is important.
You start by getting them used to the crate as a place of rest, where they can sleep soundly without any fear of disturbance. Once they are used to that they will start to see it as safe space and start to bring their own toys or favorite things to make it their own. And that is great- you like your room in a particular way, so does your pup!
Another key part of crate training is that it gets your pup used to a schedule, as they will make the connection that overnight or during the work day they need to patiently wait to go outside.
We tend to follow a certain set of commands for our training, however we do know that every situation is different so we are also flexible.
If you need your pup to learn commands in a different language, we would be happy to include them in our routines. If you want your pup to be more of a recreational and possible hunting companion, we can also set up different commands for that.
Basic commands are but a building block of training, they allow your pup to recognize certain words and connect them with actions. Consistency and repetition are essential, and with continued work it will become a good habit for both you and your dog. Start by keeping training sessions short, as dogs can only take so much mental stimulation at a time- it can be a very big project, but just take it one step at a time and revel in the small victories.
We believe in starting them early, but also starting them fairly slow. A new puppy especially needs time to acclimate to their new home and life, so diving into the deep end will not always render good results. Getting your pup used to all the basics first will set them up to be able to conquer the more advanced behaviors when the time comes.
At Sit Means Sit of Northwest Arkansas we believe in starting puppy training as young as 10 weeks of age, and it can go until they become about 6 months old. If you are unsure if your pup is at the right place to start basic obedience training, give us a call and set up a free training consultation- our trainer can let you know after they personally meet your pup!
From our experience private training tends to be much more effective than group classes. The personalized touch that you can give during a private lesson is lost in a group class, where each dog is at a different level and each owner has a different end goal. A private training session is essentially a one-on-one tutor with one of our certified trainers giving you their full attention and understanding to help you get through any issues you may be having.
Here at Sit Means Sit we offer our main training programs as private sessions, and then we also give mini-refresher lessons for when you complete training- to give you a personalized experience from the very start of your training journey.
Most people want to have a dog that is a great companion, and we want that for you too! It may seem like a daunting task, but with a little hard work and lots of consistency it will pay off in the long run. We believe that positive reinforcement will get you very far too, as every pup likes to know they are a good dog!
You will also get very far by being a good listener and observer of your pup. Take care to recognize what triggers them to do something naughty- and how you can redirect them in a positive way to turn it into a learning experience rather than a punishment.
It can get frustrating, and if it does, just take a step back and reevaluate your body language and composure, as your pup is picking up on all of that. The famous saying ‘practice makes perfect’ holds true here, the more you do, the more they will do. Training your dog should be a very rewarding experience, if you are struggling and want some help, just give us a call- it is why we are here!
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