#COMMON HANDS SIGNALS FOR TRAINING DOGS HOW TO#

Always keep training sessions brief-just five to 10 minutes-and always end on a positive note. Puppies can begin very simple training starting as soon as they come home, usually around 8 weeks old. Food is often the most convenient way to reinforce behavior.

If you give the dog a treat while saying “Good dog!” in a happy voice, they will learn that praise is a good thing and can be a reward. Lavish praise or the chance to play with a favorite toy can also be used as a reward.

Most people use small pieces of a “high-value” food for training treats- something special, such as freeze-dried liver or even just their kibble. Reinforcement can be anything your dog likes.

#COMMON HANDS SIGNALS FOR TRAINING DOGS HOW TO#

Patience will go a long way in helping your new puppy learn how to behave. It is important to remember that we can’t expect dogs to know what they don’t yet know–just like you wouldn’t expect a 2-year-old child to know how to tie their shoes. Punishment can cause a dog to become confused and unsure about what is being asked of them.

The idea is not to bribe with the behavior but to train it using something your dog values.Īvoid using punishment such as leash corrections or yelling. Positive reinforcement is the process of giving a dog (or person!) a reward to encourage the behavior you want, like getting a paycheck for going to work. The foundation of training should be based on positive reinforcement. This will make them feel secure in their ability to meet the goals laid out going forward. To start off on the right foot (and paw!) with your pup, they’ll need to know what you expect.

Common hands signals for training dogs