Be Creative to Make Dog Training Exercises Fun For You and Your Dog
Many owners end up thinking of dog training as a chore. Dog training exercises should be fun and satisfying – both for you and your dog. And they will be, as long as you have the right attitude and approach things in the appropriate way.
Dogs get tired just like we do. And if they are tired, they probably won't be too motivated to do anything for reward. However, if your training sessions are always fun, if you try and sneak in some training during play time or make a game of it, training will be more effective and stay positive.
The come command is easy to learn but hardest to develop consistency with - and that's important because it is one of the most important commands your dog needs to understand. Dogs love to explore and they'll always be tempted to ignore you if you call when they've found something interesting. The only sure way [method] to acheive consistency in recall is through re-enforcement. Doesn’t sound like much fun does it? Well, it can be fun - our kids [children] discovered a great training exercise that's fun for everyone and that has really re-enforced the recall command. And that, is hide and seek!
Make Dog Training Fun - Use Games
Make sure he's hungry (feed him a bit less at his last feeding time) and get some great treats ready. Give the stay command and go hide in a different room. Enjoy it - go hide in the bath - get behind the clothes in a closet - pick unusual places your dog doesn't normally see you. Nex, call him [her]. It'll take about one second before you hear your dog racing to find you. If you've really found a cool place, it's going to take a couple of minutes to find you. It’s hilarious watching them sniff around, run into a room and then out looking! And give him [her] that peice of chicken dog he's [she's] working so hard for as soon as he [she] does find you!
The kids have a blast with this. The laughter is great for them and our dogs. It’s FUN and the dogs are re-enforcing the conditioned response of coming when their name is called. The other benefit of making this game a family activity is that your dog is learning to respond to the come command from all members of the family. Feeling silly shouldn't be a worry for any adult - it's a great exercise for us as well. You may feel like a kid the first time you hide in the closet with a peice of meat in your hand, but so what - you'll laugh when your dog gets his nose right into the closet looking for you - and what's wrong with being a kid! You'll feel young again!
Training Should Progress Logically
Of course, this isn’t the first dog training exercise you need to master. Teaching them to focus on you comes before everything else. And you should probably do some homework and consult one of the better dog obedience training books. But if you’re always looking for ways to make the training fun, it’s going to be. Not just for you, but for the whole family and your dog.
