Getting Started with Obedience Training

January is National Train Your Dog Month, and AVC is here to help you get started before the first month of 2021 passes you by! Whether you’re trying to teach an old pup some new tricks or you’re starting fresh with a new puppy, learning the best practices for obedience training among pet parents can help your furry best friend to have a happy, healthy, and low-stress life.

1. Just Relax!

Especially for new pups, helping your pet feel comfortable at home is an essential part to effective training. Making sure that your furry best friend has a comfy and quiet area of their own to relax can help them to be ready for learning tons of new skills and tricks!

2. Reward Good Behavior.

Your little guy or gal has tons of paw-some moments ahead of them! Positively reinforce your pet’s good behavior with toys, love, treats, and lots of praise. Letting them know what they’re getting right and when can help them to replicate their great behavior. On the contrary, be careful never to accidentally reward bad behavior, as this might confuse them!

3. Follow “Dog Time!”

Think your attention span is short? Your dog probably has you beat! Two minutes after your pup has done something, they have already forgotten about it! So, when your pet is doing something bad, use your chosen training technique right away so that they associate the correction with the unwanted behavior.

4. Say No to Biting, Nipping, and Jumping.

We love your dog’s adorable smile and how excited they are to see us, but it’s important to make sure that you train your little fur ball to greet their friends the right way. If your dog tries to jump up on you or another human friend, just turn your back on them and ignore the behavior. By avoiding positive reinforcement of this behavior, they’ll soon learn to avoid jumping up on people.

If your little guy or gal gets a little mouthy by biting or nipping at you or another person, pretending that you’re in a lot of pain with a sharp, loud yell should work. Most dogs are actually so surprised that they stop immediately! If not, swapping your hand/pant leg with a chew toy should do the trick.

5. You’re Not Alone!

Don’t forget that AVC has got your back. If you have any questions or concerns about training your pup, our friendly and knowledgeable veterinary technicians have got the answers! Want to reach out? Give us a call, pay us a visit in person, or submit questions through our website. We can’t wait to meet your adorable furry best friend!