Training Tips

Dog Training tips for our neighbors in Dahlonega and all over North Georgia designed to get you off on the right foot with your dog.

 

  • LISTEN TO YOUR DOG Learn to listen to your dog.  If your dog appears to be uncomfortable meeting another dog, animal or person, don’t pressure him.  He’s telling you that he isn’t comfortable for a reason, and you should respect that.
  • BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR AFFECTION Make sure you give your dog lots of attention when he’s doing the right thing.  Let him know when he’s been a good boy.  That’s the time to be extra generous with your attention and praise.
  • DOES HE REALLY LIKE IT? Some dogs are very selective about what they like to eat.  Soft and chewy treats are usually more exciting for your dog than hard and crunchy treats.  Keep your eyes open for what he enjoys.
  • BE CONSISTENT Consistency will be the key to your success.  If you are telling your dog “off” when he jumps on the couch and someone else is saying “down,” while someone else is letting him hang out up there, how on earth is he ever going to learn what you want?
  • HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS Changing behavior takes time. You need to have realistic expectations about changing your dog’s behavior as well as how long it will take to change behaviors that you don’t like. You also need to consider how long your dog has rehearsed the behavior. Remember it’s never too late to change the behavior, some dogs will just take longer than others to learn.
  • DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE BENEFITS OF FEEDING A HIGH QUALITY FOOD Feed your dog a high-quality diet with appropriate amounts of protein. The money that you will spend on feeding an appropriate quality food will often be money that you save in vet bills later on.  At a minimum, make sure that a named meat is the first ingredient in your dog’s food.  It should not be followed by the word “byproduct”. Also, your dog’s food should not contain corn.
  • YOU GET WHAT YOU REINFORCE – NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU WANT If your dog exhibits a behavior you don’t like, there is a strong likelihood that it’s something that has been reinforced before. Why? Because you will have taught him persistence pays off.  Before you know it you’ll have a dog that barks and barks every time he wants something.
  • BRIBERY VS. REWARD The idea of using treats to train is often equated with bribery. Truthfully, dogs do what works. If using treats gets them to do what you want, then do it. Every interaction you have with your dog is a learning opportunity. Remember, the behavior should produce the treat; the treat should not produce the behavior.
  • FREEDOM Let your new dog gradually earn freedom throughout your home. A common error that many pet parents make is giving their new dog too much freedom. This can easily lead to accidents relating to house-training and destructive chewing. Close off doors to unoccupied rooms and use baby gates to section off parts of the house. One of the best ways to minimize accidents is to keep your dog tethered to you in the house. Use a crate or doggie safe area when you can’t actively supervise and reduce the opportunity for bad behaviors.
  • EXERCISE Your dog just can’t sit in the house all day long waiting for you to come home, and when you do, expect him not go “happy nuts” with you.  He has been cooped up all day long and needs to run and play.  Make sure that you provide your dog the proper exercise every day to get all that energy out so that he has the opportunity to be well behaved.  Just think of your kids after they have been in the back seat of your SUV on the way to Disney World.  I think you get my point.

Please contact us if you have any dog training questions.

 

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Dog Training of Dawson, Hall,
Forsyth & Cherokee County Ga
Phone: 770-718-7704
Email: [email protected]

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Training Tips

Dog Training Tips from Bruce and Robin Edwards of North Georgia Dog Training

  • LISTEN TO YOUR DOG Learn to listen to your dog.  If your dog appears to be uncomfortable meeting another dog, animal or person, don’t pressure him.  He’s telling you that he isn’t comfortable for a reason, and you should respect that.
  • BE GENEROUS WITH YOUR AFFECTION Make sure you give your dog lots of attention when he’s doing the right thing.  Let him know when he’s been a good boy.  That’s the time to be extra generous with your attention and praise.
  • DOES HE REALLY LIKE IT? Some dogs are very selective about what they like to eat.  Soft and chewy treats are usually more exciting for your dog than hard and crunchy treats.  Keep your eyes open for what he enjoys.
  • BE CONSISTENT Consistency will be the key to your success.  If you are telling your dog “off” when he jumps on the couch and someone else is saying “down,” while someone else is letting him hang out up there, how on earth is he ever going to learn what you want?
  • HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS Changing behavior takes time. You need to have realistic expectations about changing your dog’s behavior as well as how long it will take to change behaviors that you don’t like. You also need to consider how long your dog has rehearsed the behavior. Remember it’s never too late to change the behavior, some dogs will just take longer than others to learn.
  • DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE BENEFITS OF FEEDING A HIGH QUALITY FOOD Feed your dog a high-quality diet with appropriate amounts of protein. The money that you will spend on feeding an appropriate quality food will often be money that you save in vet bills later on. At a minimum, make sure that a named meat is the first ingredient in your dog’s food.  It should not be followed by the word “byproduct”. Also, your dog’s food should not contain corn.
  • YOU GET WHAT YOU REINFORCE – NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU WANT If your dog exhibits a behavior you don’t like, there is a strong likelihood that it’s something that has been reinforced before. Why? Because you will have taught him persistence pays off.  Before you know it you’ll have a dog that barks and barks every time he wants something.
  • BRIBERY VS. REWARD The idea of using treats to train is often equated with bribery. Truthfully, dogs do what works. If using treats gets them to do what you want, then do it. Every interaction you have with your dog is a learning opportunity. Remember, the behavior should produce the treat; the treat should not produce the behavior.
  • FREEDOM Let your new dog gradually earn freedom throughout your home. A common error that many pet parents make is giving their new dog too much freedom. This can easily lead to accidents relating to house-training and destructive chewing. Close off doors to unoccupied rooms and use baby gates to section off parts of the house. One of the best ways to minimize accidents is to keep your dog tethered to you in the house. Use a crate or doggie safe area when you can’t actively supervise and reduce the opportunity for bad behaviors.
  • EXERCISE Your dog just can’t sit in the house all day long waiting for you to come home, and when you do, expect him not go “happy nuts” with you.  He has been cooped up all day long and needs to run and play.  Make sure that you provide your dog the proper exercise every day to get all that energy out so that he has the opportunity to be well behaved.  Just think of your kids after they have been in the back seat of your SUV on the way to Disney World.  I think you get my point.

Please contact us if you have any dog training questions.