Dog Time vs Dog Quantity

5 x 1 minute sessions of teaching your dog anything beats a 1 x 5 minute session every time.  This also gives you the benefit of ending the session whilst the dog is still interested.  If you wait until he is bored the session has been too long.

Dogs are conceptual about environment and surfaces so practice whatever the task, indoors, outdoors, on the grass, on the pavement etc.

Shorter training times will leave him more enthusiastic about the next time and help build the value of being near you.

Try spontaneously dropping in your sessions in around your lifestyle routines.  E.g. If your dog is hanging around as you hang the washing or on an ad break during TV time.  A wait before he exits the door is good practice too but if it’s upon waking he may be in a hurry for ‘toilet’ so make it a short wait please.

Loose lead walk training first thing in the morning may not be the best time for some dogs as they are learning.   Dogs are usually highly energized early morning.  If this is the only time you can commence you could start with some fetch to burn the edge off their energy.  The main thing is to wait for ‘calm’ before that leash goes on and for ‘calm’ before you walk through the gate.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)