This post is covering a few simple dog training tips I’ve picked up from other dog owners and various dog trainers over the past couple years.
Simple Dog Training Tips? Really?
Obviously, I’m not a trainer. I’m not even a skilled dog owner. However, when we brought Pandora home, I dove into research mode. Technically, I was researching before we even got her home. I’m a bit neurotic about learning. Anyway, I watched way too many dog training YouTube videos, read way too many blogs on training, and cornered anyone who walked by me with a dog for their best tips.
Let’s address the elephant in this blog post: training a dog isn’t easy. However, these tips that I learned made an enormous difference right off the bat. So, when I say “Simple,” I mean they worked really fast.
Training Tip #1 – Step Back
When teaching recall, whenever you are standing and calling your dog, take a step back. You only want to do this while your dog is looking at you otherwise (obviously), they won’t see you do it. When Pandora was younger and debating whether or not she wanted to come back to me, this move made all the difference. I’d call her, she would turn and look at me. If she didn’t head toward me withing a couple seconds, I’d step backward. She would then come to me, without me saying another word.
Side note: Some trainers love the “look at me” command and some hate it. I hold no grudges to one style of dog training or another, nor do I scorn differences of opinions. At the end of the day, I want my dog safe, and I want to do it in the best way that I think will work for me and Pandora.
Simple Training Tip #2 – Walk or Jog Away from Your Dog
I think this one is building off of the first tip. This worked within seconds the first time I ever used it on Pandora. We were in the early stages of recall training, we were out on the trails, and I spotted a person about a quarter mile from us. Since Pandora was off leash, I called her. She didn’t come back to me. She did stop and look back at me, so I turned around and started walking quickly away from her. And ZIP! she was right next to me. I praised her and put her leash on, and we continued our walk.
Now days, I don’t need to do this often, but every once in a great moon she’ll delay coming back to me and I’ll start walking away and she zips right back to me. I’m pretty sure if I could find something to translates her huffs and grumbles, she’d sound like a teenager, “Geez, Mom!”
Training Tip #3 – Use Hand Signals with Commands
Every time I teach Pandora a new command, I add a hand signal with it. After she masters the command, she also understands the hand signal that goes with that command. Now when I’m on the trails and we come across other people, I can put Pandora into a “sit” or “down” and “wait” without having to interrupt the small conversation.
It’s helpful when I’m on the phone (I really need to figure out a hand signal for “no barking”), or when we have visitors. And it took no extra effort to train.
Training Tip #4 – Don’t Yell and Repeat
I’ve learned to use a firm voice (which is a lower version of my normal voice and it’s controlled) and give a command one time. If Pandora doesn’t listen the first time, I use a hand gesture or whistle to get her to look my way before repeating my original command.
I know, I said, “don’t repeat.” What I mean is don’t keep chasing your dog, yelling “get back here, come here, stop, no, come!” I’ve never seen a dog respond to that. When you’re in the midst of training, your dog needs a second or two to process the command. The hardest part of this tip is waiting at least two seconds before you repeat or try a different method.
With Pandora, I still am the one who needs to remember to count to two. When I teach her something new, I tend to give a command like “wait” and if she jumps before I even finish my command, sometimes I will let a “no” slip out. And that is a sure-fire sign she won’t listen.
Training Tip #5 – Ditch the Retractable Leash
The simplest tip, for controlling your dog on leash is to get rid of the retractable leash. And, if you’re using a normal leash, don’t give the dog the full length.
When Pandora was a puppy, her yank on a leash could give a little wobble to my stability. At that time, I held the leash, by the handle provided. The problem is the dog gets a little slack, then runs against it and creates more force than you expect. One day, I took the leash closer to her, and did this little partial wrap near my fingers (Video that shows the grip). That move gave me so much more control over Pandora’s yanking. It’s worked so much better than I expected, I can even control my friend’s pleasantly plump lab when he gets out of hand, just by holding the leash like this.
