Make Dog Training Easier – 10 Tips

10 Quick Training Tips for Smooth Dog Training

1. Make sure your dog’s basic needs are met.
   A tired, hungry, overstimulated, or under-exercised dog won’t be in the right state to learn.

2. Use treats that are easy to break into small pieces.
   It’s a good idea to have both high-value treats and some that are a bit more boring—like their regular food. For calm training, “boring” treats often work better.

3. Start in a safe, familiar space.
   Once your dog knows the exercise, you can slowly add more distractions and new environments.

4. Watch your voice.
   When you give a command, speak like you know exactly what you’re doing. Use the same tone you’d use if someone asked you for directions to the bathroom—and you knew the answer for sure.

5. Be encouraging, even if it’s not perfect.
   Believe in your dog. Praise them every time they try—even if it’s just a little.

6. Use a clicker word.
   This could be “YES,” “GOOD,” or even a click sound. The key is that it’s always the same word/sound, and only used after your dog does something exactly right.

7. Respect what your dog is telling you.
   Sometimes we try to train something the dog just doesn’t want to do. If something keeps going wrong, it might be better to switch to a different trick and come back to it later.

8. Stop while things are going well.
   Make sure your dog had fun—and end with an easy success so you both leave the session feeling good.

9. Don’t name the trick too early.
   Wait until your dog can do the trick before adding a cue word. And always use the same word and the same hand signal for that specific behavior.

10. Find what works for you and what your dog loves.
    Every dog is different. For example, Yuna loves paw tricks—but refuses to lie down if the floor is cold. Training is way more fun when your dog is actually enjoying it.