Do Something

Choose a behavior that you want to train your dog to do. Got it? That’s a start, but often people never get to the next step, which is doing something. This tip is to do something towards instilling this behavior. For a lot of things you might want to teach, you can teach it quickly, reinforce it during the week, and by this time next week your dog will have the behavior down pat.

If you are in a time and place where you can do something right now, that’s the best! (I just took my own advice. My ten-year-old LarryDog had never learned a good “stand” so I have been teaching that, using the word “level.” Whenever he wants to please me, he sits, which is often, so I wanted a word that didn’t begin with S. Anyway, he just did a very nice level.)

Whether or not you can do it now, think when you can do it, and keep an eye out for opportunities to train.

Even if you aren’t quite sure how to do a task, there is something about starting it that gives you ideas.

Build on where you are now

Take some time this week (how about right now?) to consider what you have already achieved in your dog training activities throughout your life. Go back to the first dog training you ever did and just let your mind roll over what you have learned, right up till now. You may be surprised to see what you have learned. Patience? Persistence? Specific methods of potty training, teaching sit, whatever?

Appreciate what you have done well, and if there are some regrets, just move on.

Now think about your current dog situation. What have you already achieved with this dog or dogs? Where (if anywhere) do you feel stuck? What would you like to do next? Do you know how to do it? If not, surf this site, or use the search box at the top right of every page.

Making some notes would be a good idea.