Getting Started with Obedience Training: Tips, Tricks, and Accessories

Help Your Puppy Learn Basic Tricks with Obedience Training

January is the perfect time to start on obedience training—because it’s both a fresh start with a new year as well as National Train Your Dog Month. There are several effective ways to train your companion, whether it’s DIY at home training or obedience classes taken with experts. No matter your budget or time constraints, there’s a perfect fit for every pet parent. That’s why here at Spruce Pup, we’ve created this informative guide to obedience training for every pet owner.

Find What Works Best With Your Pup: Clicker Training or Positive Reinforcement

Test Your Options To See What’s Most Effective in Obedience Training

Every dog is different—while some may react positively to clicker training, others may not quite understand and need treats and praise with positive reinforcement to learn. This is one of the many trial and error sections of training, but finding what works best for your pup will allow for easier and more effective obedience training, plus both of you will enjoy it more! We suggest starting out with positive reinforcement, as dogs are much more likely to react in a productive and helpful way. Treats can be bought at any pet store, or they can be cooked at home. When we train our dogs, we give them a good mixture of home cooked turkey or chicken as well as pet store treats.

Learn Which Equipment Works Best

Getting the Best Equipment for Pet Training

Before you start obedience training, you should begin by purchasing the essentials. We recommend these items for your pet to ensure smooth training:

• A comfortable leash or harness 
• Portable necessities such as a water bowl or bed
• A bag for carrying treats, waste bags, and a leash

Since you’ll be out and about with your pup training, it’s important to have water, an essentials bag, and comfortable accessories. Here at Spruce Pup, we offer a wide range of comfortable traveling accessories for dogs to make your training experience much more enjoyable and relaxed. By having these items, you’ll be prepared for any kind of outing.

Start the Actual Obedience Training Process

I Know What Training Style My Dog Likes—Now What?

Once you find what training method your dog reacts positively to, it’s time for the actual training process. There are two different sections that you’ll want to focus on, both basic commands as well as general obedience. Start with the basics—learning to sit, stay, and come are the fundamentals that every single dog should know. Other basic obedience that can be taught includes not laying on the couch or jumping up on guests as well as leash etiquette.  Work with your dog a few times a day for around 15 minutes to keep them focused and engaged, as their attention spans are working against you. Once your dog learns the basics, you can start to move onto new and complex tricks!

Stay Patient While Training

Keep Yourself and Your Pup Motivated

If this is your first time training a dog, there are bound to be ups and downs in the process. Keep calm and don’t get frustrated, as this energy will start to rub off on your dog as well. By taking things slow and training in small intervals, you’ll be able to walk away from it for a while and come back again. Something to remember is that obedience training isn’t linear—some dogs will catch on quickly, while others may take a significant amount of time to start to understand. By staying consistent and calm during the process, your dog will feel more at ease and will be more likely to respond positively to training.

Doubt Yourself? Classes Are Always Available

Learn How to Train Your Dog From a Professional

If you don’t think you have the time or experience to train your dog entirely by yourself, professional classes are also a great option. Here, you’ll be able to work with someone who has trained numerous dogs and knows exactly how to help your pup. Not only will you be able to work on basic obedience with your pet, but you’ll also be training them in socialization. If you’re looking to take your dog to the park or other places where there are many people, it’s incredibly important that they start socializing with other people and dogs when they’re young. Something you should keep in mind, however, is that professional training isn’t a complete solution—you have to continue that training at home for it to become effective.