Catch your dog being good. When you see good behavior, reward it. You’ll find your dog offers good behaviors on their own, rather than waiting for commands.
Keep training sessions fun, short (3-10 minutes at a time, a couple times a day), and end while they’re still engaged. No boring drills!
Listen to what your dog has to say. Body language is one of the only ways your dog can communicate with you.
Don’t punish an emotional state. Focus on addressing the root cause, not punishing symptoms, and avoid the outdated “alpha” mentality.
Prioritize the welfare of your dog over “results” and have species-appropriate expectations.
Be patient, both with yourself and your dog. Dogs don’t speak our language and behavior does not change overnight.
Teach alternate behaviors rather than punishing. “No” isn’t a behavior. Show your dog what you want them to do instead.
Be consistent. For example, if you let your dog pull on a leash sometimes, they will learn to always try. Frequent training sessions with consistent expectations will speed up your results.
Ensure your dog has appropriate outlets for energy and mental stimulation to reduce unwanted behaviors.
Manage the environment to prevent undesired behaviors from being practiced. Train for the triggering event, not during it.
