What You Need To Start Training
A positive attitude
This may sound cliche, but a positive attitude is an important part of a good training session. Most dogs respond best when the person on the other end of the leash is happy to be training. The more frustrated you are when you train, the harder it will be to end up with a positive result.
Good rewards
Some dogs are happy even just working for their kibble, but really good training treats can motivate your dog even more. Plus, sometimes we ask our dogs to do some crazy things, so it is good to give them a reward that is worth their while. A good rule of thumb is to match the difficulty of whatever you are asking your dog to do with the value of the treat. If you are asking your dog to do something you haven't worked on a ton in the middle of a crowded park, you better break out the chicken and hot dogs. If you are in your living room working on a familiar cue, kibble might be okay. The ideal training treat has an attractive smell to your dog and is small enough that it won't disrupt the flow of the training session -- not to mention that giving your dog a lot of large treats can lead to weight gain. I recommend using treats that are about the size of your pinky fingernail.
It is also important to keep in mind that for some dogs, treats aren't the most rewarding option. Some dogs prefer being rewarded with toys or simple praise. Figure out what your dog likes best, and use that reward when you are training.
It is also important to keep in mind that for some dogs, treats aren't the most rewarding option. Some dogs prefer being rewarded with toys or simple praise. Figure out what your dog likes best, and use that reward when you are training.
Clicker
A clicker is a great tool to use because it allows for specific marking of the behaviors you like. They are inexpensive and can help you communicate with your dog even better. Here is a video talking about introducing the clicker to your training sessions.
Treat pouch
I recommend using a treat pouch when training. Their design allows for accurate timing when giving treats since the treat pouch can attach right to your hip. I have definitely used plastic bags full of treats before, and a treat pouch works much better than digging around in those!
A calm, quiet location
For training sessions when you are teaching your dog something brand new, I recommend starting in an area that has no distractions. Typically a place indoors works best in the early stages. If you have more than one dog, it is usually best to split them up at this point, so they don't distract each other while learning. As your dog gets more comfortable with the cue, it is okay to start adding in distractions slowly to begin to generalize the cue. For example, once your dog is comfortable sitting various places inside, you can change locations and work on the cue in your yard or at the pet store.
