Training Your Dog At Home

Offering Some General Advice On How To Train Your Dog At Home In Honor Of National Train Your Dog Month

Dogs are absolutely amazing animals that make very loyal, protective, and loving pets. However, dogs may be domesticated, but they are not always obedient. Most dogs require a great deal of training. This is because a dog’s behavior, temperament, and social skills all stem from proper training. 

The entire month of January is recognized as National Train Your Dog Month! In honor of this pet-themed holiday, this article will discuss some general tips on how to train your dog. Additionally, this article will offer some advice on how to pick a dog trainer that’s right for you and your dog.

Full Disclosure

To be clear, ParaMount Pet Care is not a dog training facility and its employees are not dog trainers. However, we do have many years of experience in working with dogs. During these years, we have learned a lot about the do’s and don’ts of dog training and dog behavior.

All information presented in this article is based on our own personal experiences working with dogs or from professional sources such as the A.K.C. (American Kennel Club), R.S.P.C.A. (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), and TrainYourDogMonth.com. 

Origin Of The Holiday

National Train Your Dog Month was created in 2012 by the Association of Professional Dog Trainers. This month-long holiday was created to remind dog owners about the importance of proper dog training. Whether it’s teaching tricks or general obedience, dogs need proper training in order to thrive around people and other pets. 

General Advice

While there are hundreds of books and guides written about dog training, we can only include a handful of information in this article. Therefore, we will be sticking to the basics of dog training. Here are just a few general pieces of information regarding dog training. 

Rewarding Good Behavior

There are several different schools of thought when it comes to dog training. To be fair, all forms of dog training can be good. However, there is no universal, one-size-fits-all dog training style. Every dog is different and will respond differently to different styles of training. 

For the purposes of this article, we will be focusing on reward-based training. Essentially, when a dog displays a particular desired behavior, they are rewarded. This reward is usually a treat or toy of some kind. By rewarding a certain behavior, they are more likely to repeat it. Additionally, be sure to use a reward that your pet really enjoys like their favorite treat. 

Start Early

If you want an obedient and well behaved dog, then you must train them at a young age. Behavioral training during puppyhood will ensure they carry those traits with them throughout adulthood. If you don’t train dogs when they’re young, they will develop bad habits and behaviors. In many cases, these bad behavioral issues are hard to break after they have been doing them for so long. 

Be Patient

Training a dog is typically not easy. It requires a lot of time, energy, and trial & error. Because of this, we remind you to be patient with them. Most dogs will not learn on the first try. It will often take dozens, if not hundreds, of repeated exercises until a dog learns the desired behavior or trick. Remember that this is a process that will take some time. But, the end result of a well-trained dog will always be worth it!

Consistency

Dogs enjoy structure and routine in their lives. That’s why the best way to train a dog is to be consistent in your training. Dog training should occur everyday, relatively around the same time. The type of training should also be consistent over a long course of time. This is to ensure that the dog fully understands and remembers the training. Even after your dog has learned a certain trick or behavior, it’s still good to occasionally reinforce the training.

Professional Trainers

If training your own dog doesn’t seem like a good option, then consider hiring a professional instead. A professional dog trainer has the knowledge, experience, and patience it takes to train your furry friend to be the best dog ever. Keep in mind that every dog trainer is different and will implement a different style of training. It may take some trial & error until you find the dog trainer that’s right for you.

If you live in Luzerne County, PA, then here are a few of the best dog trainers in your area. 

• Clawson’s Canines With Class (John Clawson- Harding): 570-817-9162
• Courteous Canines (Lindsay Walsh- White Haven): [email protected]
• Nikki Banfield’s School for K9’s (Nikki Banfield- Sweet Valley) 570-328-0591
• Mary’s Hand That Feeds (Mary- Shavertown) 570-332-4095
• Guidance Dog Training (Jess Rollins-Sweet Valley)  570-846-0041

Hire A Pet Sitter Today!

If you’re looking for a dog trainer, then you may also want to consider hiring a pet sitter. Then look no further than ParaMount Pet Care! We are the leading pet care professionals in the Luzerne County area. All of our sitters are insured, bonded, trained in pet CPR & first aid, and dedicated to caring for your pets.

We offer a wide variety of pet sitting services such as in-home pet sitting, routine dog walking, overnight stays, and more! Click here to see all of our services! Click here to become a client today or give us a call at 570-814-1037. We look forward to hearing from you soon!