With Purina Animal Behaviour expert Dr. Jo Righetti
Good dogs aren't born; they're trained. Despite the saying 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks', older dogs as well as puppies can benefit from proper and consistent training techniques, to grow into well-behaved members of your family.
Puppies and dogs
The most important thing to be aware of is that dogs can be rewarded in ways we do not realise. For instance, shouting at them when they bark or pushing them away when they jump can turn into a game which means they will perform the same unwanted behaviour over and over again.
Reward-based training is best for dogs. This can include: food treats, a special toy, pats and praise, or clicker techniques.
Make sure you reward your dog within 2 seconds of performing the trick so they have instant results.
It's good to start with an easy command in a quiet location, one that the dog does naturally for example "Sit". You can then gradually make the training more complex by asking for more difficult commands and conducting training in more difficult areas such as a busy street or park.
Training can be done at home, as little as 30 seconds a day and from the comfort of your armchair which means there is no excuse not to work with your dog! There is however alternative training methods such as in-home training, obedience camps (dog only attends), community classes, Canine Good Citizen classes and clicker training.
Remember: dogs are learning all the time and a well behaved dog is an easier dog to own as well as being a pleasure for society - so train hard and reap the benefits.
