It’s that time of year again! The weather is cooling down, and the kids are heading back to school. Many dogs get a little lonely at this time of year, as their human pals head for the classroom. However, your canine buddy may also need to complete his training. Read on for some great tips from a Carolina Forest, SC vet on finishing Fido’s petucation.
Basics
All dogs should know basic commands, like Sit, Stay, Come, Heel, and Lay Down. This isn’t just a matter of petiquette: it’s also important for safety reasons. You want to make sure you can call your pup back to you if you drop his leash. Start with these key commands. Work on one at a time, and make sure Fido has mastered the current ‘lesson’ before you move on to the next. (Tip: Sit is usually the best one to start with, as it’s the easiest to teach.)
Continued Petucation
Once Fido has mastered basic commands, there’s no reason to stop training him. Teaching him to Leave It and/or Drop It can be very useful, especially if he has a penchant for picking up food off the ground.
Tricks For Treats
Many dogs enjoy having a ‘job.’ Holding down the couch may be one of Fido’s main duties, but he may also find time to work for his snacks. When you want to give your furry pal a special treat, have him do something for it. Sit is a good option, but Shake or Roll Over are also cute.
Class Curriculum
Fido generally has a pretty short attention span, except when there’s bacon involved. Instead of long weekly classes, work with your pooch every day for a few minutes at a time. About 15-30 minutes is fine.
Rewards
Rewarding your pup for doing well is a key part of any good dog-training regimen. A gold sticker probably won’t impress your canine friend very much, so offer him something he’ll really appreciate… like food. Opt for small portions, like pieces of kibble. If Fido gets too full, he’ll be more interested in napping than in learning!
Classroom
Eventually, you may find it helpful to work with Fido in busy places, or spots with lots of distractions. For now, however, choose a quiet, isolated area. Please contact us, your Carolina Forest, SC vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help!
