5 training tips every dog parent should know

Whether I’m helping dog owners at the Paddock’s Paws facility, or working with shelter staff, I often have to remind people that training is a relationship, not a dictatorship. We (as humans) can’t be nieve to the fact that our behaviors and patterns can play a role (good or bad) in our dogs behavior. It’s often about changing how we as owners communicate, respond, and set our dogs up for success.

Dogs are incredible learners, but they rely on us to provide consistency, clarity, and patience. The biggest breakthroughs I see in training aren’t just when the dog “gets it,” but when the owner makes a shift in how they interact with their dog and view behaviors. While we crave love and affection from our dogs, they crave guidance. If we can provide clear communication and stability for our dogs, they will give us the affection that we crave from them. Too often, we get roles reversed and think that all they want is to be showered in affection and then we don’t meet their needs. This leads to a one sided relationship and dogs will search for their own outlets often resulting in negative behavior.

Here are five foundational training tips I tend to share with people and how they require a little growth from both ends of the leash.

1. Clear Communication is Key

   
   

Dogs thrive when they understand exactly what we want. That’s where things like a marker word (“Yes!”) come in to play. It’s also where some people incorporate a clicker. They give your dog instant feedback that says: Perfect, that’s what I wanted!

But here’s the catch, consistency is everything. If your timing is off or you use different words or phrases, your dog gets confused. This is where owners often need to adjust. By practicing your timing and sticking to the same marker, you’ll notice your dog’s confidence grow quickly.

It’s also important to point out that you MUST acknowledge when your dog does

what you want. Too often, people think there’s some magic word or want to correct everything until the dog does what they want. Corrections can be fine, but

you must teach what you want before you can correct what you don’t want.

For example: If I gave you a pen and paper and I told you to draw. What you don’t know is I want you to draw a triangle but I don’t tell you or show you. You start by drawing a circle, I smack you. You’re confused. You now draw a square, I smack you again. You’re now confused and frustrated. You keep drawing. That is if you don’t give up and shut down. You finally draw the triangle I was looking for and I just walk away.

Granted you shouldn’t hit dogs. That should be a given. But you get the idea. If I correct you without you knowing what to do, that seems pretty unfair. On the other hand, if I also don’t acknowledge what you did right, you have no incentive to keep doing it. That can cause a breakdown in relationship.

2. Keep Sessions Short & Sweet

It’s tempting to want to drill a behavior over and over until your dog gets it. But just like us, dogs learn best in short, upbeat sessions. This can be as little as 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

The owner’s shift here is recognizing when to stop. If frustration creeps in (for either of you), it’s better to pause and try again later. Training should always end on a positive note. In some situations, you can often find it more productive to do (3) ten minute sessions, as opposed to (1) 30 minute session.

3. Reward the Behavior You Want

One of the biggest mindset changes for owners is learning to focus on rewarding good behavior instead of only correcting the bad.

Similar to what we talked about in the clear communication tip. Don’t forget to “pay” for the behavior that you want to see. If your dog is food motivated, this “payment” can be in the form of a treat.

As trainers, we often hear people say “I don’t want my dog to only do it because I have a treat.” Long term, you may have a valid concern. Short term, you HAVE to pay the behavior to see it consistently. Just like you go to work for a paycheck, your dog wants to work for something as well.

4. Train in Real-Life Moments

   
   

Training doesn’t just happen in a class, individual session, or a board and train. It happens all day, every day. It’s a lifestyle change.

Ask your dog to “sit” before you clip on the leash, practice “stay” while you prep dinner, reinforce calm behavior when guests come over, the list goes on and on.

The mindset shift for owners here is building training into daily life, not treating it as a separate task. When you do this, training becomes second nature and a part of your new routine.

5. Be Patient With Both Yourself and Your Dog

   
   

This is the hardest one for most people. We live in a world of quick results, but dogs (and humans) learn through repetition, consistency, and time.

As owners, we need to give ourselves grace too. You won’t be perfect, and neither

will your dog. Celebrate the small wins and remember that every step strengthens

your bond.

At Paddock’s Paws, I’ve seen transformations that go far beyond obedience or behavior modification. The most rewarding part is watching the relationship between owner and dog grow stronger through the process.

Final Thoughts

Training is not a one-way street. It’s a journey you and your dog take together, and the biggest changes often start with us, the humans. When we adjust how we guide, reward, and communicate, our dogs meet us right where we are, eager to learn.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your training journey, I’d love to help.

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Welcome to the journey!

-Jereme Paddock