Homework to help you improve your dog's commands

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A minimum of 15 minutes each day of practicing dog commands will improve your dog’s reliability and behavior

By Laura Pakis, Certified Professional Dog Trainer and Cynologist

Everyone wants to have a healthy, well-groomed, cute, and Instagrammable dog. But very few dog owners understand the need for incorporating commands into their everyday lives.

Regular training will help you create a sociable, energetic, and disciplined dog. Here’s how:

Every Day

A minimum of 15 minutes throughout the day of practicing each command. Please vary the time of day and also where you practice the commands. Include at least two practices a week outside in your yard.
Incorporate the commands into your daily routine. Use the commands to make your life easier with your dog, not harder.
Increase the time in the “Place Mat” Command by 15 minutes until he is placing for 2 hours.
Limit excessive attention for the first week; make him work for it.
If you need to, keep a training collar and dragline on for the first few weeks to reinforce the commands.

Twice a Week

Go on a short field trip and work on commands in locations such as a pet store or front of a library. This trip can also be an errand run with two people, one working on commands outside the door while the other person runs the errand inside the store.
Do handling/restraining exercises with your dog, so he gets more comfortable with being restrained and having hands all over his body.

Once a Week (Weekend Event)

Go on a long field trip such as an outdoor patio restaurant, dog event, or festival where there will be various stimuli.

Let’s talk dogs, or even better, let’s learn about dogs. Set aside some time to receive Spike’s dog blogs by Acme Canine.

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