Training Tips for Your Pets

Dog learning to sit and stay.

6 Tips to Help You Learn How to Train Your Pet

If you've ever tried to teach your pet a command or trick, you know that training isn't always as easy as the experts on YouTube videos make it look. These six tips just may make the training process less stressful and more productive.

Keep Training Sessions Short

Long training sessions don't deliver better results and may only frustrate both of you. Schedule training sessions for five to 10 minutes at most. A few short sessions throughout the day may produce better results than one long session.

Eliminate Distractions

Find a calm, quiet area of your home to train your pet. An audience can be distracting when you first begin training. Although you may want to eventually ask other members of your household to participate in training, the one-on-one approach may be best at first.

Pay Attention to Your Pet's Signals

Just like people, pets find it hard to concentrate if they're tired, hungry or hot. If your pet seems lethargic or loses interest in training, postpone the session to another time. Your dog or cat is more likely to retain the information when well-rested and fed.

Similarly, don't start a training session if you're tired, hungry or irritable. If you're not in the mood to train, you may become impatient, which can derail the training process. Training should be a fun experience for both you and your pet.

Put Yourself in Your Pet's Paws

Puppies and kittens don't innately understand English the moment they're born. After a few weeks or months, they'll begin to associate words and gestures with actions. If you say "out" and pick up your pet's leash, he or she will eventually realize that the word means that it's time for a walk or outside playtime.

Imagine if you found yourself in a foreign country unexpectedly. You might only understand a few words of the language initially, but you would become more fluent through practice and repetition.

Although your pet may already recognize a variety of words, the words you use for training may be unfamiliar. It may take some time until your cat or dog understands exactly what you mean when you say "roll over" or "sit-stay." Some pets will make the connection in just two or three training sessions, while others may need more practice.

Offer the Tastiest Treats

Just like people, pets appreciate perks for a job well done. You may prefer a raise or bonus to a chicken- or liver-flavored snack, but your pet will be perfectly happy with a treat.

Giving your pet a treat after he or she responds to a command is an excellent way to reinforce positive behavior. The same old treats your pet receives every day won't make the same impact as flavorful treats that are only offered during training sessions. Offering a variety of tasty treats will help keep your pet motivated to learn new commands and tricks.

Teach These Commands First

Before your pet can master an Instagram-worthy trick, he or she needs to learn sit, the basic command that provides a foundation for all other commands and tricks.

Teaching sit isn't difficult. Place a treat in your hand and hold it slightly over your pet's head while giving the sit command. As your pet looks up at the treat, he or she may automatically sit. If not, gently push his or her hind end down while repeating "sit," then offer a treat. Repeat the process a few times every day.

After your pet masters sit, work on other commands, such as come, leave it and sit-stay. Sit-stay is a particularly helpful command. It can stop your furry friend from dashing out into traffic and makes grooming and veterinary visits easier.

Whether you have a question about behavior or concerns about your pet's health, we're here to assist you. Contact us and let us know how we can help you.

Sources:

Cesar’s Way: 5 Essential Commands You Can Teach Your Dog

https://www.cesarsway.com/5-essential-commands-you-can-teach-your-dog/

Petfinder: How to Teach a Cat Tricks

https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-behavior-and-training/how-to-teach-a-cat-tricks/

Your First Visit is FREE

Sign up now

Office Hours

Monday:

7:30am

5:30pm

Tuesday:

7:30am

5:30pm

Wednesday:

7:30am

7:00pm

Thursday:

7:30am

5:30pm

Friday:

7:30am

5:30pm

Saturday:

7:30am

12:00pm

Sunday:

Closed

Closed

Location

Find us on the map

Testimonial

  • "The absolute best in the QC. Have always taken great care of our puppies and dogs throughout the years. Feels like family and always a warm welcome. Treat your pets with the best care like they are their own."
    VeronicaV.
  • "Very caring people. I live in Clinton and it is worth the drive to them. I have been there a handful of times and the customer service has been above and beyond. Nothing but great things to say about every experience!"
    Chandra H
  • "A huge thank you to Colene for always making Lola’s visits relaxing 💜 Lola did great with Dr. Knutson. I’m happy that I’ve finally found a place that truly cares about the well being of my fur-baby 🐶 Their whole staff is welcoming and I never have to worry about Lola’s appointments."
    Amber K
  • "Every single person at Scott County Animal Hospital, whether it is one of the doctors, one of the techs or groomer or a front desk worker...EVERYONE treats us like family every time we have a contact with them."
    Debi E.
  • "SCAH has some of the most caring, compassionate and professional staff anywhere! They have treated our puppy dogs for the past 31 years and have treated each one with such kindness, knowledge and special care that we can't imagine going anywhere else. We have had some special issues with a few of our dogs and I feel like they not only did their utmost to give the best care, but also make sure that we as pet owners are part of the process. And when sadly, one of our fur babies has passed, they have given us such kindness and understanding that it makes a hard time much easier. Bless you all for your wonderful care to us and our doggies."
    Nancy N.
  • "Excellent caring staff. If I could give them a trillion stars I would. Your fur babies are in the best hands. The most caring compassionate staff you will ever meet!"
    Lori H
  • "i wish all the vets offices would do this!I think it is wonderful to advertise all our fur babies and how they are doing!"
    Penny G.

Featured Articles

Read about interesting topics