When the phrase "dog training" is mentioned, the first thought that often comes to mind isn’t "easy." Training a dog can be quite a challenge, and almost everyone has faced difficulties with it at some point. However, there are strategies to simplify the process.
Below are some of my top training tips to assist you. From maintaining consistent rules to understanding your dog’s boundaries, here are 10 tips that make dog training more manageable.
1. Be Consistent With Rules
One of the most vital aspects of simplifying dog training is being consistent with rules. Establish clear boundaries for your dog and ensure every member of the household adheres to them. When everyone follows the same guidelines, your dog will quickly grasp which behaviors are acceptable.
If your dog isn’t allowed on the couch, make sure this rule is enforced by everyone. Avoid punishing your dog for a behavior they’ve previously gotten away with, or for something that another family member permits. It’s unfair to punish a dog for an action that’s sometimes rewarded.
Similarly, if you don’t want your dog to beg during meals, ensure the entire household agrees. Don’t scold your dog for begging if someone keeps sneaking them table scraps. Your dog isn’t begging out of naughtiness—they’re doing it because the behavior has been rewarded. Alternating between rewarding and punishing the same action confuses your dog, leading to frustration.
When creating house rules, involve everyone and ensure consensus. Consistent rules help everyone know what the dog can and cannot do. Making exceptions will slow down training and cause unnecessary confusion for your pet.
2. Encourage Your Dog’s Good Behaviors
We all desire a well-behaved dog, and one simple way to improve their manners is to acknowledge and encourage good behaviors. This is easy to do but often overlooked.
In dog training, people tend to focus on negative actions, forgetting to highlight the positive ones. Dogs are constantly observing and learning from us, so letting them know when they’ve done something good encourages them to repeat that behavior. Don’t assume silence communicates approval—explicitly tell them.
Recognize your dog’s good deeds, even if they seem small or ordinary. These positive associations help them learn what’s acceptable and expected. Clearly acknowledging good behavior gives you the chance to reinforce those actions later.
For example, if your dog sits calmly by your side during dinner, praise them by saying they’re a good boy. If they rest their head on your lap while you’re on the couch and you approve, let them know. By showing appreciation, you encourage your dog to repeat these desired behaviors.
Don’t assume that silence lets your dog know they’re being good. When your dog does something well, inform them. Rewarding positive behaviors will encourage them to repeat those actions in the future.
3. Know Your Own Dog’s Limits
It’s never too early to start training a puppy, but all dogs have limitations. A new puppy won’t have the same attention span as a 7-year-old dog. Puppies are easily distracted, and building a relationship where they can focus for long periods takes time.
As you begin training, you’ll learn which situations work best for your dog and which are challenging. Young dogs may only focus for a few minutes, which is normal. In such cases, keep training sessions to 5 minutes or less to maximize effectiveness.
Short, enjoyable training sessions help your dog view training as a fun activity. They’ll see you as the person who teaches them and praises them, which, combined with clear communication, will gradually increase their focus.
Pay attention to your dog during sessions. After a few tries, you’ll understand what methods work. Are they too distracted if they haven’t exercised? Do they get frustrated after 10 minutes of learning a new trick? Try 5 minutes instead. Do they prefer treats over toys as rewards? Adjust your sessions to suit their preferences.
4. The Environment Makes a Difference
When training, always consider the environment. Outdoor spaces have more distractions than your living room, and in such settings, you’ll be competing for your dog’s attention, which can set them up for failure. Training in an exciting environment asks your dog not just to perform a trick, but to ignore all the stimulating things around them.
Once your dog learns a new trick or behavior in a low-distraction area like your living room, you can try it in a more distracting place. But don’t expect perfect performance immediately in a new environment. It takes practice for your dog to focus there. Treat it like teaching the trick for the first time: use high-value rewards and keep it fun.
The environment is especially important for teaching reliable recall. Your dog may come when called perfectly indoors, but outdoors, all the sights, smells, and squirrels are far more exciting, making it hard to hold their interest.
Building your dog’s focus takes time, and each new environment will bring challenges. This doesn’t mean outdoor training is impossible—just that it requires patience. Make sessions enjoyable and take it slow when moving to a new setting to ease the process.
Expect distractions when training outdoors or in a new environment. Use high-value rewards and keep sessions fun to maintain their focus. Remember, you’re asking them to perform a trick while ignoring many exciting distractions around them.
5. Motivation Matters
To make dog training easier, figure out how to keep your dog motivated by testing different rewards. Keeping your dog focused on you during training relies on offering incentives. My dog Laika works for both treats and toys, but not all dogs are motivated by both.
Does your dog respond to treats, toys, or praise? Use these as rewards to maintain their interest, and note which ones excite them most. Try a variety of toys and treats to find their favorites. Save the most exciting rewards for teaching new or challenging behaviors.
My dog will work for food, but she gets far more excited about a game of tug. So, when working on a complex trick, I bring out the tug toy, and she focuses instantly. Knowing your dog’s favorite rewards helps you keep their attention in tough situations.
6. Your Dog’s Attention Span is Limited
To avoid frustration, keep training sessions short. Dogs don’t have unlimited attention spans, and working too long on one trick can frustrate both you and your pet.
If your dog gets distracted after 10 minutes of learning a new trick, try 5-minute sessions instead. Focus on one behavior at a time and take breaks between sessions. Spending too long on a single behavior will bore or frustrate your dog.
Most young dogs have lots of energy, so if your dog struggles to focus, increase their physical and mental exercise throughout the day. Laika has tons of energy, so I never start training until she’s burned off some of that excitement.
Puppies are known for many things, but a long attention span isn’t one of them. Keep training sessions positive by making them short and enjoyable for your pup.
7. Be Consistent With Words
Humans have large vocabularies, but in dog training, keep it simple by using the same words consistently. Just as you used "sit" every time you taught that command, stick to the same word or gesture for all behaviors.
Consistency in word choice makes training easier, no matter what you’re teaching. It’s simpler for a dog to learn "heel" than a mix of "whoa," "wait," "stop," and "hold." I’ve been guilty of using all these when trying to get Laika to stop pulling on the leash.
When walking your dog, it’s easy to forget training opportunities. If teaching them not to pull, stay focused and use consistent words. It sounds simple, but getting humans to use fewer words is easier said than done.
8. You and Your Dog Will Have “Off” Days
Not every training day will be perfect. Just like any regular activity, some days will feel off. We all wish every day was a good day, but that’s not realistic. Some days will simply be less productive.
Training is a gradual process, but progress isn’t always steady. Some days your patience may be thin, and some days your dog may not cooperate. This is normal—everyone has off days. Don’t force training if you’re frustrated; your dog won’t enjoy it either, and you don’t want them to associate training with negativity.
If you’re getting frustrated, take a break and do something fun with your dog. Play a game of tug or go to the park. Give yourself time to relax and start again tomorrow.
When it comes to dog training, there will be days when you’re not in the mood. Allow yourself to take a break and enjoy some quality time with your dog.
9. Learn From Your Mistakes
Struggling to teach your dog something new? Step back and figure out why. Is your dog too distracted? Not motivated enough? Are you communicating unclearly? Learning from mistakes is one of the best ways to make training easier.
Some of my biggest training successes came from analyzing my errors. When teaching Laika to "come here," I used to just call her name and wait. I thought she knew what it meant, so she’d run back any second. But she’d keep sniffing grass, chasing squirrels, or exploring the yard while I waited, arms crossed.
Then I realized my "come here" signal meant her fun outdoor time was over. I needed to make myself more exciting than the squirrels. So, I started rewarding her with a game of tug every time she came back. I matched the reward to the behavior I wanted.
This is a common issue with recall training. We’re not as exciting as what the dog is currently doing, and yelling when they finally come back discourages them from returning next time.
If training is tough, sit back and assess. Are you asking for something they don’t understand? Are the rewards worth the effort? Figuring out why your method isn’t working will help you find one that does.
10. Different Dogs, Different Methods
Remember that all dogs are individuals. If you’ve had multiple dogs, it’s easy to assume the same methods that worked for one will work for another—but that’s not always the case.
It’s tempting to think one approach fits all, but I’ve learned this isn’t true, even though I still catch myself comparing my current dog to previous ones. My old dog Carter would do anything for food, so I assumed Laika would be the same. But she’s not as food-motivated, and a single treat isn’t enough to get her to "roll over."
The same applies to potty training and teaching manners. Some dogs are house-trained in a week, others take longer. Some learn bite inhibition quickly, while others need weeks or months. Don’t get frustrated if your new dog doesn’t progress as fast as your old one. All dogs are different; some learn certain behaviors sooner than others. You may need to adjust your methods to suit your new dog—not all techniques work for every pet.
Some dogs are highly treat-motivated, some get distracted easily, and some struggle more with manners. Figuring out what works for your dog and using that to your advantage is key. As a wise dog trainer advises, "train the dog in front of you."
What Are Your Favorite Dog Training Tips?
Do you have any tips that have made dog training easier for you? Are you consistent with rules? Do you keep sessions short? What’s your dog’s favorite training reward?
Please share with your friends 🙂
