Practice Makes Perfect

I frequently get the question from clients asking when their dog will be completely trained. I like to look at training as a life-long process. Our dogs are learning something each time we take them out for a walk. We, as owners, are reinforcing good things or unknowingly reinforcing bad things. We need to be aware that if your dog pulls you over to see their favorite neighborhood friend, your dog has learned to pull you where he wants to go. What if instead you have him wait to be released to go to his friend? The consistant use of a simple "Say PLEASE" philosophy will create a well behaved canine citizen.

Most of us fail to realize that pretty much every day, every interaction with our dog (especially in the first 2 years) is a TRAINING scenario, practicing for the big event when we desperately NEED a recall, for an emergency, to impress someone, or for competition. This means two things: 

 A. We end up testing our dogs on a regular basis rather than setting up a training scenario when we're just hanging out with our dog.

B. We don't reinforce the good behavior frequently enough in everyday real-life situations (where we haven't set up a formal training exercise) to maintain the strength of the dog’s response.  

The following is a list from Ian Dunbar's training blog and I think it does a great job summing up a dog owner's job regarding training responsibilities.

1. If you find yourself in a situation where you’re not sure that your dog will respond to your requests appropriately and right away, manage for safety and success. (And then go back and train until s/he does respond enthusiastically and promptly!)

2. Strengthen your reinforcement value via games, high value rewards, and high reinforcement history. (HIGHER!!) 

3. Practice and heavily reinforce the basics such as sit, down and stay. Don’t take them for granted.

4. Gradually add and increase distractions occasionally in mini, real-life training set ups.

5. Do the above throughout your dog’s life regardless of how well-trained your dog gets.

Remember a having a trained dog is not an end goal but rather a dynamic, ever-changing lifelong process. Practice makes perfect.