Focus on what you want—not what you don’t want

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If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you get there? That’s true of most things in life, and it’s true of dog training, too.
Sometimes we fall into the habit of thinking mostly about what we don’t want. This happens a lot with dogs! We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or chew our shoes, or run away when we call, or bark like maniacs when our sweet old aunt comes to visit.
But think about it. Suppose you’re about to adopt a puppy. Do you really want to spend the next ten, twelve, or fifteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Wouldn’t it be better to guide your dog into behaviors that you want ?
 For example, instead of thinking, “I don’t want my dog to chew his toys.” Instead of, “I don’t want my dog to jump up on my guests,” how about, “I would like my dog to sit to greet people.”
By framing your training goals in positive terms, you’ll have a clear destination in mind. That’s a great way to start your training journey

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tip 3. Try treats

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Of all the rewards, treats are one of the most useful. They are versatile. You can use them at home, on walks, on trips, in public or private. They come in many varieties, which helps keep them fresh and interesting. Most important of all, dogs love food. For this reason, most dogs respond beautifully to being rewarded with treats Some people object to using treats. They think treats are like a bribe. But think about it: with bribes, the payment is demanded before the deal is finalized. When you train with treats, your dog earns those treats by giving you the behavior you’re looking for.      It’s not a bribe–it’s doggy payday Bonus tip: Keep treats small While using treats to train is a great idea, you also have to watch your dog’s calorie intake. The good news is treats don’t have to be big to excite your dog. If you don’t believe me, try spilling a few grains of rice under your table at the next mealtime–and then watch your dog help clean up. He’ll go to great lengths
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tip 2. Use rewards

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One of the best things to happen in dog training in the past few years is the shift from emphasizing correction, or punishment, to emphasizing rewards. Using rewards is a whole lot smarter for most trainers–and especially for companion dog owners. Perhaps the most important reason is that if you make a mistake using punishment, the consequences can be pretty sad. Some dogs–not all, but it can happen–may react to being punished by becoming aggressive or fearful. Other dogs shut down. They lose their sparkle. They may seem broken-spirited. Many people also find that reward-based training feels better. It’s nice to be a source of praise and treats, instead of a constant disciplinarian. And best of all, reward-based training really works. That’s because rewards help to nurture and strengthen behaviors we  want in our dogs. If a behavior is rewarding, your dog is more likely to exhibit that behavior again in the future. By figuring out how to apply that simple rule, you can use rewa
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