1 Early training
The earlier you start training your puppy, the more likely you are to achieve results. A little bit of training, several times a day, will make a big difference. Don’t forget to keep it informal and fun. Contrary to popular belief, you can teach an old dog new tricks, so if you have an older dog it’s still worth investing the time.
2 Associate words with rewards
It’s possible for dogs to understand a range of vocabulary similar to that of a two-year-old child. You can teach your dog to associate words with behaviours, activities and items by using positive reinforcement and rewards. It’s not surprising that most dogs clearly understand words like ‘treat’, ‘toy’ and ‘walk’, because whenever they hear those words they are rewarded with food, a game or an outing. Your dog will constantly pick up on words and signals, so use this to your advantage and increase the effect with suitable rewards.
3 Use hand signals
Dogs by nature enjoy responding to visual cues, and seem to have adapted to comprehend human visual communication. Pointing is a great example, as you can point to a toy and your dog will pick it up. Dogs are one of the few animals that understand that gesture. Back up your voice commands with hand signals and you will find your dog responds quickly and enthusiastically.
4 Regular training
Short bursts of regular training throughout your dog’s life will give great results. Training can be brief and spontaneous, as what’s important is that it’s regular. Run through a few simple commands with your dog before you give them their dinner. It’s a time when they’ll be really keen to respond.
5 Make your dog work for their food
Dogs love to eat, so get them to work for their food by using a portion of your dog’s daily diet for fun games. You can make treasure hunts with kibble, use food-dispensing toys or play hide and seek with treats. All these activities will keep them stimulated, entertained and their brains active.
6 Trick training
