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Dog Trainer Shares Three Simple Tips That Will Make Training A Whole Lot Easier — And Number Two Is A Game Changer

Senior man sitting on park bench stroking Labrador

While there's no denying how much joy having a dog can bring to your life, if you're anything like us, there's likely a specific area of being a pet parent that you're not quite so fond of - and that's training.

Whether it's figuring out how to crate train a dog or trying to learn how to stop a dog from jumping up, teaching your dog a new skill can feel both exhausting and overwhelming.

Thankfully, expert trainer Amelia Steele has come to the rescue with an Instagram video where she shares three simple tips to help make the training process easier. You can check out the video below or read on for a summary of each tip.

"If you ever find that you get really overwhelmed by training because it just feels like there is so much to do you just end up doing nothing, then don't worry - you're not alone and it's perfectly normal," Steele says.

The good news is that there are three things you can do to help make the process a little bit more manageable, and it all starts with engagement.

1) Engage with your dog: "I don't mean build engagement, I mean actually engage with them," Steele explains. Do something that they love and really spend quality time with them each day, even if it's just something like cuddling on the sofa or playing with their favorite toy. All of these things really help to build a relationship that lays the foundation for lots of your training."

2) Stop focusing on the end goal: "Break your training down into small, achievable chunks. For example, if your goal is loose lead walking, instead of constantly focusing  on that final result behavior, start off by just rewarding eye contact. Start off by building all the little skills that are really easy to reward and before you know it, you'll have your loose lead walking. If you focus on the end goal, you're probably setting yourself up for failure."

3) Understand the emotions that drive your dog's behavior: "When we understand what's going on internally, we get a real insight into why our dogs behave the way they do and that in itself makes it a hundred times easier to address the external behaviors that we see as a result."

Remember, training your dog in any new skill takes time, patience and consistency. If you're not seeing the results you're looking for after several months, we recommend reaching out to a professional trainer for some 1:1 support.

For more great canine content, be sure to check out the three reasons why your dog's recall isn't reliable (and what to do about it).

On A Positive Note: Paw And Order Dog Training Help Dogs Get Ready For Their Forever Homes

BULGER, Pa. (KDKA) — On any given day on a field in Bulger, Washington County, you can see nearly a dozen dogs running free with the ponies and cows.  

But those animals are part of an important operation at Paw and Order Dog Training. Run by Steve Sentner and his wife, Elissa Weimer, they take a special approach to make sure every dog is ready for a forever home.  

They run a profitable business, but they also do non-profit organization work with the Washington Area Humane Society. 

"The dogs that are coming into these rescues are coming from animal control," said Weimer. "They are strays in the street or they're coming in because their owner can't handle them because of certain behavior problems."

And the shelter director just passed along a favorable statistic.  

"She actually told me since hiring a dog trainer, and them being so specific on where everybody is going, their return rate went down to 4 percent," Weimer said.

And helping Paw and Order Dog Training with its business tactics is Denis Olson of the Small Business Development Center at Duquesne University. 

"I was lucky enough to get assigned to them. I'm a dog lover. I'm a Golden Retriever guy, so it was exciting to bring them in," said Olson.   

Part of the Small Business Administration, the center offers consulting services, education and support at no cost. 

"We're right now in the process of a five-year plan to grow their business, and we offer that service to anybody who wants to use us at Duquesne," said Olson. 

"Ten years and I'm still perfecting things to make it the best and do the best we can for these pet owners, dog owners and rescues," said Weimer.   

And the non-profit component of the business is something that Duquesne University and Olson like to brag about. 

"If any of the businesses are working in that space, makes us feel proud," Olson said. 

Build A Stronger Bond With Your Dog And Teach Them Patience With This One Simple Training Tip

Woman walking with dog on a leash up a set of stairs

Are you struggling with obedience training for your dog? Do you want to improve your bond with your four legged friend? Look no further than this dog trainer's simple staircase training exercise.

Making the most of walks with your dog is so important, this includes allowing them time to sniff and explore (why not try a 45-minute 'sniffari with your pooch?), playing with them and their favorite puppy toys, and keeping up with regular training.

Allegra Kaough, the founder and lead trainer at Naked Dog Training, has shared with her Instagram followers a very simple training opportunity that is worthwhile trying out the next time you approach a set of stairs with your dog.

Kaough who takes a relationship-based training approach to canine coaching demonstrates how to do the trick in a video posted to Instagram, which you can watch below...

The staircase exercise is a simple technique that can improve your dog's obedience and strengthen your bond. Here's how to use it:

Wait at the base 

If your dog pulls ahead, pause

Get even on the same step and pause 

Next time they get ahead ask them to come back to you 

At first glance, this exercise may seem simple and easy, but it actually helps build a wide range of skills that are essential for good dog behavior. For example, it teaches your dog self-control, patience, awareness, and staying tuned in to you. These skills are not only helpful for climbing stairs but also for loose leash walking, waiting at thresholds, listening with distractions, managing reactivity (here's an in-depth guide on how to calm a reactive dog if you're looking for some extra help here), navigation of crowded spaces, and off-leash recall.

One of the most important skills that the staircase exercise builds is self-control. Dogs are naturally impulsive creatures, and they often have a hard time resisting their instincts. However, self-control is a critical skill for good behavior. When your dog learns to exercise self-control, they can stay calm and focused on you even in situations that might otherwise be overwhelming or exciting.

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Another important skill that the staircase exercise builds is awareness. When you are doing this exercise with your dog, you are training them to pay attention to you and to their surroundings. By staying aware of their environment and looking to you for cues, your dog can stay focused on you and be more receptive to your commands.

In addition to building specific skills, the staircase exercise can also help improve your bond with your dog. When you are doing this exercise with your furry friend, you are working together as a team to accomplish a common goal. This can help strengthen your relationship and deepen your bond.

If you can master the staircase exercise, you will be better equipped to handle bigger challenges with your dog. Kaough wrote in her caption, "If you can't nail an empty staircase in a heel how can you get it on a walk? If you can't ask your dog to come back to you when they are two steps ahead then how can you ask them to come back to you at a busy park with lots of fun distractions?".

A lot of these things take time to master with your pup but sometimes getting a hold on the small moments can be the most impactful.

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