How to Train Your Dog Like a Pro, According to Expert Dog Trainers

There are no badly behaved dogs—only poorly trained ones. Top dog trainers share their expert tips and techniques for success.

Illustration by The Epoch Times, freepik.com, Shutterstock

The sight of a perfectly well-behaved dog and its owner as they walk along a park path or cuddle together, napping on the couch, can prompt the desire to adopt a dog of one’s own—but dogs don’t always start out that way. While most dogs are eager to please their humans, they and their humans need to be trained to ensure a happy relationship, which is why working with an experienced trainer or following the advice of a trainer is imperative.

“All owners have an obligation to train their dogs, to teach them what is expected of them,” said James Hamm of Lonestar Dog Trainer. After 31 years in the military, almost 27 of which were spent training military dogs, Mr. Hamm now operates his own firm.

“Training provides them the boundaries necessary to ensure a happy, productive life with their human owners,” he said. Dogs see their owner, who provides them with food, fun, and safety, as the pack leader.

According to Mr. Hamm, the age of the dog doesn’t affect its ability to learn, so he treats all of the dogs that he trains at his boarding facility as if they were 7 weeks old, regardless of their actual age.

“They may have not been trained or were trained badly, so it takes seven to 14 days for the dog to learn the basics of how it is expected to behave,” he said. “In my time in the military and now as a civilian, I’ve worked with several dogs that have already been to two or three other trainers, who were unsuccessful.”

It may take some dogs a little longer, but as long as they’re showing some signs of improvement, be patient.

Establish Love, Trust, and Respect

It starts with creating a relationship based on mutual trust and affection with your dog.

“It’s important that the dog enjoys being with you,” said Jody Smith, who with her husband, Steve, trains retrievers at their Otter Tail Kennels in western Wisconsin. To create a bond, she suggests spending time playing with the animal, giving it your undivided attention, and petting it as it curls up next to you on the couch.

No matter what type of breed, all dogs require your undivided attention to establish a close bond. Getty Images

Paul Owens, author of “The Dog Whisperer: A Compassionate, Nonviolent Approach to Dog Training,” agrees. “Petting the dog can cause its brain to release endorphins that create happy feelings and a tight bond with its owner,” he said. It’s the same oxytocin, aka love hormone, associated with baby-parent bonding and a couple’s snuggling.

“Trust and respect are just as important as love,” Ms. Smith said. “A dog will not listen to someone they do not respect or trust.”

The building blocks of trust are providing security and food, staying calm, nurturing connection, and getting down to the dog’s level—sit on the floor together and just hang.

Start With Basic Commands

All of these trainers agree that in order for any training to succeed, the dog must understand what it is being asked to do.

“Don’t assume that your dog thinks like you do,” Ms. Smith said. She recommends researching the breed to discover common characteristics.

“The owner and the dog need to learn to speak each other’s language and to know they can trust each other,” Mr. Hamm said. While humans soon learn what their dog’s different barks mean, dogs need to be taught English.

“Sit” is a good example: Hold a treat in your hand and lure the dog into the sitting position. This can be accomplished by holding the treat over his head until he plops his rump down. Give him the reward. Repeat.

One step at a time: Pick one command to teach your dog and have them master it fully before moving onto the next. Shutterstock

All advise being careful to not overload the dog with a blizzard of commands; pick one or two, and practice them until they’re mastered. Then move on to others, but set aside some time to reinforce learned behavior.

Be sure to use the same command every time to avoid confusing the dog. Basic commands include sit, stay, lie down, and come.

It takes time—and thinking from the dog’s perspective. “Just because you teach the dog to sit and stay inside, don’t assume it will know to do so when you’re outside,” Mr. Owens said.

In addition to basic commands, it’s important to housebreak the dog. Dogs of all ages can be housebroken, including adults that were rescued or rehomed, Mr. Hamm said.

He suggests keeping the dog in its kennel, allowing it to go outside every few hours to establish a routine. When the dog “does its business,” he says to give it praise and maybe a treat, and start using a keyword or phrase that the dog will come to associate with going outside. He uses “look smart,” but any phrase or word will work.

Try Positive Reinforcement Over Punishment

Mr. Owens, who has been training dogs for almost 50 years, has revised his methods along the way.

“Back when I began training dogs, using punishment as a training tool was common practice by trainers,” he said.

Mr. Owens said he changed his mind after a visit to his brother’s house. “He was complaining about his dog barking, and asked me for help stopping this behavior. I put a choke collar on the dog, and used the leash to tug at it when the dog barked.” But when Mr. Owens saw the look of pain on the dog’s face, he immediately realized this isn’t how anyone should treat a pet. He decided to switch to reward-based training, in which treats, praise, or both, are used to reward desired behavior, rather than punishing undesirable behavior.

“Teach the dog what you want it to do instead of what you don’t want it to do,” Mr. Owens explained. “If you don’t know what you want him to do, he won’t be able to figure it out either, and both of you will end up barking at one another in frustration.

Teach your pup good examples of what to do, instead of what not to do. GlobalP/iStock/Getty Images

“For example, it isn’t about how you can get Buster to stop jumping—it’s about teaching him to lie down when people come through the door. It isn’t about getting him to stop chewing slippers—it’s about teaching him to chew appropriate toys and ignore slippers.”

Similarly, to stop a dog from begging at the dinner table, feed it first, set it up in a cozy area away from the table, and ignore the begging (don’t give in to those puppy dog eyes!). Award a treat after dinner is done and the dog has refrained from jumping or begging for food.

Dogs seek approval from their primary caregiver, and rewarding good behavior reinforces it.

In some cases, however, swift discipline is warranted—such as if a dog is chewing dangerous objects such as an extension cord, risking harm to itself and the object. There’s still room for positive reinforcement afterward. “If the dog is chewing things like furniture, carpets, or power cords, it may be bored, so give it toys to chew on, and praise when it does,” Mr. Owens said.

Mr. Hamm is also a proponent of positive reinforcement, tailored to your dog’s traits. “When you discover what drives the dog, such as food or playtime, use that to reward good behavior,” he said.

“If a dog has a good temperament and wants to please you, praise in the form of words and petting is often all that is needed,” Ms. Smith said.

Use the Right Tools to Maintain Control

Train your dog to realize that it will get a treat when it makes eye contact with you. Shutterstock

Food is a popular tool for training that can be used to overcome distractions and ensure that the dog pays attention during training sessions.

“Five treats in your hand may be all that is required to get the dog to ignore distractions while training outdoors,” Mr. Hamm said.

Mr. Owens uses a technique of holding a treat at arm’s length, watching to see when the dog turns its gaze from the food to the owner.

“The dog needs to learn to look to you for direction, so they get the treat when they make eye contact with you,” he said.

Mr. Hamm keeps dogs on a leash while inside and walking, or on a tether when they’re outside resting.

“A leash is the most important dog training tool from cradle to grave,” he said. “Too much freedom is not a good thing. Dogs need boundaries, or you’ll create the canine version of Tom Cruise in ‘Risky Business.’”

Mr. Hamm uses the leash to provide feedback but is careful to not exert too much pressure. “It’s not about pain, but instead is to let them know when they need to correct their behavior,” he said.

For example, if the dog starts to bark when the doorbell rings, Mr. Hamm said to use your foot to gently cinch up on the leash, so the dog has to lie down to relieve the pressure.

“When it lies down, it is comfortable and likes that. This reinforces the desired behavior of not barking excessively every time someone is at the door,” he explained. While out walking, Mr. Hamm uses the leash to hold the dog in place if it tries to lunge at other dogs or chase after squirrels.

The idea is to use the leash to gently yet firmly correct the dog’s behavior while maintaining control of it at all times. If the dog is too strong to handle alone, consider hiring a professional trainer (we’ll get to that in a minute).

“You must have complete control of the dog and its undivided attention, so combine the leash with treats,” Mr. Hamm said.

If You Need a Trainer

If the dog isn’t responding to do-it-yourself training, the problem is most likely with the person doing the training, not the dog, so seek out professional help.

If your dog is not responding well to your training, consider hiring a professional trainer for help. Getty Images

Start by deciding what type of training is desired. Options include books, online videos such as on YouTube, in-person group lessons, private lessons, or possibly sending the dog to be boarded and trained.

In searching for a trainer, read the reviews of previous clients and arrange to talk with the trainer directly. It’s important to find a trainer whom you can respect and trust, so feel free to be choosy. If possible, meet the trainer in person.

The best scenario would be to see the trainer with his or her own dog. If the dog doesn’t have perfect manners and a calm, relaxed, and friendly demeanor, look for another trainer.

Be Patient and Have Fun

Once a training program has been established—and this can’t be stressed enough—it’s critical to keep at it every day, with no breaks. All experts agreed that consistency and patience are key to successful training.

Mr. Hamm recommends that owners train dogs “two to three times per day, for 10 to 20 minutes.” He also recommends that the dog be rested an hour before the session so that it has the energy to train, and an hour afterward to allow it to absorb what was taught in the session.

Dogs also respond to their owner’s emotions and learn best in a relaxed environment.

“Yelling or getting upset at the dog is never acceptable. If you are not having fun, neither is the dog,” Mr. Owens said, stressing the need to make training time enjoyable.

Use it as an opportunity to bond with your dog, and keep it fun. The chances are good that both parties will enjoy it and learn something.

As the saying goes, all dogs are good dogs. Shutterstock