Did you know, training a dog can help boost not only your dog's confidence, but your own too? It  is one of the most rewarding experiences for both the pet and the owner. Training your dog yourself, at home allows for a personalized, consistent, and comfortable environment where your dog can learn at its own pace. However, at times, a little help can go a long way. Read on.

Can I train my dog myself? 8 quick tips to get started 

As a professional trainer with multiple certifications in the dog training field, if there is one thing I strongly believe, it is that any dog loving individual can train a dog. The willingness to connect with your dog and understand them is crucial.

Before embarking on your training journey, make a mental or physical note of your training goals. Visualize your ideal dog in your head; what do you want him to behave like? What kind of demeanor do you want him to have? How do you see your dog fitting into your lifestyle?

Now see what your dog is actually like. Is he playful? Curious? Active? Naturally calm? Boisterous? You have to make an effort to meet your dog midway with your training goals. For instance, you can’t expect a shy and fearful dog to be the most popular dog in the dog park. Align your training goals with your dog’s inherent personality and natural preferences. This will help you raise an overall happy and well-rounded dog. Here are 10 quick tips to get you started on your training journey –

1. Start with an easy cue like Look or Sit. Finding small successes is the key to winning big
2. Begin training in a secluded place with no to low distractions. This will help you keep your dog’s focus on you and help them learn better. Once you master cues in an isolated environment, try to generalize it a variety of other scenarios

1. Find what motivates your dog in different scenarios and use it to reward your dog liberally. Sometimes it could be treats, sometimes it could be play whereas at times it could be a life reward such as walks, attention or an interaction with someone
2. Focus on fulfilling your dog’s needs. Every breed has some in-built inherent instincts. For instance, herding breeds have a tendency to herd and solve problems. Terrier breeds have a tendency to chase and have a high prey drive. Depending on what your breed was bred to do, find games and activities that fulfil those instincts
3. Challenge, don’t overwhelm. Progress is key to any undertaking. It is natural to want to challenge out dogs to perform more difficult tasks and cues as they show progress in their training. However, there is a thin line between challenging them and overwhelming them. If you see your dog trying hard to accomplish a task, it could be because they are having fun doing it and are taking it in their stride. However, if you see them trying too hard, showing lack of interest in it or avoiding it altogether, they may be getting overwhelmed. In such cases, take a break and start over later.
4. Focus on building a bond with your dog. Being the alpha, showing who’s the boss, asserting dominance are all traditional and outdated methods of dog training. A dog learns best when they perform a behavior out of free will rather than force. Be the most interesting person your dog knows and watch your relationship with him transform.
5. Your learning must never stop. Someone once rightly said, “The day you believe you know everything about dogs is the day you step into dog poop.” Be humble enough to always seek knowledge from the right resources – Books, ebooks, courses, videos, virtual training programs; there is no shortage of information out there if you just look for it.

Virtual training programs are one of the best options to consider whenever you feel stuck in your training process. Go for programs that feature certified trainers, live sessions, targeted approach and a rich resource library. Homeschool by LAY LO boasts of all of these, plus they provide 24*7 live support to answer all your training questions on the go! Their virtual training program is hosted by qualified dog trainers who use science-based methods and positive reinforcement techniques to get you closer to your training goals.

8. Track your dog’s progress. Dogs are fast learners and are highly attuned to their packs. They make delightful students. You will be able to visibly see your dog making progress in most of what you train them for. However, behaviors like leash reactivity, food aggression and so on are learned over time. Modifying these behaviors may take time and the progress would also be slow. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t see your dog making progress at the rate you expected. Instead, celebrate the smallest of wins and reward the tiniest of progress your dog makes.

5 signs your dog needs a professional trainer

If you have raised a puppy and have spent time training him yourself, it is tempting to take on more complex behaviors and cues and wanting to continue training yourself. However, there may be times when a dog may need much more attention to detail and expert knowledge than we can provide; especially in complex behavioral issues such as aggression, reactivity, anxiety and so on. In such times, it’s best to rope in a professional and train under their guidance. Through in home training sessions and virtual training programs you can ensure that you continue to be an intrinsic part of your dog’s training. Here are 5 signs that you and your dog may benefit from the involvement of a professional trainer –

• You are stuck on your training journey and are not seeming to make any progress
• There are certain behavioral issues your dog exhibits that are out of your scope of understanding. These behaviors could include leash reactivity, territorial aggression, possessive aggression, food aggression, separation anxiety, herding, fixation and so on
• Your dog has started to display aggressive behavior
• You want to learn to understand your dog’s body language better and be able to respond to subtle signs
• Your dog needs specialized training such as desensitization towards kids, service dog training, therapy dog training, scent work, agility and so on

3 signs your dog is making progress under your training

Progress is a very subjective term. Different people mearure it differently. When training your dog, progress must be tracked based on how much improvement your dog has shown since the last time you practiced the cue with him. Many a time, when we start training our dogs, we expect a certain outcome.

For instance, when we start practicing Stay, we expect the dog to master it in a few days and be able to perform it in a variety of situations without mistakes, often not taking into account the dog's natural insticts, inherent personality, ability to grasp, ability to generalize and so on. This often makes us overlook small signs of progress in the journey. Here are 3 subtle yet important signs that your dog is making progress in training -

- Your dog's threshold for their trigger has improved. In other words, your dog has slightly better responses to the triggers and stimuli that they were previously reactive to

- You have more successful repetitions with your dog in a variety of scenarios

- Reduced need for lures or treats is another sign that you are making progress in training with your dog. The use of rewards is recommended when teaching something new. But try, as much as possible, to avoid dependency on rewards     

Strive to keep a holistic approach towards your dog's training. Be mindful of your efforts as well as your dog's efforts, environment, threshold and ability to progress. By creating a positive and structured training environment, your dog will be well-behaved, confident, and happy!

Author Bio: Siddhika is a certified dog trainer, behaviorist, and professional pet writer. Over the course of her dog training career, she has gained 3 certifications accredited by KCAI (Kennel Club Accredited Instructors) in the field of dog training and behavior, viz - Basic obedience course, Therapy Dog Training Course and Canine Aggression Course. She has the qualifications and experience in the theoretical as well as real-life applications of science-based dog training techniques.

With the expertise to write about a plethora of dog-related topics and a personal interest in dog cognition and behavior, Siddhika is an out-and-out canine nerd.