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6 Tips for Walking a Reactive Dog

By Alina Jumabhoy

6 Tips for Walking a Reactive Dog

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Is your dog reactive when the two of you are out and about?

Whether this reactivity may be triggered by other dogs, people, cars, or anything else, here are six tips to keep in mind when walking a reactive dog:

1. Set Off With a Calm Frame of Mind

Do you often feel stressed and tense before you even begin walking your reactive dog?

Well, this is something that your dog will be able to pick up on. This will put your dog on guard, making him worried that there is something around him that is concerning.

Beginning your walk in a calm and positive frame of mind can really make a difference. This may seem easier said than done, but this just means that you will need to spend some time finding a few ways to instantly de-stress. For some, this may be listening to music while others may find deep breathing exercises helpful.

Of course, the calm frame of mind applies to your dog as well as to you...

Make sure that your dog is calm before the two of you set off.

If your dog is over-excited or showing signs of anxiety, work with your dog to deal with these issues before you begin your walk.

2. Avoid Triggers When Walking a Reactive Dog

Yes, you do need to teach your dog how to overcome the obstacles that trigger his reactivity, but you need to do this gradually, in your own time.

In the meantime, avoid those triggers as much as possible.

If your dog is dog-reactive, try to walk your dog in places where other dogs don't frequent. This may also require you to adjust the times at which you walk your dog in order to avoid others.

Of course, completely avoiding all triggers is near impossible...

So, what do you do if you unintentionally come across a trigger when walking your reactive dog?

You put as much distance between that trigger and your dog as possible.

Try to block your dog's view of the trigger, whether this means turning around and walking the other way, or even darting behind a tree for a minute or two.

3. Turn Triggers Into Positive Experiences

Turning a trigger into a positive experience takes quite a bit of time and effort, but it really does pay off.

The key is to take things very slowly, beginning with a large distance between your dog and the trigger. Practice teaching your dog to focus on you, rather than on the trigger ahead.

How?

You can do this in a number of ways. Treats are great for food-motivated dogs, while a squeaky toy is a great distraction for toy-motivated dogs. You could also teach your dog to target your hand or another object, as this can be a very effective method for diverting their attention.

As soon as your dog focuses on you, provide plenty of praise and rewards.

Work on this for a few more sessions, before gradually decreasing the distance between your dog and the trigger.

What happens if your dog starts reacting again?

Then this means that you are moving too quickly in your training. Take a step back, putting more distance between your dog and the trigger, and work from this distance again for a while.

4. Enlist the Help of a Friend

If walking your reactive dog is something that you usually do on your own, it will surprise you how much of a difference it can make when you have another person with you.

So long as you choose the right person, they will likely have quite a calming influence over both you and your dog, while also instilling a greater sense of confidence in yourself.

Try walking your reactive dog in between you and your friend, so that you are both on-hand to reassure or distract your dog when you see an approaching trigger.

5. Keep Walks Fun and Interesting

Since your dog's reactivity will likely limit you when it comes to your choice of walks, you need to make sure that your walks are still fun, exciting and relatively unpredictable for your pooch.

How?

There are a number of ways you can do this, even if you can't take your dog to many new places.

Try simply switching up your pace on your walk, sometimes going slower and sometimes going faster. Changing directions at random times will also keep your dog guessing. Don't forget to shower your dog with plenty of praise whenever he follows your lead.

You could also try bringing a new toy on your walk with you. Stop at a random point for a quick play session.

Treats are also great, especially if you use a mix of both high value and low value treats. These are pretty much a necessity anyway when walking a reactive dog, but you could also stop mid-walk for a quick training session, using the treats as motivation.

6. Don't Be Afraid to Stand Up For Your Dog

When walking a reactive dog, there will be certain situations in which you will need to stand up for your dog.

For example, if your dog hates strangers touching him, you may need to be quite firm when it comes to well-meaning dog lovers reaching out to stroke your dog. In the heat of the moment, this could even come across as you being rude, especially if you need to raise your voice to get your point across. However, don't be afraid to do so – you are the only person who can really advocate for your dog.

The same applies with dogs who are dog-reactive, and are being approached by an off-lead, out of control dog. Even if you need to shout across a long distance at that other dog's owner, do what you need to do to keep your own dog safe and protected.

Walking a reactive dog is rarely easy, but, so long as you take things slowly, there will be plenty of small victories along the way. Make sure that you celebrate these as a reminder of how far you and your pooch have come, as these moments will provide motivation for all of your future walks.

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How to Teach a Dog to Stay

By Alina Jumabhoy

How to Teach a Dog to Stay

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Looking for how to train a dog to stay?

The “stay” command may seem simple, but there are actually several steps involved when it comes to teaching this. It does take some time and effort, but this is a part of basic obedience that is definitely worth mastering. From choosing cue and release words for dogs to an advanced stay, read our guide to perfect your technique.

Choose Your Cue and Release Words

Before you begin training a dog to do anything, you need to decide on your cue words. In terms of the “stay” command, this means having a distinct beginning and end.

Examples for beginning to learn how to teach a dog to stay would be, simply, “stay” or “wait.” For the release, you could use “okay,” “done,” or “release.” A hand signal to accompany each cue word is also useful.

Once you’ve decided on your cue and release words, you’re ready for the next step in how to train a dog to stay.

The First Steps

To start, put your dog into a sit or down position.

Then, give your dog your stay command. Immediately after this, say your release word for your dog and then reward them. Encourage your dog to move around after you say the release word using praise, treats, or whatever motivates them most.

How to Reward Your Dog

When learning how to teach a dog to stay, the reward is important. The specific reward depends on what motivates your dog the most. Some dogs are happy with praise and attention, while others need a treat to convince them to listen to you. You could also try a quick game as a reward if your dog is toy-oriented.

Another important part of how to train a dog to stay is keeping the training durations short. Dogs have short attention spans, especially puppies, so practice the stay for one minute at the most when you’re just starting out. As they learn, you can gradually increase the time of training, as well as the duration, distance, and distractions.

Increasing the Stay Duration

fluffy white dog sitting on tile
Photo by Show 131/ CC
When you’re learning how to teach a dog to stay, you need to gradually build up the amount of time for which your dog is staying.

Begin as above, putting your dog into the sit or down position, and then telling them to stay. Then, count to three in your head before saying the release word for your dog and rewarding them.

Then slowly increase the time in two-second intervals. Make sure you don’t go too quickly; it’s important to set your dog up for success, not failure! Adding too many seconds to the stay can lead them to frustration, which is not good for either of you.

What to Do if Your Dog Moves Before You Say the Release Cue

As you teach a dog how to stay, it’s inevitable they’ll get up before you say the release word. The key is to not get frustrated. Simply put your dog back into the sit or down position and start again. However, this time, don’t leave them in the stay for as long before saying the release word.

Extending the Stay Distance

The distance as you train a dog how to stay refers to how far away you are or move from your dog while they’re in the stay. You can teach your dog to stay while you walk hundreds of meters away, but it all starts with just half a step.

Position your dog in the sit or down position and then give them the stay command.

To teach a dog how to remain in the stay, move just one foot backward and lean back slightly before stepping forward to your dog again. Immediately give the release word for your dog and reward them.

The next time you do this, take a full step back before immediately returning to your dog and releasing. Carry on in this way, just one step at a time.

While you may be tempted to call your dog over to you to release them, avoid doing so for now. It’s fine to do this once in a while, but make sure that you also practice returning to your dog before releasing them, too.

A Note About Using Treats

If you’re using treats to teach a dog how to stay, make sure that your pooch can’t see these while you’re walking away from them.

Why?

Because the treats will act as a lure, encouraging your dog to stand up and follow you rather than remaining in their stay position.

Working with Distractions

As you train a dog how to stay, they’ll likely pick up on all of the above pretty quickly, especially if you’re working on this in a calm and quiet environment. However, add some distractions and everything could change. It’s important to add distractions because there will be many natural ones when you use the stay command in a real-life setting.

When you are learning how to teach a dog to stay, you should only start working with distractions once your dog has a pretty solid understanding of the stay command. Also, ensure they obey the release word for dogs you chose.

Types of Distractions to Add

pack of dogs sitting in park with leashes held by walker
Photo by Show 131/ CC
If you’ve been working on the stay command in the house, move outside.

Once your dog is responding well outdoors, ask a friend or family member to do something around the yard while you’re training. Your dog should be able to listen to you while completely ignoring the distraction.

You can then start working on how to teach a dog to stay in different environments. However, make sure that any setting you choose is a safe one; you don’t want to be training this command by the side of a busy road, for example.

The Advanced Stay

You’ve already worked on duration, distance, and distractions when learning how to train a dog to stay, but there are always ways in which you can improve on each of these. This will help to cement the stay command in your dog’s head.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Duration – have your dog stay while you’re doing different activities around the house. Try watching TV, cooking, or anything else. Make sure that your dog only moves upon hearing their release word.

  • Distance – teach your dog how to stay with varying distances. Try moving behind them or diagonally away from them and going completely out of sight.

  • Distractions – try providing a few distractions yourself while working on stay. You could run circles around your dog, or even throw a ball around. It may also help to ensure that your dog knows the “leave it” command before trying this.

It does take quite a bit of time and patience to teach a dog to stay, but this is a command really worth working on. Not only is it useful, but it could also prove to be essential to your dog’s safety if you’re in an environment in which they shouldn’t run freely.

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How to Choose a Puppy Training Class

By Alina Jumabhoy

How to Choose a Puppy Training Class

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

If you have just welcomed a puppy into your family, then starting to choose a puppy training class should be a top priority.

Why?

For a few reasons...

Firstly, puppy training classes are key for socialization. They will teach your pup how to interact with other dogs, as well as other people.

These classes are also important for teaching your pup basic skills. While you can do this yourself at home, the distractions encountered at a class will really help to cement that knowledge in your pup's head. 

So, how do you actually choose a puppy training class?

Here are some points to take into consideration when making your decision:

Obedience vs Socialization

When doing your research to choose a puppy training class, you will notice that classes tend to be categorized as either obedience classes or socialization classes.

What's the difference?

The obedience classes will be focused on basic training. They are a great way to give your pooch a head start when it comes to obedience and other foundational commands.

On the other hand, socialization classes are more like play for your pup. However, this doesn't mean that they aren't important...

Socialization classes will give your pooch the opportunity to interact with different dogs in his own time. The play and mental stimulation that a socialization class provides is so good for your puppy's development.

So, which is better?

Ideally, you want a bit of both.

Try to choose a puppy training class that works on basic training, but also has a socialization aspect to it. If you can't find a class that combines the two, it may be worth signing your pup up for two different classes, one in each category.

Word-of-Mouth Recommendations

You should never choose a puppy training class solely based on a convenient location, because a bad class could end up being so detrimental to your pup.

Instead, one of the best ways to choose a puppy training class is to go with some word-of-mouth recommendations.

Ask your friends and family about the classes that they have attended with their own pups. Your vet, as well as different dog groomers, will also have their own recommendations. If you still don't have many options, you could also try asking local rescue organizations, as well as your local dog warden.

Visit a Class Without Your Dog

Once you have narrowed down your options, it is time to pay your top puppy training classes a visit. While you may be tempted to take your pup with you, this isn't something that you should do.

Why?

Because you need to watch the class objectively, without any distractions. Plus, if you have your pup in tow, you may be asked to join in before you or your pup are ready.

What should you be looking out for when you visit these classes?

You need information that will help you to choose a puppy training class that is best suited to your dog. Look out for the following:

  • A class that is calm and well-organized, rather than chaotic

  • Positive training methods, whether this may be with treats, toys or praise. Preferably, all three should be combined

  • No rough treatment of any of the puppies present. This would include shouting or raised voices

  • A class where both the puppies and the owners are enjoying themselves. Don't forget that a puppy training class is not only to train puppies, but also to train their owners when it comes to raising these puppies properly

  • Separate areas or class times for adult dogs. However, puppies of the same age but different sizes should not be kept apart, as it is important for pups to learn how to interact with dogs of all sizes and breeds. Of course, these interactions do also need to be well-managed

  • Different class levels, such as beginner or advanced

  • Small class sizes, ideally no more than eight dogs per session. This enables each puppy to get the individual attention that they need in order to properly progress

  • A class that is held in a clean environment. Bacteria and viruses can spread so easily between puppies, and toilet training accidents are also very common, so you need to make sure that the environment is suitably clean. However, a strong chemical smell isn't a good sign either, as pet-safe cleaning products are important, especially for vulnerable puppies

After watching a class, ask yourself this question...

Would my puppy and I look forward to attending this class each week?

Don't forget...

You should also look into the certifications that the trainer running the puppy class has. You need to make sure that this is a trainer who has undergone a reputable program. After all, you don't want to be following incorrect advice when it comes to raising your puppy.

Are There Any Dogs Who Shouldn't Attend a Puppy Training Class?

As important as a puppy training class is to a dog's development, these classes aren't for everyone.

Which puppies shouldn't attend a puppy training class?

If your pup already has quite an anxious nature, don't throw your puppy into the deep end by starting with a puppy training class. Instead, enlist the help of a one-on-one puppy trainer to help build your pup's confidence. Once you have done this, a puppy training class will be a great next step.

Another exception to puppy training classes is with pups who have already shown signs of aggression. This could be to either humans or animals.

Again, a one-on-one trainer is what you need to help deal with this. Only once the aggressive behavior has been completely eliminated could you attend a class. After all, you wouldn't want to put any other puppies, or even their owners, in any sort of danger.

It can take a while to choose a puppy training class, but once you have found the right one, you will see how much of an improvement it has on your pup's development. These classes really are key, so make sure that you do all of the right research!

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5 Tips to Help Train a Dog Faster

By Alina Jumabhoy

5 Tips to Help Train a Dog Faster

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Image courtesy of Jen Regnier @ Pixabay

Working at your dog's pace is so important when dog training. As a result, you often need plenty of patience.

Looking for a way to train a dog faster?

These five tips should help to speed things up a little...

1. Keep Things Varied

Just like humans, dogs get bored. This is even more so the case if you are training a pup.

What happens once a dog gets bored?

They lose their focus. This means that they will stop concentrating on whatever you are trying to teach them, finding themselves distracted by every possible thing around them instead.

This is why it is so important to keep things varied, and therefore interesting.

This not only applies to the different commands and tricks you may be teaching your dog, but also to the location of your training sessions.

A great way to train a dog faster is by training in different locations, such as:

  • Different rooms around your house

  • Outside in the garden

  • Open green spaces, such as a local park

  • Busy urban areas, such as a street or a market

Dogs are contextual learners, which means that you need to teach them something in a variety of different places in order for them to really learn. By doing this from the start, you will be able to speed up the training process slightly.

2. Consistency is Key

Many people think that they are being consistent when it comes to dog training, when in actual fact they aren't.

It is common knowledge that consistency is key when it comes to dog training.

You need to be:

  • Praising good behavior, every single time. Treats help to reinforce this

  • Correcting unwanted behavior, every single time

It is the “every single time” part where people often fall short...

You can't take a day off from dog training, especially if you want to train a dog faster.

By really putting some extra effort into being consistent, you will find that your dog learns so much quicker. It helps to clear up any confusion in your dog's mind, putting things in a clear and direct way that your pooch can easily understand.

3. Work on One Step at a Time

Dog with ball on his head showing how you can train a dog faster
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Other than the most basic commands, just about every trick or behavior can be broken down into multiple steps.

It is so important that you do this, because this is the only way to really teach a dog something new.

For example, teaching a dog to “spin” would require the following steps:

  • Up/ Stand

  • Spin

  • Back into position

Teaching a dog to “roll over” would require:

  • Lie down

  • Roll over

  • Back into position

You need to make sure that you start right at the beginning. By taking it one step at a time, your dog will be able to master the entire trick much faster than if you were to quickly muddle your way through.

4. Keep Things Calm

If your dog is acting excited, nervous, anxious, or just about anything else that isn't calm and relaxed, then now is not the time for a training session.

Why?

Because, firstly, he is not in the state of mind to be listening to you. He will definitely not be able to learn while he is this way.

Secondly, training requires praise, and often training treats. You don't want to be giving this praise and treats to your dog when he is over-excited, as this would only be rewarding unwanted behavior.

Wondering how you would go about calming your dog down?

Begin by ignoring everything that your pooch is doing. Turn away from your dog and keep your arms crossed in front of you.

It also helps to take a few deep breaths yourself. Calming yourself down will help to clear away any anxious energy that you may be sending to your dog.

Only once your dog is truly calm should you begin a training session.

5. Short Training Sessions

Short training sessions may seem counterproductive when you are trying to train a dog faster, but they are crucial.

As mentioned earlier, you don't want your dog to get bored during a training session. This will leave you with a distracted dog who isn't in the frame of mind to be learning.

This is why you need to make sure that you time your training sessions, ensuring that they don't over-run. You should be ending each session on a positive note, rather than with your dog wandering off due to boredom. This is why it is better for a training session to be too short, rather than too long.

So, how long should each training session be?

This depends on the individual dog. On average, a dog's attention span will last for around 15 minutes.

This is much lower for puppies and for older dogs, as well as for dogs of any age who have never been trained before and dogs who suffer from anxiety. For these dogs, their attention span will only be between five to ten minutes.

For dogs who have already undergone quite a bit of training, attention spans can be longer. These dogs are already used to staying focused and learning, so you may be able to extend training sessions to 20 minutes or so.

The weather outside can also make a difference to how long your dog can concentrate for...

Hot weather tends to shorten a dog's attention span, while cooler weather prolongs it. Keep this in mind when you are mixing up your dog training locations – your dog will likely be able to focus for longer in a cool indoor room compared to directly under the heat of the sun.

You should never try to rush things when dog training, but these tips will help to train a dog faster by enabling you to better understand how a dog's mind works. From short training sessions to a variety of learning experiences, dog training will be a breeze once you have mastered each of these steps.

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How to Teach a Dog to Pose for Photos

By Alina Jumabhoy

How to Teach a Dog to Pose for Photos

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Have you ever looked at photos of dogs posing beautifully, and wondered how on earth their owners managed to get them to sit so still?

Well, the steps to teach a dog to pose for photos are actually quite simple...

Here is everything you need to know to get started:

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOG KNOWS HOW TO “SIT” AND “STAY”

There are a few essential commands that a dog needs to know in order to teach a dog to pose for photos.

The first is the “sit” command...

How Do You Teach Your Dog to Sit?

This is one of the most basic commands, and is so easy to teach.

Simply hold a treat just in front of your dog's nose. Then, bend your elbow so that your hand, and the treat, moves upwards and towards you.

As your dog's eyes and nose follow this action, he should automatically sit down.

Make sure that you reinforce this command by saying the word “sit” while he is in the process of sitting down.

Then, give your dog lots of praise and a treat, before repeating those steps multiple times over several days.

How Do You Teach Your Dog to Stay?

Once you have the “sit” command mastered, teaching a dog to stay becomes much easier.

Begin with the “sit”, and then say the word “stay”, holding your hand out in front of you as a visual cue.

Wait for a couple of seconds, and then say your release command. This could be anything from “good boy” to “okay” to “free”.

Keep repeating those steps, but slowly increase the amount of time you ask your dog to stay for. You should also start taking a few steps backwards, ensuring that your dog stays rather than following you.

Keep working on this over a few days, increasing the distance between you and your dog, as well as the “stay” duration.

Make sure that you are patient. Even if your dog is taking a while to get the hang of these commands, they are essential basics for those who want to teach a dog to pose for photos.

Once your dog has a solid understanding of these two commands, you will find it much easier to get your dog into position. It also makes it easier to actually step back and take the photo. 

HOW TO TEACH A DOG TO LOOK AT THE CAMERA

Teach a dog to pose for photos by training him to look at the camera when on the beach
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Now that you have your dog sitting and staying nicely, how do you get him to actually look at the camera when you want to take the photograph?

There are a few ways of doing this...

The easiest is by using whatever it is that motivates your dog the most.

For example, some dogs are highly food-motivated, while others tend to prefer toys.

If your dog is food-motivated, simply ask your dog to sit and stay. Then, hold a treat above your camera, repeating the stay command. Your dog will most likely have his eyes fixed on the treat. This will make it easy for you to get a good photo.

If your dog is toy-motivated, repeat those steps but hold a toy above the camera instead.

The “Look at Me” Command

Another way to teach your dog to look at the camera when you need him to is by teaching him the “look at me” command.

Every time your dog looks into your eyes, say “look at me” and then give him a treat. After doing this multiple times, your dog will soon automatically start looking at you each time you say the command.

Use this command only when you are ready with the camera. This will ensure that your pooch looks over at just the right moment.

GO SLOW WITH THE FLASH

The flash on some cameras can sometimes be a blinding shock to humans, let alone dogs.

Allowing your camera flash to scare your dog will make it much harder to convince your dog to sit still for the camera in the future.

When you first begin to teach a dog to pose for photos, make sure that you keep your flash turned off.

You can then start to train your dog to get used to the flash by incorporating it into other activities.

For example, let the flash go off while you and your dog are playing. Or, try doing this before feeding your dog a treat. Take your time with this, especially if your pooch seems jumpy at the flash.

Ideally, try to keep your overall use of the flash to a minimum anyway. The flash can often be damaging to a dog's eyes, making other forms of lighting more appropriate.

REINFORCING CAMERA CONFIDENCE

Is your dog still a little wary of the camera, even after following all of these steps?

One way to reinforce that the camera is nothing to be afraid of is by tossing a treat to your pooch while you are standing behind the camera.

Soon, your dog will associate the camera with tasty treats. It won't be long before he looks up expectantly with a cute look on his face each time you bring the camera out! It is so important to ensure that your pooch is camera confident if you want to properly teach a dog to pose for photos.

TO LEASH OR NOT TO LEASH

It can be tempting to unclip your dog's leash to get a good snap while out and about.

However, make sure that you do not do this unless your dog has a solid understanding of the “sit” and “stay” commands, as well as good recall.

You should also never unclip your dog's leash in areas where dogs are required to be kept on a leash, such as national parks.

Plus, there is nothing wrong with including a leash in your photos. This just shows the world what a responsible dog owner you are! It can also make it easier to teach a dog to pose for photos with the use of a leash. 

Just make sure that you have untangled any knots in the leash and have straightened it out before snapping away. This will prevent it from looking too untidy in your photos.

Some dogs love to be photographed, while others will run and hide. Of course, if you have a dog that does the latter, this does make it much harder to teach a dog to pose for photos, but don't give up! Take your time with your training, making sure that you and your pooch have plenty of fun along the way!

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Muzzle Training Your Dog

By Alina Jumabhoy

Muzzle Training Your Dog

Photo by Show 131/ CC

Image courtesy of Pranidchakan @ Pexels

The majority of people out there who own a friendly, happy dog think that muzzle training is pointless, because muzzles tend to be associated with aggression. However, there are a number of reasons as to why your dog may need to wear a muzzle at some stage in his life, making muzzle training one of the best things that you can do for your pooch.

WHY WOULD MY DOG NEED TO WEAR A MUZZLE?

Even if your dog may not be aggressive, you may need to turn to a muzzle at some stage in your dog's life.

Reasons could include:

  • An injury – a dog may bite when in severe pain

  • Grooming – even if you desensitize your dog to the grooming process, he could still experience a negative situation at some point in his life that may require you to keep him muzzled when being groomed

  • Laws – these could be due to breed specific legislation, or even geographical location

  • Preventing unwanted eating while out – many dogs love to eat the strangest things while out on their walk, but this can often be dangerous. A muzzle prevents this from happening

If, for whatever reason, your dog does need to wear a muzzle, you want this to be something that your dog is happy to do.

Don't think that your dog would ever be happy wearing a muzzle?

Think again...

It all comes down to how you muzzle train your dog.

CHOOSING A MUZZLE

Before you begin muzzle training, you need to first choose a good muzzle for your dog.

There are several different types out there, but the best tends to be the basket muzzle. This is usually made from plastic or rubber, and fits like a basket over the dogs nose and mouth.

Why are these muzzles best?

Because not only can you easily slide treats through the gaps in the muzzle, but its shape and size enables your dog to drink and pant as well. Panting is extremely important, as this is how your dog cools down. 

Whichever type you choose, you need to make sure that the muzzle fits your dog properly. Check that it isn't rubbing against your dog's face anywhere, especially the nose and the eyes.

If you are buying the muzzle online...

Make sure that you take the time to properly measure your dog. The wrong size could lead to painful chafing.

GETTING STARTED WITH MUZZLE TRAINING

There are a few different stages involved when it comes to successfully muzzle training a dog.

Keep in mind that all dogs progress at different rates, so be patient and consistent in your methods.

Begin with Treats

High value treats are key when it comes to muzzle training. Make sure you have something that your dog absolutely loves, such as cheese or meat. This is important when it comes to helping your dog associate the muzzle with positive experiences.

Then, follow these steps:

  • Show your dog the muzzle and then immediately give him a few treats

  • Hide the muzzle behind your bag for a few seconds

  • Bring it back out, show it to your dog, and give him more treats. Verbal praise is also important. Repeat this a few more times

  • Place some treats inside the muzzle and allow your dog to eat them from within the muzzle

  • Once they are finished, repeat that step a few more times

Keep going over those steps over several different training sessions. This will really help to cement your dog's positive reaction to the muzzle.

Adding in Vocal Cues

As your dog slowly begins to learn that the muzzle leads to treats, you can begin to add in vocal cues.

Say the word “muzzle” when your dog is about to place his face into the muzzle. The more you do this, the quicker he will learn what you want him to do when you say the cue word. This will make it so much easier to place the muzzle onto your dog in the future.

Securing the Muzzle

Once your dog gets excited at the sight of the muzzle, you can then move on to the next stage.

After your dog has placed his face into the muzzle to eat the treat, gently fasten it behind his head, but then unfasten it and take it off straight away.

Repeat this a few times, making sure that you are still placing treats into the muzzle for your dog. It could be worth mixing up the treats that you are using at this point, adding in a few different high value treats to keep your dog interested.

As you continue on, slowly start leaving the muzzle on for longer periods of time. Begin with 15 seconds, then 30, then 45, and so on.

Aim to have your dog happily wearing the muzzle for around 15 minutes by the end of your training. However, make sure that you always do something fun with your dog, whether this may be a walk or play, while he is wearing the muzzle. This will help him to see the muzzle as a good thing.

SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL TRAINING SESSIONS

Whether you are muzzle training your dog or trying to teach your dog anything else, it is important to keep your training sessions short and sweet.

Why?

Because you don't want your dog to get bored or frustrated. This will only bring negative connotations to whatever it is you are trying to teach.

You don't need to muzzle train for more than a few minutes at a time. You can then repeat these sessions several times throughout the day.

Don't forget...

Always set your dog up for success. If you don't think that he is progressing enough, start again and go back to basics. It is so important to make this fun for your dog throughout the whole process.

You never know what may happen in life, which is why it is always important to be as prepared as possible. Muzzle training your dog may not be something that you have considered, but could really make a huge difference in your dog's life further down the line. Muzzle training is easy, as well as fun, so go ahead and give it a try!

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