Making Time For Training
Training a dog requires a lot of time and practice, even when you are working with a professional dog trainer. In most cases, the trainer is not going to be there to do the work for you, rather their role is supportive. They will show you what to practice and help troubleshoot in between sessions. This can seem overwhelming, even with a list of what to practice and how. If you are finding your training homework to be a bit daunting and are finding it difficult to add practice sessions to your schedule, I have some tips for you.
Break it up.
Break up your training sessions into 3-5 minute sessions. This sounds so simple, but it can make a huge difference in our mindset. It can seem impossible to try to fit in 20 minutes of training time each day with our dog, but thinking about doing it in smaller portions can make it seem more manageable. Shorter sessions will also make it more fun and less frustrating for your dog. When I work with dogs at home I tend to set a timer so that I know how much time I’ve spent practicing and so that I keep sessions short and sweet!
Make it convenient.
Let’s be honest, if doing your homework is inconvenient you won’t do it. There are a couple of ways that we can make practicing easier for you. Try making small ziplock baggies full of kibble and treats and place them strategically around the house. Having treats right there wherever you are will make it much easier and more convenient to practice. It also makes it more likely that you can catch your dog doing something you love and reward them or redirect them to a more positive behavior if they find some trouble. Have a few extra minutes between zoom calls? Grab that treat pack from the bedside table.
Wing it sometimes.
This one may surprise you! As humans we tend to want to have regimented and scheduled practice times with our dogs. While I think this is a great strategy, it isn’t always realistic. There are some days where we simply don’t know our schedule well enough or things change that affect our routine. I find that working with our dogs on the fly can have real advantages and can be much more realistic as it more closely resembles real world scenarios. Have an extra 5 minutes after you brush your teeth before bed? Put a training session in there!
Sneak it in.
That’s right! Sneak training into your every day activities. My absolute favorite time to practice with our dogs when I am stressed or not feeling like myself is when I’m watching tv. If you have tv with commercials then commercial breaks are an excellent time to get some work done with your pooch. This allows me to have a break and helps keep sessions short and manageable for all humans and canines involved!