Keep a container of training treats somewhere handy and turn spare moments into valuable training opportunities.
Yes, you do have time to train your dog!
If you’re like most dog owners, life is busy. Between work, family and everything else competing for your attention, it’s easy to believe you simply don’t have time to train your dog.
The good news is that you probably do.
You don’t need to set aside half an hour every evening or make training another item on your to-do list. In fact, some of the best training happens in short, spontaneous sessions woven naturally into your day.
CLEAR THINKING
You don’t need long training sessions to make real progress. A few well-timed minutes scattered throughout the day are often more enjoyable for both you and your dog—and can be surprisingly effective.
Short and sweet wins
Positive reinforcement trainers recommend keeping training sessions short. Puppies and dogs learn best when they’re engaged, successful and wanting more.
Think of the television ad break, waiting for the kettle to boil or pausing Netflix. Grab five treats and spend a minute or two practising with your dog before getting on with your day.
Create a training stash
One of the easiest ways to make this happen is to keep a small container of treats somewhere you walk past regularly. Store them in a resealable packet or airtight container where you can reach them easily but your puppy can’t.
At CLEAR Dog Training we encourage clients to create a ‘training stash’. Seeing those treats every day is a simple reminder to grab a few and spend a minute with your dog.
One treat we particularly like is Love Em Puppy Rewards. These tiny heart-shaped treats are an ideal size for frequent training and are available locally from Woolworths and Petbarn.
Turn everyday moments into games
One of our favourite relationship games is ‘Freebie’. Show your dog a treat, say ‘Freebie!’ in a happy voice and toss the treat away. As your dog chases it, turn and walk a couple of steps. When they’ve finished eating, happily call them back and reward them again.
This simple game builds enthusiasm, strengthens your recall and is enormous fun.
If your puppy jumps up or barges into you, simply fold your arms, look away and wait for calm behaviour before restarting the game. Your puppy soon learns that calmness keeps the game going.
Training becomes part of life
When you train in little bursts throughout the day, training stops feeling like a chore. Your dog also learns that good things can happen anywhere, at any time, making them far more likely to pay attention to you in everyday life.
The same principle applies to loose lead walking. Rather than waiting for a long walk, pop the lead on and spend just a few minutes outside practising ‘Let’s Go’, ‘This Way’, ‘Wait’ and a couple of fun recall games.
Every little bit counts
Even the busiest person can usually find a few spare minutes during the day. Those tiny sessions soon add up, helping you build a stronger relationship with your dog while fitting naturally into everyday life.
