Tips and tricks from the dog whisperer, Cesar Millan

Man’s best friend deserves a good education. Not only does it make your life as an owner happier, but it also makes your dog’s life a lot better. Fortunately, the great canine communicator, Cesar Millan, has shared his tip and tricks for training dogs over years. They work for any breed, any age, no matter how difficult the dog’s behavior is.

Here we have put together his best advice, from getting a dog to general training. Click on to become a canine guru.

Before you get a dog

First, take a look at your lifestyle and make sure it is suitable for you to have a dog. Whether you are fostering, adopting, or getting a puppy, getting a dog should not be done on impulse.

Walk around

Before you bring your dog home, take a walk around the block. It is important for them to see where they are going to live. It will also tire them out a bit.

Exercise

If your dog is not a little worn out, then its energy will destroy any attempts you make to train it. Do some research into how much exercise your breed needs and make sure you fulfill it. Proper walks will also keep your dog healthy.

Plan

The only way to teach a dog is to make a plan you can stick to. Canines thrive on order, and so they will be happier if they can expect the same each day. This means consistent training times, outdoor times, and bedtimes.

Education

In order to gain your dog’s respect and obedience, you must be clear and confident. Knowing what you want to do is key to this, so you must educate yourself and set out a training schedule before you begin.

Not human!

Dogs are dogs. If you regard your doggie as a human, it will regard you as a dog and thus always compete for the alpha role. They absolutely need love and affection, but treating them like a human confuses the household dynamic and may lead to aggressive behavior.

Consistency

It is unfair to be inconsistent with dogs. If you let kids have a sweet, they understand it might be a special day. But dogs don’t. When they expect the same treatment, you might get angry. The inconsistency just messes the learning process up, so don’t do it.

Place

When you want to teach a dog new tricks, you need to establish their ‘place.’ The first thing to do is set up a good training ground that is quiet, not too stimulating, and has a table so that you can connect with your dog on a higher level.

Stimulator

Every dog is different, so you need to figure out what drives your doggie. The three options are food, toys, or just your love. Once you figure this out, you will be able to reward them in the best way.

Smell

Near the table, let the dog smell your food by opening the hole and putting it on the floor. Then open the lid and pick up the food. The scent of the food will spread in the area, making the dog give you its attention.

Train

Lead the dog off the platform, and then lead them on again and reward them with their chosen stimulator. Repeat this a few times so that it becomes ingrained in their minds.

Keep on going

It is going to be challenging and it will take time, but once you have established the reference area, everything becomes a lot easier. Start asking the dog to wait, and then asking it to sit. Reward them when they do it right. It is all about repetition and patience.

The leash

You can use this method with any kind of leash or harness. Keep on doing the trick until they are sitting and waiting for you to put the leash on them.

Record

As you go, record all the rules you have set and the things you have taught them. Any opportunity you get, practice the tricks. Also, on a blackboard, write down the rules the whole household should follow to try and keep consistency.