Dog Behaviors: 5 Simple Dog Training Tips to Help Your Dog Thrive

If I could distill all my years training dogs into just 5 basic dog training tips, what would they be? What are the most important things your dog need to know, and more importantly, what do you need to know about your dog?

Learn the 5 most important tips to help your dog thrive.

I recently received a text from a relative saying they just got their very first dog. They wanted to know some key pointers when working with their new rescue dog. How do you even train a dog who's 3 years old coming from a shelter situation?

Here are the top 5 tips I gave her. None of it involves basic commands, or how to get your dog to do tricks - that's the easy stuff! It's a good refresher for those of us who already have dogs, as well as a framework for new dog owners.

1. Understand Your Dog's Thresholds Are Different

2. Less is More In Dog Training

3. Respect Your Dog's Anxiety

4. Dog Life: Praise Loudly, Scold Softly

5. Enjoy Your Time with Your Dog

Struggling With Training Your Dog?

1. Understand Your Dog's Thresholds Are Different

Just like children, every dog is different, with a different set of triggers and anxieties. That bears repeating.

Your dog is different than every other dog.

Many times during our pack walks I see people wishing their dog walked as well as That Other Dog Over There. Little do they know That Other Dog Over There's owner is working with handling their dog's severe separation anxiety. On the flip side, That Other Dog Over There's owner heard you talking about how you don't even need to crate your dog when you leave the house, and now the owner is wishing they had your leash walking problems.

We are all struggling with different dog behaviors. That's okay. But don't compare your dog; all our dogs are assholes, just in different ways.

I'm perfectly content with my dog's personal brand of asshole.

Struggling with a leash-reactive dog? Check out this article.

Working through separation anxiety? Give this article a read.

Interested in joining one of our free pack walks? Sign up here.

2. Less is More In Dog Training

Google "dog training", and every article will start with "Consistency is key in dog training."

Bullshit.

We've just talked about thresholds with your dog, but what about thresholds with the human? If I just did a pack walk and had 3 dog training classes in a row, there is no way I'm going to be up for a marathon training session with my two pups.

Instead of focusing on consistency, I want you to focus on follow-through.

Consistency relies on perfection, and then the accompanying shame when you aren't able to be perfect the first time. I don't expect perfection from my dogs, and I don't expect it from you, either; be gentle with yourself, but don't race to the bottom.

Learn more about my hot take on follow-through vs. consistency here.

3. Respect Your Dog's Anxiety

If you've ever done a dog training session with me, or been to a pack walk, you'll start to get used to some of the Kerry-speak I do. One of my favorite phrases that I try to hammer into everyone's head:

What does that even mean?

A good example is the first time I took my Border Collie, Arwen, in a car. Prior to me getting her, she had had no socialization, walks, or interaction, really. Her first car ride was in the backseat of my truck as I drove her home.

She submissive urinated the entire ride home because she was so overwhelmed.

Yes, most of our dogs are accustomed to cars, but she wasn't, that's all. She wasn't being bad. She wasn't trying to get back at me, and she most certainly wasn't trying to be troublesome. She was simply doing the best she could given the circumstances.

Never forget that anxiety is fear of the unknown.

So when your dog is reacting to another dog on a leash, your dog's anxiety is manifesting. When your dog tears apart your shoes when you're gone, that's anxiety, not anger. And when a dog is aggressive, it's....*checks notes* ...yup, anxiety.

Learn how to work through anxiety in this article.

Concerned about your aggressive dog? Read this.

Road trip with your dog? Get the scoop on dog car hacks here.

4. Dog Behavior: Praise Loudly, Scold Softly

I see forums and dog training groups focused on positive only methods. Do you know who else used positive only methods?

Cersei Lannister. Have you met her son?

Positive only doesn't work. There, I've said the quiet part out loud.

If your dog jumps, you're told to simply turn your back to them until they stop jumping. Because that's the nice way of doing things that doesn't require you to be the Bad Guy.

But the very act of not negating your dog's more unsavory behaviors makes you the bad guy.

You are not your dog's friend. Nor are you their owner. You are their guide. Their parent, if you choose that moniker. Any good parent will give a negative when necessary.

Don't be afraid of giving a (necessary) negative. Be afraid of hurting your dog, scaring your dog, or amplifying your dog's anxiety.

Negatives should always come from you directly. Don't wimp out, if you want to give your dog a negative, don't pass the buck. Don't look for a shortcut or an easy way.

Negatives should be quickly given, and should never involve violent methods like shock collars. You are working towards building your dog's trust in you.

Working through dog behavior is about getting your dog to trust your responses to a situation over their own natural instincts.

Earn that trust.

Learn more about why I hate shock collars here.

Understand the importance of negatives and positives here.

5. Enjoy Your Time with Your Dog

Arwen is great in the car now (but she still licks the car windows like a freak). My Hazel is great on a leash, but she still is afraid of my washing machine (that's a blog post waiting to happen). Yes, I could focus on the window-licking and get Hazel to move past her laundry lunacy, but like, why?

We have a set amount of time with our dogs. On average, 676 weeks with them. That's not a lot of time.

I'd rather spend that time with Arwen hiking in the woods, so I choose to wipe down my windows frequently. I could work on Hazel's neurosis, but I'm taking time from snuggling to address an issue that isn't really an issue.

My goal isn't to train my dogs; my goal is to guide and shape their behaviors so they are happy and comfortable in our human world. And that's what enables me to enjoy my time with my dogs to the fullest.

Don't forget to enjoy your dog. Skip the dog training session today, and snuggle with them. Play fetch. Do something that sparks joy for both of you. Remember why you got a dog.

And help them remember why you're the Best Human Ever.

Learn about accepting your dog's aging here.

The most difficult decision pet owners face: finding the rainbow bridge.

Struggling With Training Your Dog?

Have you ever thought about how focusing on dog behavior through communication can completely change the game? Instead of just sticking to traditional dog training, what if we focused on a better understanding of what drives our dog's behaviors, and how to guide those behaviors?

For over 20 years, I have developed and honed the Piloting Method for training dogs. This approach is force-free and avoids the use of harsh shock or prong collars, as well as the continuous use of click-and-treat techniques.

My goal is to establish a relationship with my dog that is based on trust and communication, rather than domination or bribery.

Discover more about our Piloting Method for training dogs and puppies with our in-home dog training and behavioral packages. Outside the Greater Cleveland Area? Check out our virtual coaching packages.

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