United Pet Club

Dog Training

Timing matters more than most owners think

A reward given half a second late teaches the dog something different to what you intended. Marking the exact right moment, with a word or a clicker, is what separates training that sticks from training you have to repeat every week.

Consistency beats intensity

Ten minutes of training a day, done the same way each time, outperforms an hour-long session once a week. Dogs learn from repetition and predictability, not from effort spent in one sitting.

What age should a puppy start training?

As early as eight weeks for basics like sit and recognising its name. Formal puppy classes usually start nearer twelve to sixteen weeks, once the first vaccinations are out of the way.

Why does my dog listen to one family member and not another?

Usually it comes down to inconsistent cues or rewards between people. The dog responds to whoever is clearest and most consistent, not necessarily who it's fondest of.