United Pet Club

Dog Training

Timing matters more than most owners think

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

Consistency beats intensity

Ten minutes of training a day, done the same way every time, works better than an hour-long session once a week. Dogs learn from repetition and predictability, not from effort spent in a single sitting.

What age should a puppy start training?

As early as eight weeks for basics like sit and name recognition. Formal obedience classes usually start closer to twelve to sixteen weeks, after the first round of vaccinations.

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

Usually it is because of inconsistent cues or rewards between people at home. The dog responds to whoever is clearest and most consistent, not necessarily whoever it likes more.