Choose a treat that the dog only gets when you practice training. If he or she gets the same treat at other times, it will be harder to get him to associate the treat with the desired behavior. You can break treats up into smaller pieces and your dog will still be just as excited about them.
Limit distractions in the room such as other people or TV. Make sure there are no exits for your dog to escape through. This will limit the options of where he can go if he or she’s confused.
Pet your dog and speak to him or her lovingly when you give the treat. This is another way of rewarding him/her.
Stay inside, or in an enclosed space. Don’t give your dog the chance to run away. If your dog takes too long to leave you alone, you can begin another activity on your own, like cooking a meal or doing some chores. Once the dog sees that you’re distracted, he’ll/she’ll likely get bored him or her self.
Resist the temptation to move close to your dog. Your dog may think this is a game, or he or she may begin to assume that you will always come to him.
Just like people, dogs have limited attention spans. If you notice your dog getting bored or antsy, stop for the day. You can practice again tomorrow.
Scale up slowly. Don’t immediately move from your bedroom to a dog park.
When using other people as a distraction start with people the dog knows. This will be less jarring for the dog than introducing a stranger. Small animals may be birds or squirrels in your yard. These wild animals can generally keep themselves safe from dogs. Don’t purposefully put a small animal (like a kitten or gerbil) in danger by introducing it to a dog.
Practice saying the command and doing the hand signal at the same time. Use a firm, clear tone of voice. Make your signal one clean motion.
Resist the urge to pet your dog to comfort him at this point. This will encourage him to follow you more. Use the command and hand signal only once and then turn to go again.
Be careful when opening the door. Your dog may still get excited and try to run for it. When your dog can reliably stay, you should be able to open the door for several seconds without him running outside.
Don’t give the treats and praise until you’re able to get all the way out the door without him following you. Keep treats hidden until you decide to give them, otherwise they can be a distraction.
Your dog may get distracted by animals and other people outside. This creates a challenge in getting him to stay. You may need extra practice for him to master it. Try walking away from your dog once you’ve told him to stay. He should be able to do this outside as well as inside. Practice in increasingly larger spaces. Eventually, your dog should be able to stay in an open yard without running off.
Whenever your dog will be spending time in a new place, give him time to explore and become familiar with the smells and sounds.
Spaying and neutering also helps prevent unwanted puppies from becoming strays and crowding shelters.
If you work long hours, consider hiring a dog walker or pet sitter to engage your dog during the day. Not all dogs will get along with others. Always introduce dogs while they’re on a leash to prevent dangerous fighting.
Different breeds need different amounts of exercise. For example, a pug may only be able to walk briskly for 20 or 30 minutes before needing a break. A husky is bred to run great distances. Find out what’s healthy for your particular breed. Exercise can include going for walks, chasing a ball or a frisbee, or running around a dog park with other dogs.
Never scold a dog when he returns to you, even if it took him a long time. This teaches the dog that he’ll be punished for coming back. Don’t only call him back when the fun is over. For example, if you’re at the park, call him back for a moment before letting him continue to play. If you always call him right before going home, he’ll learn that coming back means that playtime is over.
