The Prime K9 Dog Training Blog

If you have a dog that requires training, you may be torn between doing it yourself and hiring a professional. Though your involvement in the training process is often recommended, working with an expert is a solid choice because they can use their knowledge and experience to provide effective training for your dog. At Prime K9 Dog Training, our hard-working team offers structured dog training tailored to your pet’s needs. Here are five reasons to hire a professional dog trainer to support your training efforts:

1. More Experience With the Training Process

As a regular pet owner, you may not have trained a dog before. You may not know where to start, making the process tiring and time-consuming for you and your four-legged friend. Professional dog trainers do this for a living and are experienced in almost everything that makes a well-behaved, obedient animal. They have trained many dogs during their time as a trainer, gaining an understanding of different breeds and their behaviors. They also know how to identify your dog’s particular needs and develop a personalized training plan.

2. Advanced Knowledge of Tricks and Commands

Some pet owners may only be familiar with basic commands, such as sit, stay, and fetch. While these can be valuable skills to teach your dog, there are many additional commands to consider. Dog training experts have extensive knowledge regarding advanced tricks and commands for dogs. They can handle various dog-related issues, like going to the bathroom inside, barking at guests, pulling on the leash, stealing food, and being fearful of people or things. Trainers also understand more complex tricks and commands, like off-leash recall, army crawling, and walking backward.

3. Enhanced Objectivity During Training and Evaluation

When training your dog on your own, you may find yourself growing frustrated or expecting too much too soon. Trainers have experience with remaining impartial, evaluating each situation logically instead of emotionally. They also don't have a long history with the dog, allowing them to start fresh. After objectively assessing your pet’s behavior and skill level, they can give helpful feedback about what needs improving and how best to do it.

While training dogs can help create obedient animals, some people make mistakes that lead to ineffective results. Knowing the common dog training mistakes can help trainers avoid them for better results. At Prime K9, we have the experience and tools to train your furry friend properly. Here are five common dog training mistakes and how to avoid them:

1. Starting Dog Training Late

Some people think puppies must be several months old to understand commands and get training. The best time to start training is immediately when they come home with you. If you wait too long, they may pick up bad habits that will be difficult to break. A young pup may not understand advanced commands, but they can be taught the basics like sit, stay, and come. That way, they can learn good habits while still young and carry them through adulthood. If you don't have the time to start early, Prime K9 can help you handle this task.

2. Training Your Dog for Too Long

Dogs have a limited attention span — just like people. Dog training sessions should be around 15 minutes in length. Tiring them too much with long training sessions can make them less interested in learning and may cause frustration. Keep the session short and exciting with verbal praises, treats, and toys. Train as you monitor the animal's attentiveness. If they become distracted, take a break and resume after some time. Learning new things should be a positive experience, not a chore for your furry friend.

3. Being Inconsistent With Training

Dogs learn best when they have a consistent routine. Being inconsistent with your commands or training style will confuse them and make the process ineffective. Do not let a dog jump on you one day and punish them for it the next day. Avoid using different commands for the same action like "down," "get off," and "off." That can confuse them and make it harder for them to understand what you want. Choose one word to use for each command, then stick with it.

Training your dog can help address behavioral issues, strengthen your bond, and promote good manners. At Prime K9 Dog Training, we train dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds. Here are four types of dog training:

1. Obedience Training

Obedience training focuses on teaching dogs basic commands like sit, come, off, and leave it. This training establishes a foundation of good manners and control over your dog's behavior. Dogs thrive on routine and repetition, so using the same commands consistently may help improve their behavior.

At Prime K9 Dog Training, we offer private lessons if you want to learn alongside your dog. During this training program, our professional trainers meet you and teach you how to train your dog to be obedient. With basic commands, you can better communicate with your dog.

2. Service Training

Service training prepares dogs to assist people with physical, mental, psychiatric, and sensory disabilities. Service dogs undergo training to perform tasks like fetching items such as harnesses and walking canes. Dogs can also learn how to alert individuals with hearing disabilities if there are oncoming vehicles.

We can train service dogs to exhibit proper public etiquette and ignore distractions. Dogs should not jump on people, beg for food, or engage in aggressive behavior. We offer group classes to help dogs socialize with people, animals, sounds, and environments.

Dogs have unique personalities, needs, and breed traits that influence the instructions needed to train them. At Prime K9 Dog Training, we help our clients become confident and proud dog owners through comprehensive dog training. Our trainers are compassionate and have experience working with different breeds. Here's an overview of how training can differ by breed:

Training Is Personalized to Your Dog

At K9 Dog Training, we tend to each dog's unique traits and personality quirks. Our trainers understand dog behavior, strength, activity, and learning capacity. Some dog breeds, like golden retrievers, are sturdy, muscular, and have powerful gait. Other breeds are more prone to barking, chewing, aggression, or other negative types of behavior. At K9 Dog Training, we take into account individual differences. 

Our training is specifically for your dog's needs, and we also work with mixed breeds. Dogs can be trained to accomplish different tasks, like bird-hunting and shepherding. Each task requires a different set of instructions. We use leashes, lures, treats, capturing, and markers to help train the dogs. Our trainers start with basic commands, but since some dogs already know a few commands, we pick up where you left off.

Working Around Breed-typical Personalities

While it may be believed that puppies are born blank slates with the potential to become your desired companion, our experience has shown that dogs have inborn abilities and attributes. Some dogs are more friendly and compatible with other pets. Others are more fearful and impulsive. Early training can help reinforce positive behavior. At K9 Dog Training, we recognize and use breed-typical personalities in our programs.

Differences in dog breed personalities can be attributed to genetics, but environmental factors tend to be more influential. Trainers can also predict the dog's temperament at maturity based on the training administered. We know personality matters, so some breeds are trained for sporting, herding, guarding, service, or companionship. We have also worked with daring, distant, exceedingly active, and aggressive dogs. Our programs use positive reinforcement, relationship-based training, clickers, model-rival (mirror), and more to work around these attributes.

As a dog owner, one of the best ways you can invest in your furry friend is through good training. To train your dog effectively, you need the right tools. Prime K9 Dog Training educates both dogs and their owners with some of the best behavioral tips and tricks in the industry. Here are some top dog training supplies that we use and recommend to all dog owners:

Leashes and Harnesses

One of the best ways to begin training your dog is to get them accustomed to wearing leashes and harnesses. These supplies are not intended to restrict your dog's movement, but to guide it. Our Prime K9 dog trainers can teach your dog how to walk alongside you on a leash or with a harness. 

A standard leash is a good choice for most dogs, but for dogs that pull on their leash or are difficult to control, there are many training tools available to help reduce and stop pulling. Ask your trainer what training collar or tool will be most appropriate or beneficial for your dog/puppy.  

Teaching your dog how to calmly walk beside you can help them remain safe and well-behaved in public places. This training process can also be a great bonding experience between dogs and their owners. It helps them become familiar with each other's movements and teaches them what to expect from each other.

Having a well-trained dog can help make pet ownership more enjoyable and less stressful. Proper training establishes a clear line of communication with your dog, reducing misunderstandings and strengthening your bond. At Prime K9 Dog Training, we can help you reach your goal of owning a well-behaved dog through one of our training programs. Here are some of the benefits of dog training:

1. Teaches Dogs How To Behave

Dog training targets unwanted behaviors, such as jumping, pulling, excessive barking, and aggression toward people or other animals. It promotes good behaviors like sitting and staying. Through positive reinforcement techniques, dogs learn to associate good behavior with rewards.

We review the behaviors that dog owners want to address before training so that we know where to focus our efforts. Our experienced professionals then use effective techniques like correctional training and socialization exercises. Doing this can help your dog understand acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. 

At Prime K9 Dog Training, we commonly hear the saying, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks." Dog training involves multiple factors. Here we will focus on the aspect we get asked about all the time: age. 

Dog Training With Older Dogs

The age of your canine can impact how you approach training. Dogs of all ages can learn new things, but older dogs may not always learn as fast as younger ones. Adult dogs might have already established poor behaviors. These behaviors may seem challenging to unlearn, but they can be addressed with the right dog training program. Most any dog can learn new things with the right motivation. 

Senior Dog Health Concerns

Dogs can develop health issues as they age. Some of the more common ailments include vision loss, obesity, joint pain, or hearing loss. Be mindful of how their stamina and mobility can limit their training. Dogs with arthritis or joint pain may find commands like "sit" or "lay down" uncomfortable if asked to do them multiple times in a row. Start with short training sessions and listen to your dog's body language. 

Dog training is an exciting journey for pet owners. You can teach a puppy various instructions or train an old dog on new tricks. At Prime K9 Dog Training, we offer professional training services to help owners improve their relationships with their dogs. Working with an experienced team is the best way to train your dog. You'll learn the basics of dog behavior, how to reinforce good traits, and how to remove unwanted ones. 

7 Things You Should Know About Training a Dog

Any dog can learn a few things to make life more enjoyable for you as the owner. You don't want a dog that jumps on guests, bolts out the front door, or poops in the house. Some dogs are aggressive on the leash, bark incessantly, and steal food from the counter. Our professional dog trainers have years of experience and know how to reach your goals. We can help you create a happy relationship with your pet. Here are seven things to know about training a dog:

1.   Perform All Training on a Leash

Training a dog requires control, and a leash helps you achieve that. A controlled dog is usually calm, attentive, focused, and ready to respond to your instruction. Using a leash gives you more control because you can calmly maintain your dog's attention. You shouldn't misuse the power by yanking the leash hard when your dog doesn't listen. The leash helps you keep the animal focused on the instructions when they get bored or distracted.

2.   Train Your Dog Consistently

Dog training programs require consistency. You should establish a routine involving spending several minutes training the dog. Regular training sessions with an upbeat attitude will build trust and affection with the dog. Train the dog a couple of times a day. Some days your dog will fly through commands, and other days you'll feel like they forgot everything. Don't skip the training sessions. End on a good note, with the dog performing the command successfully.

There are many benefits to teaching your dog basic obedience commands, no matter how young or old it is. When your pet learns basic commands, you can build a lasting relationship, keep it safe, and become a confident owner. Here are the top four commands used in our dog training and obedience classes at Prime K9 Dog Training:

1. Sit

Perhaps the most popular obedience command pet owners teach their dog is the "sit" command. Teaching your dog how to sit on command has many benefits, like teaching the dog how to control itself. When your dog is sitting, it is more likely to be calm. It's easier to teach your dog from here than when it is running or jumping out of control.

If your dog is excited or distracted, the simple "sit" command can help you refocus your dog's attention. "Sit" enables you to gain and stay in control of situations where your dog might engage in unwanted behaviors. 

2. Come

A recall command is one of the most helpful commands you can teach your dog. This command has a few different names, like "come" or "here." No matter which word you use, the goal of the command is to get your dog to stop what they're doing and go to you as quickly as possible.

The "come" command can help to keep your dog safe outdoors. When your dog obeys a recall command, you won't have to chase your dog if it slips away from you. The command can also help you quickly locate your dog if it leaves your line of sight. 

Amazing video and Roxy does a great job.