10 tips on how to start obedience training in dogs

It's never too early to start obedience training. Puppies as young as eight weeks old can begin learning basic commands like "sit" and "stay."

Positive reinforcement, such as treats, praise, and toys, is an effective way to motivate your dog to learn. Reward your dog immediately after they exhibit the desired behavior.

Dogs have short attention spans, so keep training sessions brief and focused. Five to ten minutes a day is a good starting point.

Consistency is key to successful obedience training. Use the same commands and rewards every time you train your dog, and make sure all family members are on the same page.

Start with basic commands like "sit," "stay," and "come." Once your dog has mastered these commands, you can move on to more advanced training.

As your dog gets better at obeying commands, gradually increase the difficulty of the training exercises. For example, add distractions or increase the duration of the command.

Obedience training takes time and patience. Don't get frustrated if your dog doesn't pick up on commands right away, and be prepared to repeat exercises until your dog understands what is expected of them.

Punishing your dog for bad behavior can be counterproductive and damage your relationship with your pet. Instead, redirect their attention to a more desirable behavior and reward them when they comply.

Dogs respond best to a calm, assertive tone of voice. Yelling or screaming at your dog will only confuse them and make training more difficult.

Always end training sessions on a positive note, with a successful command or game. This will help your dog look forward to future training sessions. At the end, ask your dog to do something easy and reward with a treat.