The Phases of Dog Training

Training your dog is hard work but totally worth it to have
a well behaved and happy dog. The first step to getting
started on dog training is to have a plan. And to create a
successful plan you have to understand the three phases of
dog training.

The first phase of dog training is called the communication
phase. This is where you communicate to your dog what you
want. But of course this is not as simple as saying
"Charlie, don't go potty in the house!" It will take some
time and repetition for you and your dog to learn to
communicate with each other.

Dogs understand positive action, so when your dog does
something you want her to do, reward her, but make sure the
desired behavior has actually been completed before you
start handing out rewards. Never punish your dog except by a
slightly raised voice, especially during early training, and
then only if your dog is doing the undesired act at that
moment, or you may be undoing the training and socialization
you are working on so hard.

The second phase is the regression phase. Although this step
may sound like your dog is starting to lose his training
that is not what it refers to at all. This is the stage in
which you begin to give fewer treats for positive behavior.
Although dog treats and positive enforcements are great training
tools they should not go on forever. Your dog needs to learn
to do the desired behaviors voluntarily or to please you,
rather than for rewards. So in this phase you wean your dog
from expecting a food or other tangible reward for every
good behavior.

The third phase of dog training is the consistency phase.
Once you have made it through phase one and two, you begin
to turn those good behaviors that used to be elicited by a
reward, into lifelong habits. Although you may not be always
in full on training mode during this phase, be sure to keep
an eye on your dog and his behaviors to make sure he is
consistently following what he has learned.

Understanding the phases of dog training is crucial. These
same three steps apply to any kind of dog training, from
housebreaking through leash training, show training and even
the more complicated canine competitions. These three phases
are the cornerstone to any kind of dog training. Well
trained dogs are happy and healthy and make the dog/person
living arrangement so much better for both of you. Don't
despair and don't give up, and you will both win in the end.



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