Animals

This Comedian’s Instagram Teaches You How To Both Train And Understand Your Dog

Most people have trouble with dog training because they think of dogs as humans. This will not work. There is a very specific way to train your dog that isn’t even really that hard. It just takes time and consistency.

Comedian Justin Silver makes some of the best dog training videos I’ve seen. As a comic, he’s great at talking and communicating information. As a dog trainer, he’s very knowledgeable and demonstrates with actual dogs.

1. The Doorbell

TEACHING MANNERS WHEN PEOPLE RING YOUR BELL. •TOOLS FOR THE TRADE- A yoga mat or flat dog bed to mark the SPOT
Some treats by the door.
•COMMANDS YOUR DOG SHOULD KNOW FIRST- Sit, Stay, Go to spot. •KEYS TO SUCCESS- Practicing 7-10 reps 2X a day is plenty.
*In the early stages having the leash on to guide your dog through the activity is helpful. *First practice like this then, at random times when your pooch is off doing his own thing, surprise them by ringing the bell & following through w/ the exercise. *If there are multiple in your household, ask them to knock on the door when they arrive home, giving you a chance at real life practice.
REMEMBER: BIG HAND/ BIG VOICE/ POSITIVE TONE/ HOLD EYE-CONTACT/ SMILE & HAVE FUN

2. Separation Anxiety

Some expressions of separation anxiety are when dogs follow you everywhere, lay under your desk while you’re working, have to be between you & another person on the couch, panicking or jealous behaviors when you’re cuddling another person or animal. It may seem cute however in many cases these dogs feel insecure & uncomfortable being even a few feet away from their owners as they lack AUTONOMY. Often these expressions are coupled w/ more sever forms of anxiety. A simple way to teach them to be more comfortable in their own fur is to break up these habits by PRACTICING the SIT/STAY commands a few times throughout the day as a way to teach them some self confidence & AUTONOMY. By doing this we can break the anxieties momentum so that you can leave them alone & they feel comfortable.
You don’t need to do it constantly & you can still cuddle them. Just break it up sometimes.

3. Manners & Patience

Teaching dogs to sit & stay teaches patience & manners while mitigating any resource guarding, pushy behavior or anxiety around feeding time. If your kitchen turns into a dog circus or a dog fighting ring during food time, practice this daily starting w/ large distance between your pets, then over time narrow the distance. Keeping leashes on during practice with dogs that are reactive or hyper is helpful.

4. Position A

Fun and easy to practice, Position A is the target position for so many other important protocols like: Meeting other dogs & people on the street or at home, walking without pulling & easing timid or reactive dogs. This is the position that allows dogs to be in the passenger seat so to speak as they look to us to negotiate the open road ahead. This is how we introduce timid or reactive dogs, ask for manners when people come to our front door, behave in a store, etc, etc
KEYS OR SUCCESS:
• Keep your feet forward and really draw your hand around your body to guide them into position. Over time they will just move there by memory.
• 5-10 reps a session is plenty. This was literally the length of our session. I just do a few reps of each command conveniently throughout the day.

5. The Line

I CAN’T STRESS THIE ENOUGH! Dogs look to us to negotiate the environment & instruct them accordingly. Whether it’s a dog, stranger, child skateboard, pigeon, food on the street, millennial Instagram chick making a twerk video that they are excited by or get reactive to- We need to be in the CORRECT POSITION to ask for their EYE CONTACT & PROVIDE INSTRUCTION then GUIDE THEM THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS. Otherwise we are yanking & shouting commands like a frustrated coach from the side lines.

6. Patience

TEACHING PATIENCE & MANNERS IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL DOGS- BIG & SMALL. Every dog should know this.

7. Teaching Mistreated Dogs To Trust

This sweet girl was clearly mishandled & is so sensitive to even the slightest touch. But now she’s being loved to pieces by her new parents Ron & Amy. Together we are working on teaching her that people = LOVE. I’ll show her progress as we go. She’s so eager to please and smiles like an angel while she learns her commands like a pro

8. Building Focus

The single most important aspect of COMMUNICATING W/ DOGS IS EYE CONTACT. Repeating commands to a dog that is not looking at you is often useless. You need to give them a moment to ANSWER THE PHONE. Once they look at you, they are then receptive to receiving information: you’re command. This exercise OPENS THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY WIDER & LONGER.
• KEYS TO SUCCESS:
• Keep your body upright. At first, then after some success, stand up.
• Count with a happy tone not like a drill Sargent.
• Quickly at first & slow it down over time
• Do this in non distracting environments first then ADD CRITERIA over time by practicing w/ more distractions
• Use different rewards: Doing this before giving them a new toy, asking them to sit & count before welcoming them up on the couch, petting them when they want affection or placing their food bowl down.
• I suggest practicing just 3 sets of 5 reps a day & then organic reps as it applies to your daily life.

9. Teaching Recalls – “Juggling”

“JUGGLING”is a great way to teach recalls. In early sessions treat every rep. Then as your dog progresses, every other, then every 3rd and so on. I never do more than 7 sets. I suggest practicing about 5-7 sets twice daily.

10. Go To Spot

Lead with anything HIGH VALUE that motivates your dog to follow. A treat, toy, a White Claw. Lead them to the spot with momentum staying just ahead of their pace. Right as you approach the SPOT swing your hand, body & head to the front of the spot & they will walk around, landing opposite of the position you are facing.

11. The Process

THIS IS HOW DOGS LEARN IN STEPS. HERE’S AN EXAMPLE OF ADDING CRITERIA. Watch the TRANSITION OF MY HAND PLACEMENT as I say “STAY”. I’ve never done this with Forrest before So if I just put my hand between my legs and say “ stay” he’s not gonna know what the hell I’m talking about. But he does know what the hand command means when I’m facing him. So I started by facing him, then did the next rep slightly turned toward him, then with my palm down by my side & finally between my legs. With each consecutive rep I added a slight bit of criteria to teach him something new, incrementally and slowly.

12. Play As A Reward

Ever wonder why police dogs are so well mannered & balanced? 👮🏾‍♂️ Well this is exactly how they train. DOGS NEED TO FEEL THEY HAVE A JOB IN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE. YOUR COMMANDS SERVE THAT PURPOSE. I MAKE LUNA’S JOB TO FOLLOW A FEW COMMANDS & THE REWARD IS THAT THE PARTY CONTINUES. THIS IS ALSO ESSENTIAL IF YOU HAVE KIDS, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR DOG GRABS YOUR KIDS TEDDY BEAR & YOUR CHILD STARTS TUGGING TO GET IT BACK? You either have a problem that isn’t going to end well or THIS AS THE SIMPLE SOLUTION.
This prevents aggression, hyperactivity and strengthens their skill set bun teaching them that play is a privilege contingent upon their good manners.

13. Safe Dog Space

Tension gates in a dog proof room are a great alternative to crates. They are also the way to transition them from crate to more freedom in the house while still keeping them safe from things that can hurt them & save your new Gucci Pumps from getting chewed to pieces. THIS IS ALSO GREAT FOR FIXING SEPARATION ANXIETY AS YOU PRACTICE WALKING OUT OF SITE & LEAVING THE HOUSE
* RULES OF THUMB:
1- Always place them inside after thorough exercise.
2- Provide them w/ special treats to keep them occupied
3- PRACTICE CYCLING- Place them in there off & on throughout the day after walks rather then just when you leave
to make the process familiar & east the adjustment.

14. When Dogs Pull

Collars are like shoes- You have Sneekers, work shes, dress shoes & rollerblades, maybe? I personally use different collars depending on the activity I’m doing w/ my dogs.

15. Fixing The Growls

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW STEPPING INTO “POSITION A” helps mitigate dogs fear, anxiety, reactivity, etc. THE PHYSICAL POSITIONING of their person slightly in front & to their side- NOT BLOCKING THEM FROM IT but facing out the object of their reactivity helps them defer to us to negotiate the outside world & reassure them that there’s nothing to fear. When you baby talk or “it’s okaaay” them instead of providing clear specific direction, the problem gets worse. You wouldn’t have to soothe them from something that wasn’t a real threat in the first place so when they hear you coddle them they think- “UHH OHH! This must be a real issue & the threat is reinforced. Get it? We want clear communication & neutrality. ON ANOTHER NOTE- This trio (The King & his parents) are so fun & rewarding to work with because they really want & follow through w/ their training & the hot dog is moving so quickly!

You may or may not also enjoy these high-quality links:

Mike

Mike Primavera

Mike Primavera is a Chicago-based comedy writer even though he doesn't HAVE to work. He lives comfortably off of his family's pasta fortune. Follow him on all social media at @primawesome