Your voice is the most important of dog training aids when training your dog. Use of your dog’s name is probably the next most important of the dog training aids at your disposal. Thirdly, a pleasant, persuasive tone of voice is a must.
Speak to your dog all the time while you’re engaged in dog training. Training your dog to retrieve may take some time, and dog training aids can come in useful for this purpose. A very light dumbbell is a good dog training aid to use when training your dog to retrieve. Again, use your voice to effect – immediately your dog takes the dumbbell, praise him repeatedly in a happy voice, and also pet him.
Always keep a happy tone with your dog when training. Becoming angry will never assist in your training efforts. It will only serve to confuse your dog and make him anxious.
Dogs want to please their owners. It is their prime motivation. So if your dog does not understand your commands immediately, it’s not because he’s being naughty or disobedient. He just doesn’t grasp what you’re asking him.
Once your dog understands what it is you’re attempting to train him to do, he will be more than happy to repeat the action – probably over and over again. One thing you can be almost certain of is that you will get bored before your dog does!
If your dog is having trouble understanding that you want him to take the dumbbell, gently offer him the dumbbell and if necessary, open his mouth wide enough to accommodate the dumbbell and place the dumbbell in his mouth. You may even need to close his mouth around the dumbbell.
Dog training sessions are a great opportunity for you to spend some quality time with your dog. Yes, dog training takes time and effort. It sometimes takes considerable patience. But always bear in mind that dog training should be a fun time for your and your dog.
Keep placing the dumbbell into your dog’s mouth until your dog actually understands what to do.
Then all that’s left is for you to place the dumbbell some distance away, and ask your dog to fetch. Start by placing the dumbbell on the ground just in front of your dog, then move the dumbbell a couple of feet away, then place greater and greater distance between your dog and the dumbbell. Your dog will be retrieving in no time.
