With temperatures finally cooling down here in Texas, it’s the perfect time to work outside with your pet and learn some new tricks! Training is a great way to bond with your pet and each of these skills can make life with your dog easier and safer.

4 Things to Remember for Training Time: 

1. Make sure your dog has exercised before a training session starts, especially if your dog is still a puppy. 

   • Take them for a walk to expend that initial burst of energy, but don’t wear them out so much that they feel the need for a nap.

2. Keep training sessions short to avoid losing your dog’s interest. 

   • Five to ten minutes is an acceptable time frame for dogs that are new to training.

3. Prepare to be patient with your dog.

   • Learning new things can be scary and hard for some dogs.

4. Break large treats into the smallest pieces possible to use during training. 

   • Your dog doesn’t care how big the treat is. They just like to eat. Eating one big hotdog broken into 30 small chunks fed one at a time is much more enjoyable to your dog than getting the entire hotdog at once.

     • Try out a few types of treats and then categorize them according to your dog’s level of enthusiasm. If they go nuts over pieces of hotdog, or pieces lunch meat, those are her high-level rewards to save for special motivation.

     • Find a few that she gets excited over to use as your basic training treats. You can use cut up fresh meat, commercial dog treats, or even pieces of her regular dog food to establish levels of treats for your dog.

     • You are read more about Safe Snacks for Your Dogs Here

Trick 1: Teaching Your Dog How To Sit and Stay

This tutorial breaks down the process of teaching your dog to sit and stay over the course of several 5 minute training sessions, all within less than 5 feet of space.

Trick 2: Recall / Come When Called

Here, Nigel Reed breaks down teaching your dog to come when called, even when there are distractions around.

Trick 3: How To Teach “Leave It”

Teaching your dog “leave it” can make play time safer and more enjoyable.

Trick 4: How To Teach Your Dog to

Shake Hands & High Five

We all know the importance of a good handshake. Teaching your dog to “shake” and “high five” can have more uses than just a first impression!

Helpful Resource:

We want to see your pet shot off their skills!

Tag us in photos and videos of your dog doing tricks using the hashtag #Tricks4TreatsPVC. We’ll share some of our favorites on social media.

Pet Vaccination Clinic provides efficient and professional care without losing the personal touch.

Dr. Stan Leland opened Pet Vaccination Clinic,  located at 1010 SW Military Drive in San Antonio, TX, on June 1, 1985. Since day one, Dr. Leland has provided compassionate care, taking the time to explain animal care thoroughly to clients so they can champion their pet’s health. Dr. Leland offers multiple services including, but not limited to, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, deworming, exams, health certificates, and heartworm preventative. Contact us here to make an appointment.