Clarity – Why is it Important?

From a Lesson: 

Trainer: What day is it?

Student: Uhh, Sunday?

Trainer: What day is it?

Student: ... the 21st?

Trainer: What day is it?

Student: ... ???

Trainer: See? I kept asking you the same question, and you gave me the right answer, but I didn't accept it as such. So you changed your answer and got frustrated and confused. When you don't thank your dog for giving you the right answer, he/she does the same.

Clarity is important, and dogs need to be rewarded for their efforts. Before a training session, think about the possible steps that may be required to get to the end goal. The answer that you are looking for may not be as obvious to the dog as it is to you. Rewarding effort along the way will keep the dog engaged and eager to continue to try.

If you are looking for ways to improve the clarity of your training, Puppy Program is here to help! Click here to sign up for a one-on-one training session.