As a loving pet parent, you know how important it is to spend quality time training and bonding with your furry friend. However, with busy schedules and competing priorities, it can be challenging to find dedicated training time. But what if we told you that you could transform your TV time into productive training sessions? That’s right! Those commercial breaks can be the perfect opportunity to engage with your dog and teach them fun new skills. In this blog post, we’ll share 10 quick and easy dog training exercises you can try during commercial breaks, along with step-by-step instructions to guide you along the way.
10 Quick and Easy Dog Training Exercises To Try
Practice Basic Obedience Commands
Use commercial breaks to reinforce basic obedience commands such as:
- Sit
- Stay
- Down
- Come
Keep training sessions short and positive, rewarding your dog with treats and praise for a job well done.
Play the "Find It" Game
Hide treats or toys around the room and encourage your dog to find them. This game helps to develop your dog’s scenting abilities and provides mental stimulation.
Start by placing treats in easy-to-find locations, then gradually increase the difficulty as your dog becomes more skilled at the game.
Teach a New Trick: "Shake"
Use commercial breaks to teach your dog a new trick, like “shake.”
Here’s how:
- Hold a treat in your hand and let your dog sniff it.
- As your dog starts to paw at your hand, say “shake” and gently take their paw in your hand.
- Reward your dog with the treat and praise.
- Repeat this process until your dog is offering their paw on the “shake” command.
Practice Impulse Control: "Leave It"
Teach your dog impulse control with the “leave it” command.
Here’s how:
- Place a treat on the floor and cover it with your hand.
- When your dog tries to get the treat, say “leave it”, and wait for them to back away.
- As soon as your dog backs away, reward them with a separate treat from your other hand.
- Repeat this process, gradually increasing the difficulty by uncovering the treat on the floor.
Engage in Tug-of-War
Tug-of-war is a great way to bond with your dog and provide them with physical exercise. Ensure that you have a designated tug toy and establish clear rules for the game, such as releasing the toy on command.
Work on Targeting
Teach your dog to touch a target, like your hand or a specific object, with their nose. This exercise helps to build focus and can be used as a foundation for more advanced tricks.
To teach targeting, hold your hand or the target object close to your dog’s nose and reward them with a treat when they touch it with their nose.
Practice Loose-Leash Walking
Use commercial breaks to practice loose-leash walking skills around your living room. Reward your dog for staying by your side and focusing on you. If your dog starts to pull, stop walking and wait for them to return to your side before continuing.
Play "Which Hand?"
Hide a treat in one of your hands and ask your dog to choose which hand holds the treat. This game helps to develop your dog’s problem-solving skills and provides mental stimulation.
Close your hands and present them to your dog, asking “which hand?”. When your dog noses or paws at the correct hand, reward them with the treat.
Teach "Settle" on a Mat
Use commercial breaks to practice the “settle” command on a designated mat or bed. This exercise helps to promote relaxation and can be useful in situations where you need your dog to remain calm.
Lead your dog to the mat, say “settle,” and reward them for lying down and staying on the mat.
Engage in a Mini Agility Course
Create a simple agility course using household items like pillows, boxes, and blankets. Guide your dog through the course using treats and praise, helping to build confidence and strengthen your bond. Start with simple obstacles and gradually increase the difficulty as your dog becomes more comfortable with the course.
Stay Consistent
By incorporating these 10 quick and easy dog training exercises into your TV time routine, you can transform commercial breaks into valuable learning opportunities. Not only will these short training sessions help to reinforce positive behaviors and teach new skills, but they also provide mental stimulation and strengthen your bond with your dog.
Remember, consistency is key when it comes to dog training, so make the most of these brief moments and watch your pooch thrive. For more training tips, from how to use treats, to naming cues, click here.
At Happy With Dogs, our professional trainers are committed to assisting pet owners in building a deeper, more affectionate connection with their furry friends. Should you require additional support or customized training solutions, please feel free to contact us. Together, we can help your pet reach their full potential while strengthening your bond together.
Happy training, from your friends at HWD!
P.S. Looking for the perfect treats to reward your furry friend? Don’t forget to stock up on these tasty motivators to make your quick and easy training sessions even more enjoyable for your dog.
From high-value treats for learning new skills, to healthy everyday rewards, we’ve got you covered. Give these quick and easy dog training sessions a try during your next TV session!
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4 Responses
Thank you very much for these super interesting emails, we had a great zoom class with you and we are Working on all your instructions things seem to be going well! And we appreciate all the new tips and tricks! Keep up the good work
Thank you so much for your kind words! We hope to help you and your pooch in any way we can. Happy Training!
Dear happywithdogs.com admin, Thanks for the well-organized and comprehensive post!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We hope to help you and your pooch in any way we can. Happy Training!