Dog training should never be something you don't enjoy doing although it ends up being just a chore for many. Dog training exercises should be fun and satisfying – both for you and your dog. And as long as you approach things properly they can be.

Just like us, dogs get tired too. And they most likely won't work for reward if they don't feel like it. But if you can make the training fun by turning it into a game, your dog is going to love the activity.

Getting consistency in your dog responding to the come command isn't easy but it is one of the most important things to teach. Dogs love to explore new things and they won't necessarily come when you call if something else seems more interesting. The only sure way [method] to acheive consistency in recall is through re-enforcement. That just sounds tedious? Well, our kids stumbled on an excellent exercise that we now use all the time and that has resulted in a consistent and conditioned response when we call our dogs. And that, is hide and seek!

Use Games in Your Dog Training

Get some really great treats and make sure he hasn't eaten in a while. Make him sit and put him in a stay - then leave the room and hide somewhere else. Have fun - get into the bath tub - stand behind a door - something crazy. Then call him. He'll [she'll] come as fast as he [she] can. If you've really found a cool place, it's going to take a couple of minutes to find you. It's a lot of fun watching them run into a room and start sniffing around for you! And when he does find you, of course give him the treat!

This is a favorite for the kids. The laughter is great for them and our dogs. It’s FUN and the dogs are re-enforcing the conditioned response of coming when their name is called. It's important that the whole family play this game because your dog is learning to respond to all family members when being called - not just you. And don’t worry about feeling silly – this is a good exercise for adults as well. You might feel a bit out of place the first time you stand in the bath tub waiting for your dog to find you but when he rushes in and immediately gets his head around the curtain and starts sniffing, you'll laugh outloud! You'll feel young again!

Training Should Progress Logically

Of course, this isn’t the first dog training exercise you need to master. You have to teach them to pay attention to you first. And you should probably do some homework and consult one of the better dog obedience training books. However, the training is going to be fun if you look for ways to make it fun. For you, your dog, the entire family.