Dog Training Series – The Importance of Timing

The Importance of Timing

By: Bill Glatzel, CEO and Founder of TLC K9 ACADEMY

Timing is EVERYTHING when training puppies and dogs. First understand your dog or puppy does not think like a human. Even though little “Fluffy” seems like she can read your mind at times, the scientific fact is, and dogs cannot.

However, how quickly you read your dog and the quickness of your timing when communicating has a huge impact on how quickly your dog or puppy will learn, and how happy and upbeat your dog’s attitude will be.

Why most people get poor training results and then see a stressed out dog that just doesn’t seem to get it, is because the timing we use in training translates into a language for the dog. Because dogs think in very black and white terms, they will be confused when corrected for an unwanted behavior if you don’t time it exactly while the dog is engaged in the misbehaving act.

For example if we have a destructive chewing problem or a dog who likes to get into the trash, h, quickly you time your correction just as the dog starts the unwanted behavior, can usually be a great indicator on how fast the dog will learn to “Leave It,” and also how easily the dog will understand that the correction given is related to the behavior your puppy or dog was engaged in. Dogs don’t think abstractly. They don’t think in the future, they don’t think in the past. A dog’s mind is always in the “Hear and Now.” If you have late or slow timing, your dog will get stressed out, be confused, and you might ruin your relationship with “Man’s Best Friend.”

A key training point to remember is that all dogs need to have correction within one second of the dog or puppy engaging in the unwanted behavior. YOU HAVE TO CATCH THEM IN THE ACT OR THE DOG WILL NOT LEARN. You also need to catch good or wanted behaviors in the act. You have one second to introduce praise, reward or affection when the puppy or dog does something you want or desire.

When “Fluffy” sits politely to meet someone. You need to reward or praise at the moment the dog sits. To reward two seconds after the dog sits, will only confuse the dog. Similarly, when you correct “Fluffy” with a “NO,” for jumping or any unwanted behavior, you need to communicate this as the dog is jumping or doing any unwanted behavior. To correct a behavior even two seconds after the act, you lose! You have a ONE SECOND window of time to pair a reward with wanted behavior, and a ONE SECOND window of time to pair correction with unwanted behavior. If you can’t catch the puppy or dog in the act, ignore it. If you follow these principals of correct timing, you puppy or dog will learn much quicker, and with little to no stress.

Happy Training and Happy Tails!!

Bill Glatzel is a freelance writer, Certified Master Trainer, Clinical Animal Behaviorist, and owner of TLC K9 ACADEMY a worldwide dog training company with its headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a nationally renowned Trainer, Speaker, Author and Lecturer. He also proudly brings you all of the free articles on his website at www.TLCK9Academy.com

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