My dog gets frustrated easily. How can I train them effectively?

It can be tricking to work on behavior training a dog that is not particularly food motivated. You may need to find a treat that he really loves in order to motivate him: you could try freeze dried liver treats, cutting up pieces of refrigerated semi-soft dog food into small pieces, or very small pieces of cheese. Some dogs are more motivated by toys or play time, so you could also try giving him a favorite toy as a reward. You may also want to consider seeing a trainer for tips - puppy kindergarten and obedience classes can be very helpful!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Welcome to having a young Australian Shepherd. This is very typical of the breed. The best advice I can give is exercise, training, and more exercise. When you walk in the door, ask Sofia to come to a certain spot, sit (or some other trick), and then reward her with a treat. If you do this every time, she will quickly learn to go to that spot every time you walk in (rather than jump and nip at you). And then take her out to run at least once daily- three times is even better. Best of luck to you and Sofia.

I certainly understand and sympathize with your situation. I have a young dog. I have a few suggestions for you that have helped me. One thing that people think of first is treats that keep them busy for a longer period of time. This does seem to help. You can use long lasting treats like a Kong filled with peanut butter, yogurt, treats, etc and frozen so it takes longer for him to eat. My dog also really like Bully Sticks which I also freeze to make them last a little longer. Keep him mentally and physically busy during meal times. I love using a feeding balls like a Buster Cube or Tricky Treat ball to feed meals in. It keeps him busy for at least 5-10 minutes at each meal and requires him to work. And speaking of working. I have found that my dog is the most tired after we have done a good round of training. Even if you have done a basic obedience class, I would consider trying an advanced class, a nose work class, a tricks class, etc. And if taking a class isn't an option right now, work on training at home. When he goes on walks, make him sit at each corner before he crosses the street. It sounds simple, but additional mental stimulation can go a long way. Playing with other dogs is a great outlet for energy. If you haven't tried it yet, look into your local dog park or doggy daycare center. Sending my youngest dog to daycare once a week has made a huge difference. There are a number of interactive dog games and toys available now. Outward Hound makes a number of toys that your dog has to figure out a puzzle of some type before they get a treats. Here are some ideas for those. https://www.petco.com/category/dog/dog-toys/interactive-dog-toys/dog-puzzle-toys-and-games I have not tried the Clever Pet yet, but it is an electronic interactive toy that am intrigued about it. clever.pet So, I think the key is to vary his activities daily and include a wide range of physical and mental stimulation. Be sure to be creative to tire him out on a regular basis and help everyone keep their sanity. I hope that was helpful! Thanks for using PetCoach.

Having had Siberians for more than forty years, I know just what you mean about training. Many people try to train their dogs by "making" them do something and then rewarding them for it . . . such as saying "give me your paw," grabbing it and raising it, and then praising. Instead, try to catch Troy doing what you want, name the behavior, and then reward him for it. For example, if he puts his paw on your knee, say "Shake (or whatever comand you want to use), good dog!" and reward. This is a different kind of conditioning and can be very useful with stubborn, hard-to-train breeds. If you would like additional information about this, just click on the prompt to initiate a consult and I can help you further with specific tricks. Good luck!

Hi there. If you have access to a good puppy kindergarten class in your area, I would definitely recommend signing up - the instructor can show you how to start working with your pup to help her understand what you want and develop a good relationship with her. This normally involves using treats or other rewards your pup enjoys, and teaching her that good things happen for her when she pays attention to you. I also highly recommend the book "Perfect Puppy in 7 Days," by Dr. Sophia Yin. It's a great resource for more detailed information on raising a puppy.

Consistency is key. I would also use treats and/or a clicker to elk with training. You could also get a training to come in just a couple of times to help pin point what is keeping him from listening. It sounds like he is young and probably has a lot of energy therefore, doesn’t want to listen and sit still. You can also try a calmin chew like composure or composure pro. Keep working on training everyday. I would try to take 10-20 minutes everyday to work on commands without any distractions. Use small chewy training treats so he doesn’t get distracted by the process it takes to chew up a large crunchy treat. I hope this helps.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. At 2 years of age, Jalen is still at a good age to train. I would recommend behavioral training with a certified trainer / behaviorist. If that is not an option, I would recommend using a pinch collar or gentle leader collar to help train. If she is anxious and high strung, I would also recommend using NaturVet Quiet Moments Calm Chews with Melatonin, which can be found online or at your local pet store. You can also use a spray bottle filled with water and whenever she barks or begins to become aggressive, you can spritz her in the face and say "off" or "down" and when she follows the command, reward her with a treat. A trainer is most likely your best option though for faster results. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.