Five Tricks To Training Your Dog

In teaching your dog good behavior, it can be difficult to communicate what you would like them to do in a way that they understand. Here are some ways we've found to encourage good dog behavior!

1. Break The Training Into Steps

Your dog isn’t going to just roll over the first time you tell them, you need to break the process down and reward them along the way. So if, after saying “roll over,” your dog lays down, that deserves a treat. Once they’re able to regularly lay down on command, then move to having them roll over.

2. Remove Distractions 

Squirrels in the park, music, and other conversations around the house may  distract your dog from the task at hand. Train your dog in a quiet area that they feel comfortable in. Make sure they’ve had food and water beforehand, and that you feel good too. 

2. Use Treats Sparingly 

Our treats are made with natural, simple ingredients, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use them in moderation! For more complicated tricks that need repeated reinforcement, break a treat into pieces. If you over-feed your pet with treats, they also may view the treat as a bribe and demand the treat to complete the command, instead of just associating the behavior they have learned with positive feelings.

Once your dog gets the hang of a trick, begin to use treats more sparingly. Work your way from a treat for every completed trick to intermittently removing the treat from the equation, then continue to pare down until they’re rarely receiving the treat, but instinctually complete the command.

4. Mix Up The Treats

Your dog will get tired of the same treats after a while… so mix it up! Alternate with our  brew biscuit flavors, pumpkin, bacon and beef broth, or our different grain-free, gluten free options. You could even sneak a meal topper pouch in when needed!

5. Don’t Forget To Have Fun!

At the end of the day, we all want a happy, well-behaved dog. If things get frustrating, don’t raise your voice or act angry- that can be taken as negative reinforcement from your dog and make them avoid the positive behavior you were trying to teach them in the first place. If things get frustrating, take a break, make sure your pup is relaxed and can focus, then start again.

Does your dog know cool tricks? Share them with us on Instagram and Facebook using #MyPortlandPup. At the end of the month, we’ll choose one dog to win a Portland Pet Food Company gift box.

At Portland Pet Food Company, we make healthy, natural dog treats and healthy, natural dog food toppings. Our dog treats and toppings are especially good for senior dogs and dogs who are picky eaters. Gluten-free options are available in our dog treats and dog food toppings. We offer a flexible dog food toppers subscription service for all of our products.

We Love Cats, Too!
After years in the making, in 2022, we added cat food to our line of pet food! Check out our two delicious flavors: chicken and pumpkin cat food and salmon and pumpkin cat food.