The Golden Rules of Dog Training with Mark Vette
Animal behaviourist Mark Vette shares a few essential principles to set yourself up for success when training your dog! Whether you're just starting out with a new puppy, or hoping to address behavioural challenges with an older dog, these guidelines will help your dog understand what you want from them, and help them get into a calm and focused learning state.
1. Keep the environment simple
Start training in a quiet, distraction-free space where your dog can focus entirely on you. You want to be the most interesting thing in the room! Begin indoors, then gradually move to more distracting outdoor environments. Don’t jump straight from the living room to the dog park—that sets your dog up to fail. Stick to one goal per session and teach one thing at a time to avoid confusion.
2. How you are matters
Be patient, consistent, and calm. Your dog is highly attuned to your emotions—if you’re anxious, frustrated or angry, they’ll sense it. Posture, tone, body language and even pheromones communicate how you’re feeling, so take a few deep breaths before training. If you’re too worked up, wait and try again later. Calm, confident energy helps your dog enter a calm and focused learning state.
3. Gestures & postures
Dogs learn more readily from gestures and body language than words at first. Use hand signals and food lures to teach new behaviours, then add verbal cues once your dog understands what you’re asking.
4. Simple commands
Use clear, consistent, one-word commands. Don’t mix meanings, and avoid using your dog’s name as a command or reprimand. Instead, say the name first to get attention, then follow with the cue—e.g., “Rover, come!”
5. Tone of voice
Your tone should match your command. For drawing commands when you want your dog to move in close to you, such as Come or Heel, your body language should be inviting and non-threatening. Turn sideways, lower your body, don’t stare but smile, be encouraging and use a happy high-pitched tone of voice. For fixed commands when you want your dog to stay put, such as Sit, Down, Wait or Stay, use a slightly firmer tone of voice, have your body square on and make some eye contact. For Leave It and NO, use a firmer tone of voice again, becoming growly with your NO if necessary. Then when your dog responds appropriately, immediately switch to “up” tones again, reward with a treat and praise. You want plenty of contrast in your tone of voice between yes! and no!
6. Use a marker
Clicker training—or using a verbal marker like “yes!”—helps your dog learn up to 10 times faster. It pinpoints the exact behaviour you’re reinforcing and helps your dog focus, especially in distracting or stressful situations. Clicker work also strengthens your bond. You’ll eventually phase it out, but it’s a powerful teaching tool in the early stages. (Learn how to get started with clicker training with this blog).
7. Keep sessions short and fun
Training takes energy! Aim for 10–15 minutes with adult dogs and 5–10 minutes for puppies. You can do 2–3 sessions a day when starting out. Make it enjoyable—praise often (without overstimulating), accept mistakes, and keep things lighthearted. You and your dog should both want to come back for more.
8. Finish on a good note
Always end training with success. If your dog is getting tired or losing focus, prompt one more easy win, then wrap up. After the session, release your dog with an “OK!” and have a quick play to decompress. Then allow time for rest—sleep helps consolidate learning.
9. Nothing in life is free
Training doesn’t end when the session does. Reinforce behaviours throughout the day by asking for small tasks before giving your dog access to something they want—like sitting before eating, waiting at the door, or lying down before chasing a ball. This reinforces your leadership and encourages polite behaviour instead of jumping, barking or whining. Focus on this for the first 6 weeks to help your dog form strong, positive habits.
Good luck with your dog training, and remember to enjoy it - it’s a brilliant way to bond with your dog!
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