All instructors will expect that you spend some time training your dog at home. This does not mean you need to carve out 30-40 minutes a day into an already busy schedule just for dog training. In fact, your Terrier will learn better and remain enthusiastic about training if you train no more than five to ten minutes at a time, a couple of times per day.
Practice the skills you learn in class with your dog and incorporate them into daily life. For example, ask your Fox Terrier to “down stay” while you prepare his food. Practice sitting politely when visitors come to your door. Practice heeling and loose leash walking on your daily walks around the neighborhood with your canine companion. Practice makes perfect but it doesn’t always have to occur in a specified training session or time setting. Utilize every opportunity you can to reinforce training.
Be timely in reward delivery. Use a marker word such as “Yes” or a clicker when the dog performs the correct behavior. Then deliver your reward quickly. It’s a good idea to have a few treats already in your hand so you don’t have to dig in your pockets for a minute or two trying to find a treat. Training can be fun! Make it a game of “What can I do to make my handler give me a treat.” Four or five repetitions of any skill at one time are enough. Quit on a good note and while your Fox Terrier still wants to do more.
