Dogtopia Madison West is so happy to introduce you to our new blog, just in time for National Train your Dog month. Check out our articles below to learn more about what National Train Your Dog month is and how you and your dog can train along with us!

One & Done: Why Repeating Cues undermines your dog’s training!

Author: Nestly Hoeg

We’ve all been there. You tell your dog to sit… once, twice, three times. By the fifth “SIT!” (or maybe after an angry voice), they finally listen. Frustrating, right? But here’s the surprising truth: you might be the one teaching them this behavior!

A Human Example
Picture this: you’re enjoying a cozy chat at a café with your favorite drink when your mom calls. You’re busy, so you ignore it. But then she calls again… and again… and AGAIN. Annoyed, you finally pick up. She says something trivial, doesn’t thank you for answering, and greets you with, “FINALLY!” 

How would you feel the next time she calls? You might be tempted to ignore her even longer. 

A Dog Example 

It’s no different with our dogs! Imagine your pup is happily sniffing in the yard, and you call them. They don’t come because sniffing is way more interesting than you at that moment. Frustrated, you keep calling. Still no response. 

Instead of escalating to a louder or angrier tone, flip the script. 

  • Make yourself the most exciting option!
    Walk over to your dog with something irresistible, like a toy or treat. Show it to them and encourage them to follow you back to the spot where you originally called. 
  • Celebrate their success!
    When they come to you, throw a mini party! A tasty treat or a quick play session can transform how your dog views listening to you—it becomes rewarding, not something to avoid. 

Building Better Habits
Every dog is unique, so take time to discover what truly motivates yours. For some, it’s a treat. For others, it might be extra playtime or your undivided attention. The key is to stay engaged and consistent. 

Here’s a fun way to stay mindful this January during National Train Your Dog month: 

  • Create a “Repeated Cue Jar.”
    Much like a “swear jar,” toss in a coin every time you repeat a command. Involve the whole family—it’s a great way to keep everyone accountable while working toward better communication with your pup. 

Next time your dog doesn’t listen, instead of asking, “Why won’t you listen to me?” try asking, “What can I do to help you listen better?” 

Your dog wants to work with you—it’s up to you to make listening worthwhile and fun!

 

Capturing Behavior | A How-To Guide

Author: Steph Tauscher

Did you know that training your dog can be as simple as giving food for things they already do naturally? This is called capturing (original right?). The idea is to wait for the dog to perform the behavior and then reward them immediately. In one single training session you can teach your dog a brand new trick–let’s do it together.

My favorite cue to teach using capturing is something called “Yum!”. When complete, your dog will lick its lips when you say the word “Yum”. To start, we want to create a scenario where our dog is likely to lick their lips so we can capture it. It has been my experience that my dog will lick their lips after swallowing so–lets set up that situation and teach your dog a new trick for National Train Your Dog Month.

Sit somewhere comfortable with your dog >set a timer for 3 minutes> place a treat on the ground for your dog to eat without cuing them > watch for them to swallow the treat and stick their tongue out > when you see a tongue use your marker word (YES!) and deliver a treat to their mouth. 

NOW you’ve created a training loop where you have set up a scenario where you can keep marking when you see a tongue come out. Consider this:

ROUND 1: Sit somewhere comfortable with your dog > set a time for 3 minutes>place a treat on the ground for your dog to eat without cuing them > watch for them to swallow the treat and stick their tongue out > when you see a tongue use your marker word (YES!) and deliver a treat to their mouth. ROUND 2: Wait for them to swallow the treat and stick their tongue out > when you see a tongue use your marker word (YES!) and deliver a treat to their mouth ROUND 3: Repeat. 

Once you have a consistent loop of dog sticks out tongue, you mark and deliver food, dog swallows and sticks out tongue again you mark and deliver food etc… you can go ahead and start adding in the cue right before you would predict them to stick out their tongue again.

Set a timer for 3 min > set up your mark loop by giving your dog a treat to swallow> when they stick out their tongue, mark and reinforce. While they swallow, anticipate them sticking out their tongue>just before they do say “yum”>dog sticks out their tongue>you mark and deliver treat. Repeat until timer goes off. 

Finally, test your work. Simply say the word “yum” and wait for your dog to stick out their tongue. When they do, mark and reinforce. CONGRATULATIONS, you’ve just taught your dog a new trick using capturing. Check out our socials on 1/6/25 to see this trick in action and be sure to tag us as you celebrate National Train Your Dog Month with your dog.