Name Training

Regardless of whether your dog knows their name or not, it is incredibly important to do name training. We need to do this because most people end up using their dog’s name as a CUE to focus.

“Taco, come here”; “Taco, drop that”; “Taco, sit”. You see what I mean.

Because we are using their name as a cue we need to train it just like any other skill.

Here’s how:

When watching TV or sitting around at home and your dog is doing their own thing, you call their name ONCE.

If they look at you and you throw them a treat.

It is important that you throw it, and not expect anything more from them (that will come in its own time).

Once you've given the treat, go back to ignoring them. Continue whenever they aren't paying attention.

You'll see them improve by how quickly they start to look at you!

All you’re doing is teaching them that responding to their name gains them a reward. They don’t need to do anything other than look up when you say their name and they get a treat. Easy!