Eye contact teaches your pet to focus attention on you and check in with you regularly. By reinforcing this behavior, you are making yourself more exciting than the environment around you. Eye contact should be a fun activity for your dog. With practice, your dog will look to you for guidance, no matter the surroundings.

Recommended by veterinarians, daily toothbrushing is one of the best ways to slow the progression of dental disease, lengthen the time between professional cleanings, and has many other benefits to your pet’s overall health. When you brush your pet’s teeth it’s okay if you aren’t perfect. It is more important for your pet to be comfortable and willing to accept frequent brushing.

Targeting is teaching your dog to touch a part of their body such as a paw, shoulder, hip, or nose to a specific object. The most common use is asking the dog to touch their nose to a person’s hand. Teach and practice this behavior in the house first. Then around your yard, and on walks where the environment is naturally more distracting.

Many dogs do not like having their nails trimmed and some are outright petrified. Dogs can be taught to file their own nails using a nail board. Dogs learn to scratch on the board using a scratching or digging motion. Nail boards can be purchased or hand made using a board, duct tape, and coarse or medium sandpaper. Learning to use the Nail Board Dogs learn quickly how to use a nail board with minimal training. You shape the behavior by breaking down the completed behavior of scratching the board into smaller steps, rewarding your dog for completing each step.

Step 2: Shaping the Behavior If he does not willingly step onto the mat, you may also position yourself on the opposite side of the mat from your dog and mark as he steps on it to come to you. At first it may only be one paw, but you will then begin shaping for two, then three, then four feet by increasing the value of the treat. Kibble is the lowest and chicken, or hot dogs or cheese being the highest. Look at mat. Mark then treat on the mat. Touch mat with a paw. Mark then give higher

Uses Teaching your pet to go to a mat (stationing) can be used to: give him space (a portable safe haven) from visitors and create his own “go to” spot. keep him out of the kitchen during mealtimes or from counter surfing. take the mat to the veterinarian and station him for exams and weighing. station him for medicating at home. station him for grooming.     Setting the environment up for success. Before you even start doing mat work with your pet, make sure the surrounding area is set up for success. Minimize any potential distractions for both of you: