30/05/2026
Top tips from long established Dr Ian Dunbar. His dog training methods focus on rewarding positive behaviour with affirmation - praise, rewards, feedback and treats, our training methods here at Good Companion are based on these principles.
🐕 Turn Every Walk Into a Super Effective Training Session
One of the easiest ways to teach your dog to listen anywhere and everywhere is to weave short training sessions into your regular walks.
Every 25 yards or so, simply stop and ask for a quick routine:
✅ Sit–Down–Sit
✅ Watch Me + 20-second Sit-Stay
✅ Come–Sit–Come–Sit
Keep it short. The goal isn't a long training session—it's simply checking in and showing your dog that listening still matters, even when the world is full of distractions.
As soon as your dog completes the exercise, praise them and say:
⭐"Good Dog! Let's Go!"⭐
For most dogs, continuing the walk is an incredibly powerful reward—often more valuable than treats.
At first, your dog may not be ready to listen immediately. That's okay. Be patient. Don't get frustrated, and don't pull them along. Simply wait.
The walk doesn't continue until your dog pays attention and follows your instructions.
Depending on what's happening around them, it may take a few seconds—or even a few minutes—for them to disengage from the environment and focus on you. But if you're patient, they will.
By practicing throughout the walk, you're training in a variety of locations, around a variety of distractions, and teaching one of the most important life lessons your dog can learn:
**No matter what's happening around them, the fastest way to get what they want is to pay attention to you and listen.**
Want to learn more about building reliable real-world reliability without relying on treats forever?
⭐ Beyond Treat Training ⭐
https://dunbar.info/beyond-treat-training
