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Julia has some help from the experts with getting your dog trained

Training your dog can be ruff... rough, so Julia got some help from the experts that can make a real difference.

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - About 44 percent of homes in America have dogs.

The goal is to have them be well-behaved, but that isn't always easy and will most likely take training.

Our Julia Moffitt has a new puppy in her home, along with their older dog Dex.

To get some help, she went to Vernon Taylor and Marci Burk, who are called Indiana's Dog Whisperers.

Using a slip lead

Top of the list, going on a walk.

"People are always asking us to stop the pulling, the walk is the main concern for most of our clients," said Taylor.

He says the best lead you can get for a dog or puppy is the slip lead.

"Put the slip lead at the very top of the head above the throat, below the ears," Taylor said adding, "Once we take the first step he is allowed to walk with us."

If you feel any tension, give a correction, and keep moving.

Not jumping on guests

Another issue is how you stop your dog from jumping on guests to your home.

The trainers say the first thing is to control the quests. "They will walk in and they see Dex and they go, 'Hey Dex' and they are petting the jump, so they are reinforcing every time someone walks into the door I am suppose to jump on them because I always et affection for it," said Burk.

Tell guests you are in training and to ignore the dog until it is calm and obedient.

You can also put your dog on the slip lead, and correct any jumping with the jerk-release method.

When you reward good behavior, there is also a proper way to pet. Burk says instead, pet a dog slow and calm, using a gentle grabbing motion, which mimics how dogs show affection to each other with their mouths. If you are petting faster, your dog can get more worked up.

Another top tip is trying to always use your dog's name instead of saying "good boy" or "good girl" when praising your dog. We tend to use our dogs names when we are angry at them or yelling for them in the yard. This can give them anxiety when they hear there name.

More Tips For Training your Dog

How to introduce your dog to other dogs:

How to stop dogs from nipping at each other:

How to get your dog to feel comfortable while in a crate

How your favorite WTHR members trained their dogs

Mary Milz

We talked with some WTHR team members and asked them what worked and what didn't when they were training their dogs. We also wondered what tools if any they used to help the training process. Here's what a few of them said:

1. Whats' the best thing you've trained your dog to do?

Mary Milz and her dog Bailey

I coached him to run 10 miles with only two potty breaks (and water stops as needed).

2. What do you wish you could train your dog to do?

I wish I could coach him to swim, bike and play Frisbee.

3) What's the most effective training tool you used?

What worked for my dog is puppy talk, hugs and anything with peanut butter!

Chuck Lofton

1. Whats' the best thing you've trained your dog to do?

Chuck's wife, Mary, and their dog Senator

Senator was trained by ICAN as an in-home, skilled campion for Chuck's wife, Mary.

2. What do you wish you could train your dog to do?

I wish he could make pizza.

3) What's the most effective training tool you used?

Treats like Lean Lick are his favorite!

Andrea Morehead

1. Whats' the best thing you've trained your dog to do?

Andrea's dog Rico

Our 3-year-old Shih Tzu, Rico, can roam the house in its entirety while we are gone for extended hours without us having to crate him.

2. What do you wish you could train your dog to do?

We wish we could train Rico to stop jumping on everyone when he meets new people. We have tried to train him not to do so, but he’s a happy dog and loves people! We give up.

3) What's the most effective training tool you used?

Our most effective training tool is indeed treats — but REAL BACON — never pre-packaged doggie treats.

Mimi Pearce

Mimi said her dog Cooper is a rescue that loves to cuddle.

Mimi and her dog Cooper

2. What do you wish you could train your dog to do?

We wish he were more playful. He doesn't like to play fetch or for that matter is not playful. She's willing to take suggestions!

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