National Train Your Dog Month Training Tip #4: Timing is everything.
Praising a job well done is an essential part to teaching your dog new commands (it was our Tip #2!), but it's important to know the right time to praise when you're training.You should reward your dog immediately after she does what you want her to do. We're talking within seconds. If you wait t0o long, she could think she's getting praised for something else.
Example: Say you want to reward your dog for laying down on her pet bed, so you give her a treat after she's stood up. She could mistakenly associate the reward for standing up. To avoid confusion, make sure to reward and praise your pup right when she completed the command.