5 Training Tips that Will Improve Your Relationship with Your Dog

WRITTEN BY: BOB VAN GORKAM, HAPPY DOG TRAINING

Getting a new dog or puppy is supposed to be a great thing in your life, but what if their behavior is frustrating you and harder to correct than you thought it would be? When a dog’s behavior is out of control, it can add a lot of stress to your relationship with your dog and your home life.

Chances are your dog is a good dog, they just don’t know yet what good dog behavior is yet. It’s our job as dog owners to show our dogs what good dog behavior is in a way that they can understand. Doing so will increase their happiness and yours, decrease stress in the relationship and in the home, and help your relationship with your dog flourish in meaningful ways.

Here’s five tips for training your dog that will put you on the path towards a happier and more harmonious relationship.

1) Trust

Before you can train your dog, your dog must trust that you mean them no harm and that you are in control of yourself and your emotions while you’re training. Do your research before starting and have a training game plan with goals and techniques that you’ll be using. Start with basic commands such as “sit” in the house and offer lots of positive reinforcement. A small treat, chest rub, and lots of praise will show your dog that when they perform a command life is really good! A solid foundation of trust is imperative for successful training moving forward.

It’s our job as dog owners to show our dogs what good dog behavior is in a way that they can understand.

2) Patience

Have realistic expectations when beginning training your dog. Don’t expect fast results; training your dog to perform commands reliably, especially off-leash, takes time. Set small goals to begin with and remember that consistency is key. Remember that dogs learn best after they’ve exercised, so save the last 10-20 minutes of your walk or play time for some training. Make sure you end your training time on a positive note, spend some time cuddling with your dog after, then give them about an hour or so of rest time afterwards to maximize their learning retention. A dog’s learning is not always a straight line towards success - be ready to have some good days and some bad days while training your dog.

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3) Communication

Sometimes we forget that dogs don’t understand everything we say. I sometimes catch myself saying to my dogs “You know better than that!” but the reality is, until I’ve shown them differently they don’t know better. We must show our dogs through clear communication what behaviors we would like to see from them. Like people, dogs learn differently. Some are extremely food/ treat motivated, while others will do anything for some praise and a belly rub. Find what works best for your dog, and reward accordingly. Remember to keep your cool when training; keep your emotions out of your training session and don’t blame your dog for not understanding a command. Ultimately it is our responsibility to show our dog the behaviors we are looking for through clear communication.

4) Repetition

Once we’ve shown our dog the behavior we would like from them, we then must condition our dog to default to that behavior. The more repetitions we perform in a training environment, the more conditioned our dog will be to perform that behavior outside in the real world. Make your training times with your dog fun; create games and challenges to keep your dog happy and engaged and always end on a positive note.

5) Don’t Go Alone

If you hit some challenges while training your dog, do not lose heart! We are living in a wonderful time for dog training where many resources are available at little or no-cost. You can start with YouTube tutorials from an accredited trainer, get great books from Amazon, attend training classes, or work with a local professional. The lowcountry has many wonderful dog trainers and training companies that would be happy to work with you. Ask a trainer about their philosophy and training methodology and find one that interacts with you and your dog in a manner that makes you feel comfortable they are the right fit for your dog and your family.

When first starting, training your dog can seem like a daunting task. However, if you put in the time and effort utilizing best practices for training, the days and weeks will pass and you will begin to see your relationship with your dog transform. The work is hard at the beginning, but it will continue to pay off for many years to come as your relationship with your dog grows closer and more harmonious.

If you would like to learn more about my approach to dog training or to schedule a free consultation, visit my website www. happydogtrainingacademy.com.

Happy training makes happy dogs! ■