Read to find out the basics of dog training and the pointers to keep in mind as pet parents to sustain a healthy training routine for your furry creatures.
By Ketan Panchal*
We are dedicated to ensuring that every dog has the opportunity to thrive in every aspect of their lives. Here’s how you and your pet can work together to achieve just that:
Making it a priority: Pet training is a vital component of their overall well-being. It should not be viewed as an elective activity, but rather as a fundamental necessity for every life stage. Commencing from the very first day you welcome your pet into your home, it lays the foundation for their development and behaviour.
Make it fun: For an optimal experience for both pet and pet parents, opt for brief, regular, and enjoyable training sessions. It’s important to prevent your dog from becoming fatigued or disinterested. Effective training not only enhances your role as a dog owner but also serves as a delightful means for you and your pet to connect and foster a strong bond. Regardless of age, all dogs can gain from mastering fundamental commands. If you are seeking commands like sit, down, stay, and leave, you are in the right place.
Space to teach: When introducing new commands to dogs, it’s crucial to create a distraction-free setting. This could be a quiet space at home or a small enclosed area. After mastering commands in a private setting, gradually introduce practice sessions in public places, gradually exposing them to potential distractions like noises, scents, and the presence of other dogs and people.
Use small, high-value soft rewards: Offer a reward that truly entices your dog, such as diced chicken or cheese. In case your dog isn’t particularly motivated by treats, consider using a cherished squeaky toy or a special ball exclusively reserved for training sessions.
Consistency: Be consistent with your commands. Do not change words, hand gestures or tone of voice as this will only cause confusion.
Technique: Break down the commands into achievable chunks. For example, start teaching recall from a 1 meter distance and increase from there, do not begin from 100 meters.
Benefits of training
Training provides safety: Teaching your dog basic obedience such as sit, wait, and come back when called, gives them the freedom to do the things they like to do, like running off lead and coming with you to meet friends and family, while being safe and under control. Dog training is about so much more than learning good manners. It is also crucial for your dog’s safety. Dog training ensures that when you and your dog are faced with a dangerous situation, you can keep him/her safe.
Training gives your dog confidence- From your pup’s perspective, teaching your dog how you want them to behave will mean that when they faced with something new or unexpected, they will not respond with anxiety or fear. Instead, they will respond with confidence.]
Training offers great mental stimulation: Regular mental stimulation is crucial for your dog’s health and well-being. It prevents boredom and the destructive behaviour that often occurs as a result, and dogs usually love having a job to do. So, training will not just boost their confidence and problem-solving skills, but it will also make your dog happier too.
Training teaches your dog how to socialize: Getting along with other dogs and people is important for every dog. Whether you are out for a walk, at dog event or having guests over for dinner, your dog needs to know how to interact in a variety of social situations.
These tips and pointers are a great place to start from to learn more about dog training and how to et started. It is possible for every pet parent to create conditions to enable a successful training process.
* K9, Professional Trainer
