How is it going with your new dog? Are you having fun or wondering why you got yourself in to this? Are you realizing that your dog did not arrive pre-trained? I don’t have a magic wand but I do have information to help you!
Love, Trust, and Respect are the key ingredients to a wonderful relationship with your dog. If even one of these is missing you will be having issues with your dog. Let’s talk about each one.
Think of love as the bond between you and your dog. The easiest way to build this bond is by spending time with your dog. If you have more then one dog make sure you spend time individually with each dog. Remember that every word, every touch, every game and every gesture is what dog training is. Your dog is learning to respond to you. If you want to know what she is learning then look at her behavior. Why not use the bonding time you are already spending as quality teaching time.
Trust is a two way street. You earn your dog’s trust by learning to communicate with her is ways she can understand and respond to. She earns your trust by becoming reliable with coming when called, housetraining, chewing on her toys, and greeting people with good manners. Trust takes the longest time to form of the 3 key ingredients. Rescue dogs have often lost their trust in people and need to learn that you are trustworthy.
Respect cannot be demanded it must be earned. Try walking up to a teenager and say ‘I’m an adult, respect me!’ It doesn’t work with teenagers or dogs. I prefer to think about respect instead of pack rankings! I don’t want to intimidate my dog in to listening to me- I prefer that she wants to listen to me. To earn your dog’s respect you first respect your dog! She is a dog- not a person or a thing! Learn to communicate with her in ways she understands. Be fair and consistent in play and training. (They are really the same thing) Take our classes online or in person. Keep a training journal and remember to celebrate your successes.
A well-adjusted pet dogs needs to understand these things
Come when she is called – no matter what- Go to the bathroom where you want her to
- Not eat the house
- Walk politely on a loose leash
- Greet people in a friendly polite manner
- Go lie down when you ask her to
- Understand what ‘wait’ and ‘stay’ means
- Leave things alone when asked
Everything else that she learns is tricks and gravy!
We offer the tools and plan to teach your dog whatever you want to teach her. I encourage you to start first with love, trust, and respect. Once these are in place educating your dog is easy and fun. Skip one of these keys and instead of being fun it will be frustrating!