Mary Allen
Dog training is an issue that concerns every dog owner. Certain rules are necessary to ensure that two- and four-legged friends get along well and that living together works. In addition, the dog must learn how to behave in traffic, in large crowds, and towards other dogs. In a broader sense, dog training also includes learning tricks and solving tasks that keep the dog busy and entertained. If you follow our 7 tips, you will make parenting work easier for you and your four-legged friend.
How Many Rules are Necessary?
When it comes to the rules of conduct that your dog should learn, a healthy middle ground makes sense. Too many guidelines can overwhelm an animal until it shuts down and no longer wants to cooperate. But if your dog can do what he wants, he will not accept you as the leader of the pack. Rules that absolutely must be trained relate to safety. For example, your dog cannot judge traffic. Because of this, he has to follow commands that ensure he doesn’t get involved in an accident. In addition, certain guidelines are important for living together. After all, two- and four-legged friends want to get along well with each other in the shared home and have as few conflicts as possible. Therefore, you should teach your dog as early as possible which areas of the home it shouldn’t be in and which behaviors are unacceptable.
Age-Appropriate Dog Training
In order for your parenting efforts to be successful, you must consider your dog’s age. Puppies are supposed to learn a lot, but they are very playful. Therefore, use the play instinct in this phase to teach your dog something. You should keep the learning and practice phases rather short. Dogs in puberty change their character and are often unfocused. Here it is important that you remain patient and consistent. Adult dogs have personalities. They have their own rules, boundaries, and preferences that need to be respected. That’s why it’s important that you know your adult four-legged friend well and respond to him when raising him. Experienced and intelligent dogs love new challenges and experiences.
Stay Consistent
While it can be difficult at times, you should make an effort to be consistent in your parenting. Once you’ve established your rules, your dog will only accept them if you show through consistency that you mean it. If you stop begging at the table ten times and then make an exception, conflicts are inevitable. Because he will test how often he can get his way. With some dogs, being consistent is especially important. Young dogs, for example, often react with insecurity when their owners behave inconsistently. Over time, this can lead to anxiety or aggression. Even dominant animals need a consistent owner. Here it is important that you establish your role as pack leader.
Rewards for Parenting Success
When training a dog, you work with positive and negative reinforcements – desired behavior is rewarded, undesired behavior you react with rejection. However, the reward does not mean the constant feeding of treats. Dogs also appreciate praise, petting, and other positive responses from you. If you already know your four-legged friend well, you know which attentions he particularly likes. Let him know when he’s done something well with your demeanor and your voice. Treats should be used sparingly and carefully as a reward. Healthy treats are best. Remember to incorporate the reward treats into the overall nutrition plan.
Variety and Fun in Dog Training
In addition to the reward, enough variety is an important factor for successful parenting. It is not only in humans that monotonous methods lead to boredom and finally to displeasure. You will be much more successful in dog training if you always try something new and offer your four-legged friend new stimuli. Some breeds also demand more from their owner than others when it comes to variety. For example, if you have a bright border collie or another herding dog, you’ll have to come up with quite a few ideas to keep them occupied. These breeds were bred to do herding duties independently and work with the herd all day. Also, thank your dog for evolving. What is fun for a young animal can bore an older and more experienced animal.
How to Properly Communicate with Your Dog
The most important thing when training a dog is effective communication. Your dog needs to listen to you and understand you. Dogs are pack animals and are used to communicating with their own kind. In living together with humans, they have learned to interpret human signals in their own way. Timing is very important. You must respond immediately to the behavior you want to increase or decrease. Otherwise, your dog won’t be able to make the connection between his behavior and your reaction. Try to always give clear signals. Your dog responds to commands, gestures, tone of voice, and your general mood. If your command says one thing and your gesture says something else, you’re giving conflicting signals. Then your four-legged friend doesn’t know what to do. If you say “no” while signaling inattention or disinterest, you risk your ban not being taken seriously.
Humanization and Violence are No-Gos in Dog Training
Two things have no place in dog training: humanization and violence. Even though dogs have been domesticated for a long time, they react instinctively and immediately to a situation. They don’t think morally or logically. Your dog will feel most comfortable when you accept their animal characteristics and treat them accordingly. You should also consider how you will respond to unwanted behavior. You don’t have to be rude to train your dog. You can also show him that you don’t agree with something through your behavior or a firm command. In the event of repeated or persistent misconduct, a professional should be consulted. He can give advice on how the coexistence of humans and dogs can be reconciled.