The key to good behaviour in your dog, or any other pet, is training. I see training as a communication device, a new language that both you and your pet learn together in order to communicate more effectively.
The key is to have fun! Make training a treat for you and your dog and watch your relationship blossom. Enjoy being able to understand what your dog wants and finally getting your dog to understand what you want!
Positive Reinforcement
I'm all for positive reinforcement; every time your dog does something good, give it a little treat. This communicates to your dog
- "Look, when you do that behaviour you get a treat!" You're encouraging.
- "Isn't being with me fun?" Your dog will want to work with you.
Shouting at and reprimanding your dog constantly will only portray you as a baddy and not promote you and your dog's relationship!
Healthy, Easy Dog Treats
The dog treats you choose need to be worth working for. Use novel favourites, not what your dog receives in their daily diet. For example:
- Mini party or canned hot-dog sausages
- Cheese
- Home-cooked or over-the-counter meat pieces
These are cheap and loved by most dogs; chop into small chunks that don't take long to eat and won't encourage weight gain!
Various doggy treats are available from all pet stores and if your dog loves them, great, but sometimes they aren't as satisfying as the above. They can also be full of E-numbers and derivatives that aren't healthy.
Using a mixture of treats during training is a great idea and keeps things more interesting.
An extra good effort or well performed behaviour can be jackpotted; rewarded with a larger treat but only on rare occasions!
As your dog perfects each behaviour, stop treating every time and just pat / fuss your dog. Only treat occasionally and eventually, you won't have to at all.
You could even use your Dicky Bag as a treat-storer while training!
I cannot express how useful dog training classes have been for me. Puppy socialisation classes or puppy parties are great for teaching basic skills and allowing your puppy to get used to other dogs and the world around them. Older dogs may enjoy more advanced training or you may want to try out agility or obedience classes. Please make sure your dog’s lessons are run by someone with experience, not just a primary school teacher as one woman proudly told me she was! They may be a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers), APBC (Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors), CABTSG (Companion Animal Behavioural Therapy Study Group) or similar. Alternatively ask other dog owners, your vets or your local re-homing centre for any recommendations. Arrange a pre-visit to the class, just as you would when choosing your child’s school and check that it’s right for you and your dog. Include your family in the decision too.
By attending dog training classes you are not admitting defeat; you are showing yourself to be a conscientious dog owner who will reap the benefits of a stable dog - owner relationship.
