There are many areas relevant to dog welfare, but the one that is beneficial to an obedient dog is obedience training. Obedience training is an essential part of a good dog-human relationship and creates a happy, healthy relationship between dog and owner. Before we dive into the secrets, let me share with you the positive aspects of the workout.
1. The training will provide you with a safe and non-confrontational way to gain control. This is especially necessary with a dominant canine personality.
2. Pushy dogs that climb on furniture or nudge their owners for affection or petting are less dominant but still need to abide by rules. Training keeps them in control and lets them know their owner is the dominant one.
3. Dogs are descended from wolves that live by rules and have a social structure. The pack operates under a single leader with well-defined lines. Although dogs allow themselves to be domesticated by humans, they still have a natural instinct to test their position. Training lets your dog know that you are the only leader and that he must respect and obey your position in the pack at all times. No matter what breed or how small your dog is, he is still a dog and needs to know his place in the family. This understanding makes a happy owner and the well-being of the dog.
4. Training strengthens and builds a healthy relationship between you and your dog.
5. Opens a clear line of communication between you and your dog.
6. Establishes rules and boundaries that will train your dog to become a reliable member of your family and community.
7. Prevents the growth of unwanted unacceptable behavior such as B. Pinching, growling, popping up, chewing and digging to name a few.
8. Eliminates confusion because your dog knows his space and will respect yours.
9. Obedience training gives your dog the vital needs for exercise, mental stimulation, and a bonding relationship with its owner. Another important component for the well-being of the dog.
10. An obedience trained dog or puppy is a much safer dog.
11. Gains trust and mutual respect with your dog.
12. Behaving well when you have visitors at his house or when you go out with him.
13. Helps reduce stress and anxiety in both dog and owner
14. Reduces the risk of getting into a dominance fight with your dog.
15. Training promotes a happy, healthy, and confident dog that eliminates issues like separation anxiety, which is severe and very common and often causes pet owners to abandon their dogs.
It’s important to remember that obedience training is a gradual process that you build with your dog over time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Start training your dog as early as possible, even as young as 3 months old.
Secrets for an obedient dog
Never underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. In the workplace we know of two types of managers. There’s the manager who uses fear, loud voices, and threats to motivate employees to perform, and there are managers who take a positive, good-natured, and calm approach. I have personally worked for both types of managers and let me tell you – there is no comparison! A positive approach is not only less stressful, but creates a happier, more productive employee, not to mention an employee who genuinely gives 100%+ productivity and feels good about it. Positive reinforcement in obedience training contributes massively to the dog’s well-being and has a high success rate.
Your dog acts as your collaborator, and when you provide a positive environment with positive reinforcement, you will achieve faster and more productive results while also building a strong and trusting relationship.
Timed coordination
Giving your dog a treat for good behavior is a great idea, but timing is most important. If you wait too long, your dog won’t be able to associate the treat with his good behavior, meaning your efforts will be wasted. The same understanding applies to punishment for bad behavior; Punishment must be immediate or your dog will have no idea why he is being punished and this too can cause you other problems later on. When it comes to punishment, you need to catch your dog in the act so that the scolding has a positive effect on his behavior, otherwise the punishment will not be what you intended.
dr Nicholas Dodman (a wonderful veterinary behaviorist) gives us these principles for effective training:
1. Training should not contain any negative or punishment-based components. There should be no yelling, no hitting, no chain tearing, no hanging and absolutely no electrocution. Each session should be upbeat and positive, with rewards for tasks well done.
2. Remember that the opposite of reward is not punishment; it’s not a reward. If you ignore unacceptable responses, your dog will not be rewarded for its failed response. Most dogs want to please their owners, or at least receive valuable resources like food, toys, or attention.
3. Reward good behavior immediately. The reward must be immediate so that the dog associates the reward with the behavior.
4. If praise is used as a reward, deliver it in high-pitched singsong tones that are most comfortable for the dog. Use an enthusiastic voice. If petting is to be used as a reward, it should be done in a way that the dog enjoys, such as: B. Stroking the dog’s hair on the side of its face in the same direction it grows, or scratching its chest.
methods and consistency
There are several approaches to obedience training.
1. Trainer and dog only. You can hire a professional trainer to house, train and hand your dog back to you. The pet owner is taught the commands and the ground rules surrounding the commands so the owner can execute the consistency of the pattern the trainer used and your dog will know that you are now the one to obey. But the hard work and time is taken up by the coach.
2. Individual or group training – dog and owner. You and your dog can take part in individual or group training sessions, in which you and your dog learn the various commands and the owner learns how to interact with his dog. Most of these training courses last 4-6 weeks; However, keep in mind that a dog is not fully trained in this time frame and will still require you to continue their training at home when the sessions are over – especially if you are training a puppy. This method is a great way for you to socialize your dog with other people and other dogs as well, which is another important area of canine wellness. A well-socialized dog makes for a well-rounded dog and a happy owner, and contributes greatly to the dog’s well-being.
3. Just you and your dog. There are many wonderful pet sites these days that will walk you through each command and give you tips and tricks on how best to treat your dog. Pet owners can also research this method based on the breed of dog they have for tips on how to handle that particular breed. This is also effective because different races have different personality traits. Many of these sites offer free information – all you have to do is follow the method and be consistent.
Whichever method you choose, staying consistent and on track is important and relevant to your success. If you have older children, training them on the procedures and allowing them to help you when you are busy or overwhelmed with other tasks can be very helpful. The other benefit of this is that your kids will learn how to do obedience training, get closer to your dog, and earn respect from them. It is important that everyone in the family knows the command being taught and practices with the dog. This will build a good relationship between the dog and other family members.
Positive reinforcement obedience training along with timing and consistency are the keys to a well-behaved, happy and healthy dog, which means your life as a pet owner will be great and worth the work. Remember that obedience training does not happen overnight and is a continuous process over time. Start exercising as early as possible. Puppies are not too young to start learning the rules, and in fact they should begin their training as soon as possible, with age-appropriate measures that expand and grow with age. These tactics contribute greatly to your dog’s well-being and will have you, the dog owner, barking to a happy tune.
TOP: Did you know that most dogs don’t like patting a dog on the head?
Thanks to M Jayne
