Life with a dog is great, but life with a well-trained dog is even better. Your dog stops being your pet and starts being your life-long companion when you train them right.
Here are some things that professional dog trainers want every dog parent to know:
- You Can Teach Any Dog, New Tricks
One of the biggest misconceptions among dog parents is that they cannot teach their old dog anything. Some believe certain breeds aren’t train-worthy, while others let their dog’s pro-napping skills stop them.
Dog trainers across the world would disagree with you. With the right technique and endless patience, you can teach any dog a new trick. As long as you have the passion, your dog will learn.
- Learn Your Dog’s Body Language
Many owners have one-sided communication with their furry friends only because they don’t understand the body language of dogs. Take your time and teach yourself to recognize the subtle body language of your dog.
For example, one of the biggest misconceptions is that a wagging tail means a happy dog. That’s not always true. Sometimes, a wagging tail can mean ‘please leave me alone, stop touching me, or please stop hurting me.’
Once you understand your dog’s language, it will not only make a huge difference in your dog’s welfare and their training session, but it will also strengthen your bond with your dog.
- Customize the Methodology
A training method that works for one dog wouldn’t necessarily work for others. Dogs have different personalities, and they are motivated by different things. We should stop here and reiterate the fact that the training must always be reward-based rather than punishment-based. Not only is it much kinder, but also much more effective.
As a dog parent, learn what motivates your dog. Is it the treats, the food, the playtime, or one particular toy, perhaps a certain activity? Use that motivator to train your dog. The stronger the motivator, the faster your dog will adapt to the new training methods.
- Know When You Have Succeeded
Some dog parents continue to teach the same command to their dogs, unsure of whether it has been learned or not. Here’s how you can know for sure. If your dog sits at your command ten times in a row in an extremely distracting setting, then you have succeeded.
A dog choosing to sit at your command instead of running around in a dog park is a dog well-trained.
- Make Your Dog’s Name a Good Thing
Don’t ever associate your dog’s name with a bad thing, such as scolding or a stern voice. Only call your dog’s name when going for a walk, calling out for food, or playtime.
These are some of the knowledge that professional dog trainers love to share with pet owners because they can help improve their relationship with their pooch. Practice these pro pieces of advice and see if you notice a difference in your dog’s behavior and their training sessions. We guarantee you will!
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