When you adopt a dog, you’re not sure where to start to make sure he or she is a well-behaved dog. We will give you some tips on how to handle your dog so that you have a good time together from the start.
THE EDUCATIONAL BASICS TO TEACH YOUR DOG
WHAT IS THE PRIORITY IN THE EDUCATIONAL BASICS WITH HIS DOG?
I am often asked if Saiyen, my latest dog, knows how to sit. And I answer that she does not. Most people are surprised and it’s a reaction that makes me smile.
My dogs have not learned to heel, sit is clearly an option in my eyes, and down is on the back burner for some.
The commands that I have taught my dogs as a priority are:
RecallDon’t pull on leashEmergency stop on a walk.And that’s it.
The rest of the learning was just a detail during our everyday life, namely: to be calm in general in the house, to know how to land easily everywhere (at my parents or at work for example) and to be clean.
But most of this learning was quite simple because my dogs’ needs were met. All this work was therefore made easier.
I wanted to make two points through these few words:
First point: You and only you decide what is acceptable in education and in your life with your dog. If you want him to climb on your couch, that’s your choice. No one has to decide for you, as long as your life rules respect the safety and well-being of everyone in the home and outside.
Second point: Learning will be more difficult if your dog’s needs are not met: outings, social contacts, games, rest, chewing, etc.
Think of your dog’s needs as the foundation for a solid training relationship.
THE EDUCATIONAL BASICS TO TEACH YOUR DOG
One of the current ideas is to think that the garden is a sufficient place of expenditure for the dog which does not need to go out because it has space to run and play in its garden.
We also see a lot of adoption refusals from associations under the pretext that the adopters do not have a garden.
The garden is just another room for the dog who spends his days there. A room with grass, trees and outside air, but a room known by heart.
The dog needs to go out every day, to sniff other smells, to have social contacts, to discover new environments, etc.
This daily outing does not have to last 2 hours systematically if the family schedule does not allow it, but at least 30 minutes to contribute to Titou’s well-being.
The garden, as big as it is, remains a prison for the dogs who have to spend whole days alone there.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT AND THE GENERAL STATE OF THE DOG IN AN EDUCATIONAL WORK?
When asking the dog to concentrate, it is necessary to check certain points before starting a training session:
Are its basic needs being met? Physical, social, chewing, etc.
Is the environment suitable for the educational session? Is it not too distracting? Have we given them time to scan the space so they can fully concentrate with us?
Doesn’t he have aches and pains from a recent hike or educational session? If he feels physical pain, the session will surely be shorter because it is unpleasant for him.
Does he know the notion of an exit door to be able to express a request for a break or a stop? Just like us, dogs can have moments when they are less inclined to work for X reasons of their own.
THE EDUCATIONAL BASICS TO TEACH YOUR DOG
Listening to them and respecting their requests (as much as possible and always in a safe manner) will not make them “fussy” dogs.
On the contrary, respecting a dog’s request for a break will make them more motivated to return to the next request.
Forcing an individual to work when negative emotions take over has no positive impact on work and self-confidence.
The intense state of panic leads to inhibition or even more extreme future behaviors the next time around.
This is why it is important to work on expanding the dog’s comfort zone, rather than plunging him into emotions that he will not be able to handle.
When we made too many mistakes at school because we didn’t understand the lesson, we lost confidence in ourselves and in our teacher?
The dog has the same functioning. An educational session is properly organized in order to put the dog in a position to succeed.
The goal is that the dog takes pleasure in working and collaborating with us. So let’s change our vision of dog training!
