Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks? This year’s Crufts is just around the corner and it’s got us all wondering here at Sophie Allport, what it really takes to train a dog. Obedience doesn’t come naturally to all pups that we know for sure!
Making the most of life with your pooch is important and training your dog, whether it’s a new or more senior member of the family is fun and rewarding. But with so much to learn, what would it take to train your dog? If your thinking about covering some basics at home, this is what you will need…
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Discipline is required from both you and your dog in order for training to commence. And once you’ve set up a schedule, you need to stick to it! If you’re not consistent, your dog is likely to forget the things you’ve both worked on. Try to keep to regular, short bursts of training every other day, and enjoy some quality time together.
- Strength - Sometimes you’re going to need to be firm when giving your dog commands. Say what you want your dog to do clearly and simply, using their name so they know a command is directed at them. You must also make sure they follow through with commands you’ve set; it’s down to you not to give up at the first hurdle! This is where your strength will make all the difference.
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Patience - Every pup is different and it may take them a lot longer than you first thought. You’re going to have to be patient and stick it out sometimes. It’s the best thing for both of you!
- Love And Positivity - After all that hard work, encourage good behavior and reward your dog with a treat. A doggy gift is the perfect way to say well done. Perhaps a new toy or bowl? Most importantly, praise your pet; hug them, kiss them and show them some love for all of their amazing work! You can never go over the top with affection.
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An Active Approach - All dog training requires an active approach, so you may need to get involved a lot more often than you thought. If your training would work better outdoors, then you’ll need to be prepared for more walks and runs and you will need to free up the time to do this. You’re going to need to show lots of energy and enthusiasm if you want your dog to do the same.
Your dog is probably already better trained than you might think. Many of our much-loved pooches already know when to sit, give us kisses and roll over. But is there anything else you can think of that might be fun to work on together?
