The training that helps your dog lead a better life
Dogs, like humans, need to learn basic "life skills". The training helps them deal calmly with other dogs and humans – and lets them live a happier, stress-free life.
The importance of a "canine good citizen" – a dog that can happily co-exist in human society – should not be underestimated. A well-trained dog benefits humans and dogs alike by enhancing the bond between animal and owner. And well- behaved dogs are less likely to be relinquished too.
So, helping our dogs learn how to conduct themselves is one of the most important things we can do. But what skills are "must have" and what factors do we need to take into account before beginning the training process? Here
are some things to think about.
Owning dogs brings with it many responsibilities. The Kennel Club's canine code highlights issues such as what identification your dog should wear on their collar and the importance of cleaning up after your dog def
ecates in a public place.
But our dogs also need to be able to function in society. This means they need to be able to cope with other people, other dogs and a whole host of situations. If not, dogs can become fearful or start to display other problem behaviours that can decrease their quality of life.
We can teach young dogs how to behave appropriately through building positive associations with everyday situations and rewarding the behaviours we want.
Recall – your dog returning to you when called – is one of the most crucial skills for all dogs, and it can be dangerous to others if it's not well learned. Every time our dogs return to us, whether called or spontaneously, we should reward and "pay" them well. That ensures that they will want to come back to us when called, rather than follow their urge to chase the runner or squirrels, or go to greet other dogs in the park.
The principle of "rehearse and reward" applies to all the life skills we want from our dogs, from walking calmly on a lead to interacting with people and other animals in a friendly way – or simply sitting quietly beside us while we have a coffee. Training our dogs to be able to spend time alone is also important to avoid problematic separation-related behaviour.
Reward- based training works for older dogs too. Dogs that have been rehomed, and perhaps had a less than ideal start to life, can begin to regain confidence and learn (or relearn) skills while also building a close partnership with their new human.
It's important to remember that different dog breeds and types have different "inbuilt" skill sets. Thousands of years of breeding means that dogs are one of the most diverse species on the planet, varying in shape, size, overall appearance and behaviour. Learning all about your dog's breed and personality traits is important for effective training and rewarding.