Alexandria, VA – September can be hectic as kids and college students return to school. Summer routines fade, and holidays and vacations become memories. Humans in the household adapt quickly, but our canine companions can find these changes stressful.
Dogs do better with consistency and structure. Not the old-fashioned dominance theory structure, just knowing how to successfully navigate our human-centric world. With the kids back in school, training your pup can help build routines, consistency, and mental stimulation. Here are a few tips to help you and your pup get back on track!
Easier to Reinforce than to Correct
Children learn better through positive reinforcement. Similarly, rewarding and praising dogs for good behavior can have excellent results. Food reward is usually a dog’s biggest motivator. We can also use other reinforcers such as balls, toys, and even belly rubs. Remember that the reinforcer must be reinforcing to your dog. For example, coming when called is one of the most challenging behaviors to train. Not because your dog is stubborn or disobedient; there are just so many exciting things in their environment. We need to compete with those distractions. When you start training a new behavior, use high-value rewards generously to build a strong reinforcement history. You want those behaviors to pay off in your dog’s brain!
Repetition
Training doesn’t have to be arduous, but it is a lifelong journey with your dog. Behaviors such as jumping, digging, barking, and pulling on the leash are naturally very reinforcing for dogs. The more they practice these behaviors, the better they get at them. Teaching your dog to keep four feet on the floor, walk nicely on a leash, and stay calm in the presence of other dogs, people, and squirrels does not come naturally. The key is to integrate training into your everyday life with short sessions, five to ten minutes, four to five times a day, and reward calm behavior whenever you are with your dog. Remember to give your dog lots of opportunities to earn reinforcements. And make training fun for you and your dog!
Practice, Practice, Practice
Having a dog who chooses to make the right behavioral choices requires consistent training. Be sure to vary the environment and rewards to keep your dog engaged and eager to learn. Practice inside and outside your home to increase reliability. The more distracting the environment, the more difficult it can be to keep your dog’s attention and focus on you. Start with low distractions and work up to higher distractions.
Dogs should learn basic manners and life skills, such as optimism, engagement, and flexibility. Together, they will produce a well-adjusted and happy dog. Training builds a positive relationship and bond with your dog. When you train your dog, you will learn to communicate better with them. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical exercise and can help your dog be calmer. A tired dog is a good dog! Challenge your dog daily with a few training exercises, and you will see a change in their energy level. You’ll also see them repeating the good behaviors that you are training. The key takeaway is that daily training supports calmer behavior, reinforces good habits, and strengthens the bond with your dog.
Recess
Take a break and play fetch or tug to release energy and have fun. Play can help build connection and focus and support the training process. Use their toys, balls, and tugs as training opportunities and rewards. Your dog will be more motivated to learn if you bring play into your training sessions.
Time to Get Started!
Enroll now and begin building better training habits with your dog today. Even if you’ve been putting off training, you can see changes in your dog’s behavior quickly once you get started. It’s science! Reinforcement drives behaviors. All living things repeat rewarding behaviors. Start now and let the results speak for themselves.
At Wholistic Hound Academy, our professional, experienced, and certified trainers are ready to help you and your dog live a more joyous life together. Contact us today to get started.
Sandy Modell, CPDT-KA, is the Founder, Owner, and Head of Training of Wholistic Hound Academy. Visit www.wholistichound.com and follow on social media @wholistichound.
