Connect with your pooch: A beginner’s guide to dog training

Obedience. It’s a trait that the majority of new dog owners demand of their dogs without ever asking themselves whether or not they have earned it. You could beat a dog into submission, but that is no way to create a lifelong, loving bond between you, nor is it a way to treat a companion. True obedience comes from mutual understanding and a whole lot of trial and error.

This is especially true if your dog has canine ADHD, or if the breed is inherently challenging to train. Use the five tips in this beginner’s guide to dog training to efficiently and effectively build a loving bond between you and your dog.

Understand your dog’s unique requirements

It’s not a stereotype, nor is it an overstatement – every dog has a unique personality. Sure, different breeds carry the same genetic code that creates specific behavioral patterns, but that doesn’t mean that your previous German Shepherd will exhibit the same qualities and traits as your new pup.

You will need to take the time to study your canine companion carefully to discover who they are, and what they’re likely to become. Dogs tend to exhibit certain traits very early on, and you can catch them easily by observing how they react to the world around them. From there, you can nudge them in the right direction.

Teach them to recognize your verbal and physical demeanor

The way you carry yourself and the way you communicate with your dog will mean all the difference when it comes to training and their quality of life in general. Keep in mind that dogs don’t understand abstract emotions, so if they’ve done something wrong such as peed on the carpet, you need to let them know.

Praise and punishment are what they respond to best, so be sure to give plenty of praise when they behave and use a stern tone when they’ve done wrong. This will help them discern between good and bad behavior, and help establish you as the leader of the pack. Once you achieve this, you can take your training to the next level.

You’re the boss, even if they can’t see you

Dogs need to be able to walk freely, without a leash. After all, running around and exploring on their own is all some dogs can think about from the moment they leave home to the moment they finally reach the park, so you need to be able to take them off their lead safely.

To achieve this goal without fear, they need to understand that you are always watching. This is the reason why modern E-collar technologies have become so popular among dog owners nowadays, as an E-collar allows you to train your dog off leash and even at a great distance. When you’re not around, your dog will be tempted to misbehave, but an educator collar will give control back to you and help them realize that proper behavior is a must at all times.

Learn to understand their physical behavior

As mentioned earlier, every dog is different. However, one thing is for sure: almost every dog will exhibit hyperactivity as a pup and will require plenty of attention throughout the day. As a new dog owner, you might think that this behavior is their way of shedding excess energy when in fact they might be trying to tell you something.

This is especially true for high-energy herders and breeds that require plenty of verbal and physical stimulation every single day. By learning your dog’s tell-tale signs, you can quickly discover if something is bothering them, like if they need to go potty, if they’re stressed, or worse if something hurts.

Provide plenty of daily exercise and training

On a final note, understand that training your dog and developing a deep bond between you takes plenty of effort, regular exercise, and a whole lot of repetition. Your dog might be infatuated with you, but that doesn’t mean that they have developed the trusting, lifelong bond you’re trying to build.

This takes work, so don’t lose hope but instead keep exercising and training your dog every day. Provide positive encouragement but don’t forget to let them know if they’ve done something wrong. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be stern – your dog needs to understand that you are the sole leader of the pack.

Final thoughts

As a new dog owner, you might find yourself overwhelmed with the number of responsibilities, in particular with the responsibility to train your dog to be a good boy or girl. Keep in mind that this requires you to connect with your pooch on a deeper level, so use these tips from a beginner’s guide to dog training to build a lifelong relationship between you based on trust, a strict hierarchy, and of course, love.

–  Zara Lewis