The best dog training is an ongoing process that goes through your entire life in a constantly developing relationship with your dog. Essentially, dog training is communicating with your dog in a way they can understand. As the experts in Dog Training in Richmond Virginia, we are proud to share some important information on the lifelong joy of dog training.
You will find that this is actually simpler than you can imagine because dogs are naturally good learners and for the most part have an innate desire to please you and follow your instructions. Dogs have always had this nature to work as a team and they can be convinced to adopt certain behaviors and perform certain duties if approached correctly.
While there are many schools of thought and much debate on which approach to dog training is the best to apply, you will find that most can produce a well-mannered and refined companion that will be your pride and joy.
While many aspects of this dog training can be different from one trainer to another, the following “Do’s” and “Don’ts” are agreed upon by all of the experts in dog training. Let’s begin with some of the Don’ts.
For Best Dog Training Results Don’t Ever:
-Underestimate Your Dog
There are big dogs and little dogs and dogs of all shapes and sizes, but the biggest mistake to make is that all dogs no matter what they look like contain a high-level of intelligence and a unique personality. The first thing that most dog parents should ask themselves is if they are actually ready for the tremendous joy and responsibility of bringing a dog into the family.
Even those that already have a dog or dogs, should consider the idea of bringing a new dog into the pack. Will the newcomer get the attention and training needed to bring them up to speed with the rest of the clan? Furthermore, think of how the newcomer’s presence will affect the dynamic of the pack as well. Dogs have deep feelings too, you know.
-Ignore the Details of Dog Communication
To ignore the subtle differences in dog communication would be to undermine your training process in a big way. One of the first and most important things your dog must learn is to control their reactions and fine-tune their means of communication. Luckily, they will take many cues from their owner in this department and some breeds of dog are just more mild-mannered than others.
Your dog fully understands that their senses are keener than your own and they want to report the information they are collecting through their sensory array as best they can. If communication is not developed, many of the things they are trying to communicate will be expressed in bad behavior — the more intelligent the dog, the more pronounced bad behavior can be.
This is why using negative reinforcement on any level can be detrimental to your communication. Dogs have a very noble character and this type of communication is both confusing and demeaning.
For Best Results Always Try To:
– Respect Your Dog’s Personality
Most importantly, recognize your dog’s intelligence and personality. This is especially important if you hope to gain your dog’s affection and respect. Be prepared to offer your encouragement and support as your dog faces the major events in their little life, like meeting new people, learning to control their bodily urges, play time, and everything else you will experience together.
– Be a Good Dog Parent
Never underestimate the role you will play in setting the tone of the communication you develop with your dog. Many people raise their voice and shout commands to their dogs, when dogs actually have very sharp hearing and respond better to the tone of voice commands than greater volume.