In puppy classes we have an Agony Aunt session where we discuss the trials and tribulation of life with a puppy and this is one of the comments we get - "we haven't managed any training this week". We are very quick to dispel the notion that there is a need to ‘train’ every day, every week. It’s all about perception.
What does training look like? Is it the end of the world if we don’t ‘train’ our dogs?
What does training look like?
At Tynewater we focus on foundations. Foundations in building relationships, connection, communication. These are the cornerstone of life with a dog.
Building these foundations is about:
ensuring your dog feels safe and secure
spending time with your dog
enjoying activities together
being mindful of what your dog needs to navigate the world around him
mutual respect and knowing each other’s boundaries
active listening
sensitive handling and communication
The word training is synonymous with formal training methods for loose lead walking, recall and so on. However, if we really think about it if we have a good relationship, good connection and good communication with our dog then loose lead walking, recall etc will start to happen organically.
Is it the end of the world if we don’t train our dogs?
It’s certainly not the end of the world however, we should consider the priorities for our dog and family life. We don’t need to spend every hour on formal training, we need our dog to feel safe and secure and for the family as a whole to enjoy life. Training your dog is an ongoing organic process, your dog is learning from the environment all the time. You may not feel you’ve had time to train but it’s a fair bet your dog has learned something from their daily interactions. Formal training should be fun, force-free and relevant and making a difference in some way for you and your dog. Relax, take the pressure off and appreciate being with your dog, give yourself space to see what you and your dog need and enjoy the experience.
Building these foundations is about: