Teaching vs Telling
Are you one of those owners who feels like your dog never listens?
Do you feel like you are talking to a brick wall rather than your dog?
My training methods challenge the ‘Teach don’t Tell’ approach. Time and time again I see dog owners constantly giving their dogs numerous commands and being ignored. It always boils down to one reason. YOUR DOG SEES THEIR BEHAVIOUR AS OPTIONAL
Teaching good behaviour in dogs is fundamentally more beneficial than merely giving commands. The ‘action and consequence’ vs ‘do that, do this’ fosters a deeper understanding between the dog and its owner. Think about it. We have all been around that annoying child that just keeps asking ‘WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?’
Your dog can’t ask why, so when given too many commands, or not taught correctly, they will simply disengage.
When we teach our dogs what to do, they will just do it; it’s as simple as that. Teaching encourages them to think and respond appropriately to various situations. If you are constantly giving your dog instruction, you will feel as if you are always in damage control mode, or having to give constant direction to keep them under control. Best case scenario this is exhausting, worst case, It just stops working.
Dogs that are taught the correct behaviours have reduced stress and anxiety levels as they become more confident in their actions and less dependent on their owner’s immediate commands for guidance.
Moreover, focusing on teaching our dogs what to do means it becomes a way of life for that dog, they are more relaxed and less likely to pick up negative traits or feel like they have the option to say ‘NO’ or disobey a command. This builds trust and strengthens the bond between the dog and owner.
The biggest reward you can give a dog is the freedom to make their own choices, so we must teach them how to make the right ones. Dogs that are rewarded for good behaviour are more likely to repeat those behaviours. In many outdoor environments don’t look at rewards as food but as freedom, that way your dog is going to learn by action and consequence in a very gentle manner that directly impacts the matter at hand and this creates a cycle of positive actions and responses
Telling our dogs what to do with commands alone can often become a source of frustration, it becomes an option, which then leads to negative and potentially ‘teenage’ behaviour
Yes, it takes some work, and yes, it requires commitment, but it is often a lot easier than you think!
If you are interested in dog training or would like any help improving your communication with your dog please get in touch
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