Ever dream of strolling through the park with your furry best friend calmly by your side?
Or maybe you just wish your pup would listen when you call them, even with all those exciting distractions around? 🤔
Well, you’re not alone!
As a fellow dog lover and someone who’s spent years helping dog owners just like you, I can tell you that having a well-behaved dog isn’t just a fantasy… it’s totally achievable!
And guess what?
It boils down to a few key training habits you can weave into your daily routine. 🐾
Today we’re reviewing an excellent dog training video from Will Atherton. The full video can be viewed at the bottom of this article.
Let’s dive into the three most important things you should be doing with your dog every single day to unlock their full potential! 🎉
Mastering the Art of the Leash: Your First Step to Success 🚶♀️🐕
You might think leash training is just about preventing your dog from running off, and while that’s definitely important, it’s so much more than that!
Developing good leash handling skills is absolutely fundamental to building a strong and happy relationship with your dog.
Think of it as your primary way of communicating with them when you’re out and about.
You see, even if your ultimate goal is to have a dog that can roam freely off-leash, mastering the leash first lays the groundwork for that advanced skill.
- It helps your dog understand you’re in charge… in a kind and loving way, of course! 🥰
- It makes walks enjoyable for both of you, turning potential struggles into fun adventures. 🏞️
- It’s the quickest way to establish yourself as a confident and reliable leader in your dog’s eyes.
When you’re out for a walk and your dog sees something exciting, like another dog or a tempting smell, your leash handling skills can help them navigate that situation calmly.
Instead of panicking or reacting, you can guide them with gentle, consistent pressure, showing them that you’ve got things under control.
And trust me, you’ll see the relief wash over your dog when they realize they don’t have to worry!
This leads us nicely to our next crucial point…
Understanding What Makes Your Dog Tick: The Power of Competing Motivators 🧠
Have you ever noticed how your dog might be an angel 😇 inside the house, knowing all their commands perfectly… but as soon as you step outside, it’s like they’ve forgotten everything?
They haven’t actually forgotten; they’re just facing a whole new world of exciting distractions!
This is where understanding competing motivators comes into play.
Think about it… that squirrel darting across the path, that interesting scent on the grass, or that other dog barking down the street – these things can be incredibly motivating for your dog.
And sometimes, their desire to chase that squirrel or greet that other dog is simply stronger than their motivation to listen to you.
The key is to understand what motivates your dog and then use that knowledge to your advantage.
Winning the Motivation Game: Making Yourself the Most Interesting Thing Around 😉
So, how do you become more interesting than a juicy smell or a fast-moving squirrel?
It’s all about making the reward for listening to you more appealing than the distraction itself.
Take Uncle Sully, for example.
His absolute favorite thing in the world is retrieving.
Even when he’s desperate to chase after a thrown toy, he’s been trained to sit patiently and wait because he knows that by listening to his owner, he’ll eventually get to do what he loves most.
Through consistent training, Uncle Sully has learned that even when there’s something super exciting happening, following commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “come” will ultimately lead to an even better reward.
If your dog is about to run into a dangerous situation, like chasing a squirrel into the road, being able to call them back reliably could literally save their life! 🚦
By understanding competing motivators, you can start to tip the scales in your favor and build that dream dog you’ve always wanted.
And speaking of control…
The Magic of Impulse Control: Building a Calm and Collected Companion 🧘♀️
Competing motivators and impulse control go hand in paw!
If you can teach your dog to manage their impulses – that urge to immediately react to something exciting – you’ll have a much calmer and more manageable companion.
Think about it: a dog who can resist the urge to lunge at every passing dog or chase every fluttering leaf is a dog who can navigate the world much more peacefully.
Just like Uncle Sully waiting for his toy, training impulse control involves teaching your dog to pause and think before reacting.
This might involve asking them to sit and stay even when they really want to run and play, or waiting patiently for their food even though they’re super hungry.
These small exercises build their ability to focus and make good choices, even when faced with tempting distractions.
Rewarding Good Choices: Positive Reinforcement is Your Best Friend 🥳
Now, here’s the really fun part!
When your dog successfully fights those impulses and makes a good choice – like Uncle Sully patiently waiting for his retrieve – it’s crucial to reward them!
Positive reinforcement is the most effective and enjoyable way to train your dog.
This means giving them something they love, like a tasty treat, a favorite toy, or enthusiastic praise, when they do what you ask.
In Uncle Su’s case, after he patiently waited, his reward was getting to do his favorite thing: retrieve the dummy!
By rewarding him with what he wanted anyway, his owner reinforced the behavior of staying calm and listening.
This creates a positive association with following your commands and makes them much more likely to do it again in the future.
It’s a win-win! 🎉
Putting It All Together: Your Journey to a Well-Trained Dog Starts Now! ❤️
Find out more: https://www.youtube.com/@willathertoncaninetraining
So, there you have it: the three most important things you can do every day to train your dog:
- Mastering leash handling
- Understanding competing motivators
- Building impulse control
These aren’t just quick fixes; they’re foundational skills that will strengthen your bond with your furry friend and make your life together much more enjoyable.
Remember, consistency is key!
Even just a few minutes of focused training each day can make a huge difference.
You’ve got this! 💪
And the journey of training your dog is an ongoing adventure filled with love, learning, and lots of happy tail wags! 🐾
