How professional dog trainers help, and how to find the right one
Introduction
Dogs are known as "man's best friend" for a reason. They provide us with companionship, love, and loyalty. However, in order to have a well-behaved dog that is a joy to be around, you need to provide him or her with proper training. Professional dog trainers can help teach your dog the basics - such as sit, stay, come - and also how to properly behave in public. In this blog post, Ashley Timms will discuss some of the benefits of professional dog training and how My Dog’s Club healed her relationship with her dogs.
Understand that you’re not alone
I was in a heap on the floor while my adorable chocolate Labrador puppy clambered all over me. Oskar considered my hair his latest and greatest chew toy. My hair became knotting as it caught every swipe of his teeth and paws. The messier my hair became, the more encouraged Oskar seemed to be.
Frustrated to the point of tears, I ran through a list of well-worn questions.
Why is he like this?
Why can't I handle a puppy?
Am I not a "dog person"?
Does it ever get any better?
Perhaps you've asked yourself these questions too. Maybe you feel overwhelmed, alone, or even frightened.
I want you to know that your worries are not ridiculous and that you don't have to deal with this alone.
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Trainers help humans as much as dogs
One day, I was in a group class with Roxy and Elin, and Oskar one day. Unfortunately, I'd arrived at the class in the wrong headspace, bringing a lousy week with me and labelling Oskar as my "problem child".
We were doing mat training, and Oskar was distracted. Up until that point, everything had been going well. Oskar should have behaved flawlessly. But he didn't.
The more he refused to sit or not jump on people, the more frustrated I became. He kept pulling his lead as far as it would go and ran after treats he wasn't allowed to have. While he was at the end of his lead, I was at the end of my rope.
After asking him to behave a dozen times, I let out a loud sigh. Then, I yelled his name in a last-ditch attempt to get him to look at me and come back to my side.
Roxy, being as clued in as always, immediately came over. I explained that Oskar was annoying me by not listening and that I was doing everything I could to get him to behave.
She then asked me a straightforward question.
"Would you come back if someone said your name like that?"
Roxy realised that I was the one having a hard time in class. I was the one with the stressful week and letting it show. Overwhelmed by my feelings, I hadn't been giving training the attention it needed. This made training and exercise frustrating and confusing for Oskar and me.
Roxy focused on helping me understand timing for the rest of the class, including when to offer a cue, when to mark, and when to reward.
Trainers help you understand your dog
In our later training sessions, Roxy was careful yet pointed in her instructions to me. For example, I'd tell her how I would stomp my feet to get my older dog, Pudge, to stop barking in the garden. She'd gently explain that my actions only appeared successful because my dog was afraid. We still hadn't tackled the root of the problem. Looking back, I applaud her for holding back her judgment!
Want to know how I know she was right? The next time I found myself stomping my feet in reaction to Pudge's barking, I looked at him and saw he was afraid. His body and tail were stiff, and his eyes were nervous as he tried to predict what this scary person in front of him would do next. He barked again.
With this in mind, my next attempt to stop the barking included positive interruption and redirection with a squeaky toy and biscuits. A few more repetitions of that, and wouldn't you know it? Pudge barked less upon entering the garden. Dogs respond exceptionally well to rewards such as treats, toys, praise, enrichment, etc. While all dogs are different in what they prefer, they all react the same to the concept of positive reinforcement.
The most important thing I learned from Roxy was that dogs are not trying to frustrate you, nor do they need to be controlled. Instead, dogs need to be understood.
“Dogs need to be understood.”
That acknowledgement from Roxy in class helped me realise how vital the human is in dog training. What you're asking your dog to do and how you're asking is essential, as is knowing when your dog is at his limit and confused. Timing your rewards well and the absence of punishment helps with this.
That which is rewarded gets repeated.
The operative word there is you. A dog can only know which behaviour you want and when if you've spent time training this behaviour using the correct method.
Conclusion
Yelling at your dog solves nothing, and I wish I'd understood that sooner.
Like so many others, I needed my dog to do what I wanted when I wanted but didn't understand him or myself well enough to make that happen. Thanks to Roxy and Elin, I now know I had it wrong. It's not my dog who needed to listen to me. It was me who needed to listen to my dog.
Professional dog training provides numerous benefits for both dogs and their owners. If you're looking to improve your bond with your dog, reduce their stress levels, or simply teach them some basic obedience commands, then professional dog training is definitely something to consider.
If you’re interested in learning more about how My Dog’s Club can help you and your dog, see the services below.
About Ashley
Ashley Timms is a dog photographer based in Rhode Island, USA. Her approach focuses on force-free and positive reinforcement methodology to capture dogs at their happiest. Her clients range from doting dog guardians to shelters to some of the top dog trainers from around the world. When she’s not working with dogs, she and her dog, Oskar, are out exploring the coastline of the eastern US.
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Title: Why You Need a Dog Trainer | My Dog's Club
Meta Description: Find out why you need professional dog training, the benefits of hiring a dog trainer and how to find the right one.
Keywords to include: dog training, dog trainers, dog ownership, cat behaviour
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