The foundations you can’t skip with your dog

If there is one thing I wish every Gundog owner truly understood, it would be this…

Obedience training will fail without relationship and connection.

You can watch every YouTube training video out there, but if your dog doesn’t truly enjoy the time you spend together, if the games are always on your terms, if life is always about following your rules and expectations with nothing in it for them, or they feel misunderstood or unsure, those trained behaviours will always fall apart because the connection just isn’t there.

People often come to me with a list of things they need from their dog and this of course is the framework of our training plan, but it’s not where we start.

We start with what the dog needs from them, because this is what will have the biggest impact on any future training, but also, because it’s the right thing to do.

They are animals that we have chosen to have.  It’s our duty to learn how to meet their needs and give them a good life. 

When somebody comes to me because their dog spends their walk constantly pulling on the lead, but their lifestyle questionnaire shows that dog gets limited or no off-lead time, no mental stimulation, no social time, or no outlets to be a dog… this is where we’ll start.

When you start focusing on THEIR needs and having fun together, training becomes much easier.

The truth about reward-based training

 

I think it’s often believed that reward-based training is just about dishing out too many treats instead of corrections.

But it’s not just about the treats. Far from it.

In reward-based training we use treats, toys, touch, movement, and activities to build engagement with us. We raise a dog who LOVES to be with us and do stuff with us and learn with us.

What we do with these things is what makes the difference. You could use the best treats and toys in the world, but if you are not bringing any personality or energy to these rewards and interactions, they’ll always fall short.

We build a relationship with US… with the help of things the dog loves.

So often when I start training with somebody new who has come to me with a long list of struggles and frustrations, after one or two sessions they start telling me all the things that have improved. Things that we haven’t even had a chance to look at yet.

Relationship and connection are everything.

When you focus on training before connection

 

Without connection, you nag, you get frustrated, you feel like they are ignoring you and don’t respect you, so sometimes you may even feel hurt or insulted.

So you nag more and feel worse.

And in the meantime…

The more you nag and the worse you feel, the more your dog will do everything they can to avoid you and your bad feelings. The more intensely they will sniff to help them feel better, the harder they will pull to create more space, the “busier” they will be when you call them to come to you when off-lead.

Dogs will always be in search of things that make them feel good and avoid the bad. 

It very quickly becomes a vicious cycle.

How to get started with repairing or building your relationship and connection foundations

 

Start with getting to know who your dog is, what matters to them, and how to make your time together more relaxed, pressure-free, and rewarding.

Observe them on their walks… other than fixating on the fact they are pulling on the lead or not responding to your recall, notice how they are actually choosing to spend their time.

Schedule an activity session every day, either on your walk or in the garden. A short period of time where you give them 100% of your attention and energy.

Experiment, be silly, and have fun with them.

What do they like you to do with treats? Do they enjoy chasing them, searching for them, or catching them? What types of treats do they prefer?

What toy play do they enjoy? Do they enjoy chasing a long tug toy, retrieving a ball, or searching for something hidden? What texture of toys do they prefer?

What kind of touch and physical contact do they prefer? Do they enjoy it at all when you are outside, or do they prefer hands-off?

Do they turn into a happy wiggly worm when you talk to them?

Do they love following you and chasing you when you move away?

No training expertise is needed here, from either of you. What it really comes down to is quality time, thoughtful observation, a lighter mindset, and a dynamic, playful approach.

If you are struggling with your dog or just getting started with a puppy, build the relationship first. It will impact everything and make future training and behaviour changes so much easier.

If you’d like some support or want to chat about how I might be able to help you and your dog, you can BOOK A FREE CALL HERE.  It’s a great way to talk things through, to see what could make life easier for you both, and to get a better feel for if I’m the right fit for you and your dog.