Dogs are highly intelligent and easily trainable because it is in their nature to want to please and be rewarded by the ones they love.
Dogs fall into many different categories, for example we have working dogs such as Huskies and German Shepards. There are hunting / retrieving dogs such as Labradors and retrievers. There are the hounds that are driven and motivated by scent and tracking.
When we talk about training a dog or puppy, we have to take into account the age, breed, temperament of each individual, as well as how they respond to training. Many dogs and puppies are reward driven, some are food driven.
A good trainer takes all of this into account when starting to train your dog or puppy.
Dog Behaviour and Dog Obedience training are sometimes confused or misunderstood.
When we talk about obedience training, we refer to teaching dogs and puppies commands such as sit, fetch, stay. we teach you how to communicate effectively with your dog or puppy, and how to read the feedback or non-verbal communication that he or she responds to you with.
Behaviour training is a more complex issue which is generally training focused on correcting problem behaviour in dogs and puppies. Examples of this are leash aggression, aggression, fighting, destructive behaviour, chewing, nuisance or boredom barking, separation anxiety, fear, insecurity etc which may lead to what we consider bad or “acting out” or defensive behaviour. In behaviour training we need to identify the root cause of the behaviour and address that with focus, patience, perseverance and a common language between dog and owner. This is a process that requires dedication and long-term investment and involvement.
All dogs have it in their nature to be loving, obedient best friends for life. It’s up to us to ensure that they are given the very best chance to have a happy, loving life as one of our family members.