Getting a dog is fairly easy nowadays. But what about keeping them and providing a great, fulfilling, healthy lifestyle for them? That is when most get confused. So here, I’m sharing the three most underrated dog training tools, that if used correctly and consistently, will help you start building that special bond with your pup the second you bring them home.
1. Food: Hand feeding your dog and using their daily food (no treats needed!) is the most basic way of bonding with your dog. Depending on the age of your dog it gives you 1-3 times daily to train your dog. And when I say “train your dog” I don’t only think about Sit and Down. What comes to my mind first is actually way more valuable than obedience commands themselves: it’s called engagement.
By hand feeding your dog or puppy, you can aim for eye contact, teach and reward calmness or even teach some tricks along the way. You can make them work then you can pay (reward) with food. All dogs need a job so it will be so worth it and fun for both of you. It also helps with “picky eaters” which is usually an issue that occurs when a dog is bored and unmotivated. It is not natural for them to get everything “for free” and since it also helps you build your relevance, why not taking advantage of it?!
2. Leash: A leash can be used to restrain a dog and physically prevent them from running away from you or you can actually use it as a communication device to guide and “talk” to your dog in a way that they would clearly understand. Using the leash properly, you can turn walks into great adventures when your dog feels like they belong to you or if you miss this great opportunity, it will create constant tension and pulling on the leash and you will not be relevant to your dog either. Using a leash inside the home will help guide your new dog or puppy inside the home as well, which I highly recommend doing until the pup has a clear understanding of your home rules and boundaries. You will save yourself a lot of stress and keep your pup away from any troubles as well.
3. Crate: Proper crate training is when a dog goes into its crate on its own or on command and immediately relaxes. For some dogs, it doesn’t come easily so it is our job to teach them how to achieve a calm state of mind while in the crate. Crate training is not only beneficial for you but it’s also an important life skill for your pup. First of all, dogs are den animals so having a quiet safe place where they can go back and decompress is super important. It not only helps with potty training but it also will help you establish a daily routine for your dog. On top of these, you never know when your dog needs to spend some time crated (like at the vet, grooming salon, overnight boarding, moving to a new house, in the car or even on an airplane) so consistently using the crate will help them relax in those situations as well.
On top of using these three basic dog training tools, you also want to think about creating healthy habits mainly by preventing bad habits to form, daily potty and activity schedule, separation training and practicing calmness as well as just sit down with your whole family and talk about the rules and boundaries, things that you will allow to the dog and what you will not. Make sure that all of you are on the same page in order to not confuse the pup. And lastly, watch out for “rule breakers” aka often family members and friends who will not respect your effort you’ve been putting into raising a great dog and will try to feed your pup from the table behind your back.
Keep an open mind when it comes to dog training tools and methods and use/do what’s best for the pup in front of you. It doesn’t matter how many dogs you’ve had in the past and it doesn’t matter what tools or methods worked for them. Stay curious, try new things, and enjoy this amazing journey! Happy Holidays!
 | Mariann is the Founder of We Are One K9 Training, a dog training company. After adopting her second dog, her life turned into a nightmare. The daily dog fights, injuries, non-stop high stress and anxiety was not the kind of life she wanted to live. Instead of returning her dog to the shelter, she started studying dog behavior and training. Shortly after realizing how many dog owners needed help, the WAOK9 Lifestyle was born. Her mission is to teach dog owners what it takes to provide a life for their dogs where they can all thrive and truly enjoy each other’s company everywhere they go - even off-leash. Her clients come from all areas of NYC and North Jersey. You can also reach Mariann on Instagram. |
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