Ways to Get the Most Out of Pet Training Sessions
Pets, especially dogs and cats can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Playing with them releases feel-good chemicals in your brain such as dopamine and oxytocin, which are known to trigger pleasure and happiness.
Owning a pet like a dog can bring us joy, companionship, and a sense of pride. But when a dog continually disobeys or exhibits behavioral issues, dealing with them can be a constant source of stress for both us and them. When you properly train your dog, you’re giving them the skills it needs to live peacefully among humans and other animals. Failure to properly train your dog could result in destructive behaviors. For example, they could become anxious and chew up your furniture when you’re not around. Or they could also behave aggressively towards people or other pets.
It’s important to start training your dog as soon as possible to sit, stay, come, go to their crate, and go potty outside. The most important thing to remember is to make training fun for you and your puppy. They will be more open to learning and even enjoy the training sessions! Never use negative reinforcement such as scolding or hitting. Dog behavior coaching is a two-way street, so here are four things you can do to make the most out of your sessions. They include:
Bring extra special food rewards!
Bring a reward that your dog doesn’t get at home can help motivate them more. It can also be helpful to bring an extra special toy to keep things interesting! Get creative and make it fun!
Be patient!
Don’t expect your dog to be perfect by the end of the first class. Remember that you are communicating with an animal that speaks a different language. It will take some time and patience to make the objective clear to your canine companion. Give your pet plenty of time to understand what you expect them to do. It’s also important to be patient with yourself! Be persistently patient!
Don’t stop training after class is over because training never stops!
Training is teaching. It’s wise to use the opportunities that happen every day to reinforce your dog’s training. Dog training sessions are a good way to introduce your dog to commands, but real life is the place to put those lessons into practice.
Ask Questions
Be sure to ask any questions you may have – the only bad question is the one left unasked. Don’t be shy! If you need extra help with something, speak up! Your participation in the ongoing training ensures you get the best benefit from the training sessions.
As new good behaviors become habits for your dog, you can relax on having scheduled training times. Desired behavior is obtained by doing things consistently. If something isn’t working, discuss this with the trainer and be open to new ideas as to how to perceive your dog’s behavior so the plan can be adjusted. Your commitment to the training process is crucial in ensuring you receive the best in your dog’s life-altering behaviors. A healthy balance of learning manners, encouraging sociability, and providing your dog with the right kind of outlets will ensure her success. The learning process does not have to be costly or intense, and the more enjoyable it is for the both of you, the better the results will be.
