The 9 Fundamentals of Personal Pets
Respect is an incredibly important trait to share between partners and your relationship with your dog is no different. When you partner with a canine, you accept the responsibility to feed them, provide them with shelter, and train them to respect you and others. There are many basic skills to teach your pet and some of these techniques will demand the utmost respect and assert you as the alpha. Dogs will naturally push your limits if you do not discipline them properly. Below are some of the top concepts to teach your canine.
Do not let them pull the leash
Who is walking who? You might find yourself pondering this question as you walk down the sidewalk with your dog. It is important to teach them not to pull the leash on your daily walks. Are you leading or is your dog dragging you with the leash? You want your dog to know who is control and the best way to achieve this is by not giving them the upper hand. One trick to maintain control is to stop at street corners and ask your dog to sit. It will take time, but it can help with pulling and obedience. If your dog does start walking, calmly but firmly say "no", or "wait".
Be in control of feeding
Mealtime is one of the most important times of the day. If you have a new dog and want to teach them some mealtime manners, you must be strict about the feeding process. Practice inviting your dog to eat and train your dog to wait before chowing down. Put the bowl on the ground and make them wait until you give them permission to eat. If your dog is picky and will not eat, take the bowl away after a set amount of time. This will train your dog to eat during the allotted time.
Let them work for toys, treats
Dogs commonly use their puppy dog eyes to get what they want but you cannot fall for the cute trap. To maintain your position as alpha, make your dog work for treats and toys by performing various tricks. Make sure that your dog sees that you put their toys away, so they know you are the one in authority. This will teach your beloved dog to play when it is playtime.
No pets on furniture
As tempting as it can be to allow your pet on your sofa or bed to cuddle up and watch movies, this practice is not good for training your dog who oversees the house. Setting boundaries is crucial to live harmoniously with your pet. If they do get on the furniture, firmly tell them to get off the couch or bed. You could also use a spray bottle to direct them off the furniture. If you do want your pet on furniture, invite them and only allow them to sit on the couch after your signal. This way the pet will know it is your territory.
Bring them on adventures
Allowing your dog to join you on your adventures is a fantastic way to boost a bond with them. Through all the hikes, hunts, road trips, and cities, they will know you as their adventure friend. Earned respect is crucial when teaching your dog to hike off-lead. Your dog must have a consistent recall and pay attention to your commands with distractions around. You need to be sure that your dog will not run off, chasing a squirrel and forget all about your commands. Adventuring together is a wonderful way to expose your pet to other people and other environments aside from the walking path by your house. You can really connect with your four-legged partner when you are exploring.
Be firm and consistent, but never be aggressive
Your pet will never forget if you become aggressive with them. This will cause the dog to negatively react to circumstances by flinching, running off, and similar behaviors. Training your dog to respond with aggression will make them feel the need to assert their dominance. Know the difference between firm and terrifying, you must maintain a consistent firm attitude. Consistent rules and discipline will really show your dog what is allowed and what is not.
Stop playful bites, jumping
It is easiest to break bad behaviors and teach manners when a dog is young but can be accomplished with older dogs. Actions like jumping and playful biting can sometimes be the pet showing affection, but these behaviors could scare people who are not familiar with the dog. You must scold your dog, calmly but firmly, when they jump up on people or start playfully biting during tug-o-war or something similar. Though it is easy to create treat or toy distractions, make sure that you are not accidentally rewarding their behavior. Have your dog calm down and quit jumping or biting before giving them a busy toy.
Give them their private spot
We all value our space, and our pets deserve a comfortable area of the house to relax and rest. Make sure the area is cozy for naptime and bedtime. Just like you want your pet to respect your space, you should show them respect on an equal level. It is also important to not repeatedly move their spot around the house or they will think the whole house is their territory. Crate training from an early age is an excellent place to start. Begin slowly by feeding them their meals inside the crate and leave it open for them during the day. Be consistent when sending them to bed at night. If your dog continues to whine through the night, cover them with a blanket to show them it is bedtime.
Comfort them and be there for them
Earning trust is one of the most important things you can ever do to keep a pet’s respect. Once you form a deep bond with your dog, it will be unbreakable. You can get your dog to respect you by being there for them. You must be present with them so they will recognize your voice, scent, and habits. Your dog will get used to your presence to maintain the solid foundation of partnership. If your dog is displaying signs of anxiety, there could be several reasons; make sure to comfort them during times of distress and reward them when they look to you for guidance. Always maintain the position of pack alpha, so that your dog knows who is in charge. When your pet feels secure with you, they will feel safe enough to follow your commands.
