Setting Boundaries
Setting Boundaries for your dog..
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It is important that you establish boundaries for your puppy or new dog the moment you bring them home. Establish the do's and the dont's and the no go areas within your home . Teach your dog that reward and attention from you and your family members always comes from calm behaviour. 'Calmness Leads To Reward'.
Always project 'a relaxed, confident attitude’, this nurtures stability and gives your dog security within your family pack, resulting in less behavioural problems.
From day one create a consistent schedule for your dog's daily routine ensuring it fits around yours and not the other way round. A consistent routine will create stability and security for your new dog. Have set exercise, play, feeding and daily grooming times.
Be consistent and stick to a set feeding time. Make your dog sits and ensure it is relaxed before you give it the go ahead to eat its food, (never reward excitable behaviour). Remember "Calmness Leads To Reward".
To help prevent your dog becoming dominant whilst eating, place your hand in the bowl or remove the bowl from your dog and make it sit. Return the food when your dog is calm and relaxed.
Grooming is an important part of the hygiene and emotional wellbeing of your pet. It helps cement the bond between you and your dog because of the physical touching and interaction.
When grooming your dog place it on a table and make it sit to encourage calmness. This is also an excellent time to check the pads on its feet, and between its toes. Also check its’ ears, eyes and mouth. All this will help to humanise your dog whilst being handled.
Allowing your dog to sit or sleep on the furniture is down to your own personal preference. If you decide not to allow your dog on your furniture establish this boundary from the vey beginning. However if you are happy to allow your dog beside you on your sofa make sure its only by your invitation.
Never under estimate the importance of early socialisation for your puppy. Introducing your puppy to lots of different sights and sounds will help him grow into a happy confident adult dog.
If you’ve bought your puppy from a reputable breeder they should have already experienced a home environment. Ideally they should be familiar with children, television, radio, vacuum cleaners, hairdryers and other household appliances that make noises such as the washing machine or tumble-dryer using sound therapy. Speak to your breeder to find out about what your new puppy has been exposed to before you bring them home.
Even before your puppy’s vaccinations are complete there is still a lot you can do to help socialise them. Take them on short car journeys to the vet or supermarket. Puppies should learn to enjoy being handled by different people of all ages in a variety of environments. Research shows that the early months of a puppy’s life are when they are most open to learning. It is important to make the most of this time and introduce them to as many social situations and experiences as possible. Fears and phobias are often created by the reactions of anxious owners, so try to remain relaxed and happy and pass confidence on to your puppy.
Furthermore, there is no upper age limit for dog training. The older the dog is the longer training may take and the more patience you may need but to say you can’t teach an old dog new trick’s is a fallacy.
In order for both you and your dog to co-exist in a harmonious relationship it is imperative that you enrol yourself and your dog on a dog obedience class with a professional dog trainer.
Teach the 3 basic commands Heel, Sit and Come.
For successful canine training you need Know-How, Patience, Repetition and Consistency and most importantly a ‘Positive Mental Attitude’