How to raise a good dog
Dogs are so fun, loyal and they make amazing companions! Because dogs live alongside us so well, for the most part, it’s easy to forget that they’re a different species. It’s only when they roll in something disgusting, or launch themselves into a fight with another dog they’ve only just met, that you realize how different we actually are.
As a dog parent, it’s your job to teach them how to behave in our human world. You’ll need to help them if you want to raise a dog you can live with.
Dogs benefit from consistent rules and boundaries, and if you want to raise a well-socialized dog who listens to you, focuses on you, and responds correctly, you should train them using rewards-based techniques.
A well-trained dog is a delight to be around.
So how do you raise a good dog?
Watch my video to get 3 tips to get you started
Teach your dog how to behave around people
If your dog loves meeting new people and is very enthusiastic with their greetings, teach them to “sit”.
People bend down to say hello to dogs and dogs tend to jump up to say hello and teaching your dog to “Sit” means they won’t accidentally headbutt your guest.
If your dog is nervous around people, then let your dog approach your visitor in their own time.
Have your visitor sit on the sofa, give them some dog treats, and when your dog approaches them, your visitor can reward them with treats.
The benefit of raising a calm dog who can greet people nicely is that they’ll get to stay and hang out with everyone, rather than being overly boisterous which often results in them being put outside.
Jasper and Toby sitting nicely
2. Introduce your dog to different sights and sounds regularly
Some dogs approach new situations without a care in the world. But some dogs find new things frightening.
Dogs have superior hearing to humans and while everyday sounds like buses, screaming kids, and the noises of construction sites are of no concern to you, they can be very stressful for your dog.
I used to work with a dog who was super sensitive to unfamiliar noises.
Sometimes I’d find him shaking in fear and if I listened closely, sure enough, I’d discover that someone was mowing a lawn miles away, or using some sort of power tool.
This poor little guy had had a rough start before finding his amazing forever home so anything unfamiliar was scary for him.
Some dogs also fear unfamiliar sights, so they can become afraid if they see someone carrying an umbrella or wearing a hat, or maybe they’re afraid of tall people, short people, or people in wheelchairs.
The Training Method:
Make sure you give your dog as many different and positive experiences as possible.
Use treats to help build up a positive association to new things and always work at a distance that’s comfortable for your dog.
3. Teach your dog to walk nicely on a leash
Dogs love going for walks, it’s usually the best part of their day but if they’ve never been taught to walk with a loose leash, these walks will be super annoying for you. Even having a small dog pulling on the leash can cause shoulder and back pain for you.
Learning to walk nicely on a leash is essential if you’re both going to enjoy your adventures.
It’s common for people to give up on loose lead training but all dogs can learn. It takes consistency and perseverance but is definitely worth the effort.
An on-leash/off-leash combo is awesome if it’s safe to do this.
Maybe you could walk your dog on a loose leash to the dog park, then let them have a run-around and play with other dogs, and then walk with a loose leash home again.
They’ll have a fabulous time and the more practice they have playing with other dogs, the more dog-friendly they’ll be, plus the added bonus of having off-leash play is that your dog will cover a lot more ground than they would if they were on a leash the whole time, and this will result in a blissed-out and tired pup when you get home.
There are anti-pull harnesses and head collars that will give you more control and help stop your dog from pulling but they’re not a replacement for training. For best results combine the equipment with loose-leash training.
For more puppy raising tactics, save your seat in my free masterclass
“3 Simple Tactics for Raising a Well-Behaved Dog”
