In this blog, I discuss some fundamental aspects of training that all dogs should know.

If you train these essentials, they will go a long way to keeping you and your dog out of trouble and could even save your dog’s life.

Successful training relies on consistency and commitment as these behaviours will be grown over time.

Because of the ever changing world we live in, sometimes issues will occur which will effect your dog’s performance in one or more areas and you may need to revisit previous training.

Recall

Recall, the art of getting your dog to come back to you, it sounds simple, yet it’s a skill that frequently challenges dog owners. Picture this: your dog eagerly trots over when dinner is served. However, what happens when they become engrossed in a dropped packet of biscuits or distracted by the remnants of a picnic you come across on a walk? Will they leave the distraction and come back? The struggle with recall is undeniably real, influenced by the distance between you and your dog and the level of distractions in the environment. The aim with recall is that a dog will return to their owner no matter what.

Loose Lead Walking

Loose lead walking is a common challenge, and one I am very familiar with. If you're a dog owner, it’s likely that you have experienced the frustration of trying to rein in a dog determined to drag you down the street. Are your leisurely walks turning into a tug-of-war struggle, leaving you with sore arms and a concern that your dog might take off? For some dog owners, the situation can get so bad, they dread walking the dog, either they stop walking or they resort to taking their dog in the car to a park or other place where they let them run off their energy. The down side to this is it’s likely the dog is completely out of control, the owner does not feature in the walk at all, the dog is free to run up to other dogs and people and cause a nuisance.

There is good news though, mastering loose lead walking is not only possible but incredibly rewarding for both you and your four-legged friend. It takes time and patience to perfect loose lead walking, and some dogs find it easier than others. Success often comes when you shift your focus from getting from A to B to actively training loose lead walking. With consistent effort, you'll find your dog learns to walk nicely on the lead and walks become more enjoyable and stress-free.

Sit stay

Having a dog with sufficient self-control to sit and stay on command can be a game-changer. It frees you up to attend to tasks with the confidence that your dog will stay put, keeping both of you out of harm's way. This could be something as simple as picking up after your dog during a walk, cleaning up a broken glass or carrying a hot pan from the stove to the table.

Not jumping up

This includes teaching your dog not to jump on you, family members, visitors at home, or strangers encountered during walks. From a legal standpoint, it's important to understand that a dog can be deemed 'dangerously out of control' if it causes fear or apprehension, regardless of its friendliness. The law is clear that any instance where a person feels the dog may cause injury falls under this category. Preventing jumping up is therefore essential.

Play

Play is a crucial aspect of a dog's life, contributing to their physical and mental well-being. Play is as a form of exercise, helping dogs maintain a healthy weight and promoting cardiovascular health. Activities like fetch, tug-of-war, and running are excellent for physical fitness.

Play provides an opportunity for socialization and bonding with both other dogs and humans. Play is essential for strengthening the bond between dogs and their owners. Spending quality playtime together fosters trust and deepens the human-dog relationship and will impact all other areas of life with your dog such as strengthening recall and loose lead walking independent of any specific training.

Leave

Teaching your dog to "leave" is one of my favourite things to train. It’s a real gamechanger, and can help recall and loose lead walking, as well as preventing damage to your home and playing a crucial role in your dog's safety.

Training your dog to leave items prevents potential damage to your belongings and maintains a safe environment within your home.

Many dogs have a liking for stealing items like socks, and shoes and will pick up stones, or balls, which they will then eat. By teaching the "leave" command, you help prevent your dog from picking up and ingesting harmful items.

Excessive surgery to remove ingested items poses risks to a dog's health. There is a limit to the number of surgeries that can be performed, once your dog understands "leave", the likelihood of them needing surgery due to ingesting inappropriate objects is significantly reduced.

Dogs may scavenge during walks, exposing them to potential dangers like litter, poison or sharp objects hidden in food. Teaching your dog to leave items on command enhances their safety outdoors.

You will sometimes see reports of harmful substances which have been intentionally left for dogs to ingest. Teaching your dog to leave potentially dangerous items helps protect them from such dangers during walks.

There are other benefits to training your dog, the act of training and learning together is fun and contributes to building a stronger bond between you and your dog. Consistent positive reinforcement reinforces trust and communication.

Handling

Effective handling is all about ensuring your dog feels at ease during examinations and essential care routines, such as grooming and nail trimming, administering medication and ear and eye drops should they be needed, and carrying out veterinary procedures. If your dog is comfortable with handling, especially when it is done by someone else, for example, the vet this can help ensure they are amenable to veterinary assistance in an emergency which could avoid delays and save their life.

Settle (Sleep and Rest)

Dogs require 12-14 hours of rest and sleep each day for optimal health. Research indicates that well-rested dogs are not only more relaxed and happier but also demonstrate improved learning abilities. Conversely, insufficient sleep may lead to irritability, poor memory and increased reactions to stressful situations.

A dog that can’t settle may exhibit unwanted behaviours such as pacing, furniture chewing, counter surfing, or excessive barking. Puppies and dogs don't naturally possess the skill to settle and sleep; it's a behaviour that needs to be taught.

Teaching a dog to settle is straightforward. Simple measures, such as creating a quiet area, away from the hustle and bustle of family life, where your dog can rest and be undisturbed is a good start. It’s important that family members and especially children, understand that the dog should not be disturbed when on their bed. Some dogs will enjoy a chew or a bone when they are resting and this will reinforce their choice to choose to spend time resting.

If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch, I love to hear what you think. If you are interested in knowing more about any aspect of dog training, drop me a message here or find me on Facebook or Instagram.

Basic training that could save your dog’s life