Dog Training Without Stress - Here's How!
Training a dog is not always easy, but it should also be fun. To ensure that you and your furry friend do not lose the joy of working together, we have some valuable advice for you:
Focus on the Essentials
When everything becomes too much, it can help to focus only on the most important things. Perhaps you are working on too many things at once with your favorite, so that both of you are totally stressed from the training. A simple rule of thumb says that a dog cannot learn more than three things at the same time. Walking nicely on a leash, staying calmly in the basket, learning a new trick - sometimes we forget what we demand from our four-legged friend. Taking a step back and focusing only on the essentials will surely do you both good.
Don't Compare Yourself to Others
All the dogs in the park listen much better than your four-legged friend? So what, it doesn't matter. Those people also started training their dogs at some point. Comparing ourselves to others can be motivating, but it can also trigger stress in us. Especially when your furry friend is once again ignoring you. Put on the blinders and focus only on you two, because nothing else matters.
Who is Stressed, You or Your Dog?
Did you know that your mood transfers to your dog? If you are relaxed, your dog will find it easier to relax as well. If you are stressed, your dog will become nervous and be more easily disturbed. The next time you feel stressed, take a deep breath and try to take some pressure off the situation.
How do I know if my dog is stressed?
If your dog is stressed, he will show you exactly. The first stress signals in dogs are:
- Yawning
- Licking lips
- Drooling
- Shaking
- Frequent shaking
- Shallow panting
In dog training, stressful situations can occur more frequently for your dog. Especially when you are working on bigger challenges. Our →Relaxation Tabs calm in everyday life and in special stress situations such as during travel, at the vet, or around the New Year.
Find Joy in Training
Besides progress, the most important thing in training is to have fun. Surely you didn't get a dog just to march through the park feeling stressed and sad. So try to structure the training steps in such a way that your dog will succeed in every case. This way, your furry friend will have joy in working with you, be more relaxed, and the two of you will grow into a real team together.
Very important in training are rewards for your four-legged friend. They motivate him to work with you and give it their all in dog training. A compliment can be a petting, a “Well done,” or a tasty snack.
