Mastering Dog Training Techniques On Your Next Dog Walk

Not all dog training has to be time consuming

We'll deep dive and explore effective dog training techniques that can turn your walks into enjoyable parts of your day, enriching both your life and your dog’s. Training helps your dog understand what you expect from them. This clarity can significantly reduce anxiety and unwanted behaviors, making walks more enjoyable for both of you.

Before heading out for a walk, preparing yourself and your dog is essential. Here are a few tips to set the stage for success:

1. Choose the right equipment: Invest in a good-quality harness and leash. Harnesses can reduce pulling by 82% compared to standard collars. A properly sized leash allows your dog some freedom while still keeping you in control and a chance to work on correcting properly.

   
   

2. Pick a quieter location: Start in quiet areas with minimal distractions. This will help your dog focus on training and commands rather than becoming distracted by other dogs or people, and then slowly move to busier areas.

   
   

3. Bring the goods: Make sue you make yummy treats and toys to ensure they remain concentrated and worth their time.

   
   

At the start of the walk, tap back into the three fundamental commands to focus on: Sit, Stay and Come to ensure they are engaged without wanting too much pressure. Begin to migrate to more dog neutral behaviour, observing without reaction approaches (our favourite way to do this is to sit on a bench and watch everyone go by) and recall with increasing distractions. You should even dabble in mindful lead walking too - a real game changer. Mastering dog training techniques significantly enhances the joy of walking your dog. By recognizing the importance of training, setting the stage for success, and embedding commands into your walks, you create positive experiences for both you and your dog. Embrace patience, maintain consistency, and cherish every little victory. But rememeber to keep the walks short, fun and sweet - dogs use a lot more brain power in these walks and can become frustated and bored if the training has gone on for too long or the reward isn't deemed good enough.