Training dogs is something a lot of us feel uncomfortable with. Unfortunately, by its very nature this will require you to shout at your dog, to pull on their lead and to deny them the things they want. Even when they’re just trying to be friendly by jumping up to say hello, training a dog can mean ignoring them or telling them off and that can be heartbreaking.
Are you ruining your relationship with your dog by training them?
Why it’s Okay to Train
The answer to this question is of course no. In fact, training your dog will make them happier because they’ll have a better understanding of their role in the family and of how to behave. Of course you wouldn’t treat a human in the same way but that’s because the social structure of humans and dogs are very different. Dogs are highly social creatures and have a very distinct social structure that involves a clear ‘leader’ of the pack.
In other words, they are happiest when there is a hierarchy in your family and they naturally will fit in well to a social structure where you give them clear and distinct boundaries.
How to Punish Your Dog
Of course this still means that you have to punish your dog and that means they are going to be unhappy from time to time. The key here though is to find ways to punish your dog without upsetting them, which is actually more doable than you may think.
Instead of smacking your dog and shouting at them – neither of which is to be encouraged – the objective is instead to simply create a very clear and simple connection between a given ‘bad’ behavior and an unpleasant outcome. Squirting water or rattling keys can be a great way to accomplish this without making it feel ‘personal’ and without upsetting your dog.Full Review