Don't give up! 5 tips for staying positive when training your dog.

Have you ever felt like it would be easier to climb Mount Everest without equipment, without a map, in the dark and with your eyes closed than it is to train your dog to do something?!

It's no secret, but training a dog can be a challenging and sometimes it'll feel painful (puppy teeth anyone) but, when it's cracked, it is so rewarding. To have your dog by your side for the events in your life, is one of the reasons we want a dog. A loyal, non-judgemental companion.

Why is it then that when we try to teach them to wee outside or to not jump over EVERY SINGLE PERSON they make eye contact with, it feels so hard?

The reality is it's totally normal for you to feel like this and as a dog trainer, I've felt this about my own dog as well as other people's. Sometimes it's as easy as putting your shoes on, sometimes it's as easy as putting your shoes on when your 8 months pregnant (wow, it was so much harder).

There will be times when it gets difficult. Your dog may not be learning as quickly as you want them to, or they may be regressing and seem to have forgotten everything you've taught them. This can be frustrating, and it can be easy to get discouraged.

I've got 5 ways to keep that positivity flowing and those training vibes between you in full trainer mode.

1. Focus on the positive.

When your dog does something right, be sure to praise them. Tell them they've done it! The second they've done it. This will help them to learn that good behaviour is rewarded. Use stuff they like, treats, toys, fuss, a bum scratch or a leaf...whatever your dog likes.

2. Be patient.

It takes time for dogs to learn new things or to learn a new way of doing things. Give them a bit of time to learn this stuff and embrace the mistakes along the way. You didn't learn to drive, learn to read or learn to walk in 3 days, so don't expect them to do the same. Don't get discouraged if your dog doesn't learn a command right away. Just keep practising, and they will eventually get it.

3. Take breaks.

If you're feeling frustrated, take a break from training. There's no point carrying on if you're not enjoying it. As soon as it starts to go wrong, end it there. I always tell my clients to end on a bad one. When your dog starts to tire, gets bored or gets frustrated, they'll start to do whatever you're training, badly. This is your cue to end it there and to give them a break. If you carry on, you're fighting a tiring dog, they don't make good students.

4. Have fun!

Sounds too easy right? Really it's vital. Your training should be a fun experience for both you and your dog. Yes, it should be fun for you as well as your dog. If you're not having fun, your dog won't be either and that's when learning doesn't happen and everyone just gets wound up. Any training you do will boost all training, so if you're finding something hard, train your dog to walk backwards, stick their paw in the air or take a bow instead. You're still engaging them to learn something, this boosts all training so that when you then aim to train the thing it is you're avoiding (no judgment, I've done it loads), your dog will already be better skilled at it.

5. Remember the goal.

Not all dog training was created equally and every single person I have ever worked with, wants their dog to be something different. We all have our own personal goals for our dogs and rightly so. Some want a sofa cuddle monster whereas some would hate that. Just remember what it is you're aiming for and make some simple baby steps to get there. Training is so much easier that way.

Your dog is already amazing and you're already doing a great job. Training is tough, sometimes we can't even see any improvements when there are lots. Stay positive, remember why you wanted them in the first place and reach out for help if you need it.

Training your dog is a fun process but it shouldn't be an exhausting and stressful one. Reach out and grab my help here. I'm always aiming to make this stuff easier, quicker and enjoyable and I'm always happy to help.

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With accuracy and without confusion?

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