My pet dog turns 9 this year, as well as yes, we still have training goals.
With this post, I want to achieve three things:
First, I want to show new pet dog owners that a pet dog is never completely “trained.” It’s an limitless work in progress, at least for me.
Second, I hope you’ll see that just since I compose about pet dog training, that doesn’t indicate my pet dog is perfect. far from it. as well as I’m not best either.
Third, I hope I motivate you to set your own pet dog training goals if you haven’t already. I’d like to hear what you’re working on this month. On Thursday I’ll be announcing a fun however motivational pet dog walking as well as training challenge, and I hope you’ll participate!
The complying with are the pet dog training goals I’ve set for myself.
I’ve been quite laid back over the last year or so with Ace. He’s getting older, so I tend to let things slide. who cares if he pulls? who cares if he sits as well as pleads while we eat? He’s old, I tell myself.
Because of that, he’s most likely not also behaved as he might be, which is OK, however that’s why I have goals.
My pet dog training goals – 2015
1. provide my pet dog off-leash time at least twice a week.
You may not believe this is a training goal, however it is.
When we resided in Fargo, N.D., I might just open our patio door as well as let Ace run around off leash for 10 or 20 minutes. We lived ideal on a City park, as well as we’d play there each day in addition to our leash walks. While my pet dog is on the low end as far as physical energy, I did not recognize exactly how crucial those off-leash play sessions were up until moving.
Here in San Diego, a week or two (or three!) can go by where I don’t provide Ace any type of off-leash time. since of this, Ace has a great deal of physical as well as emotional pent-up energy. He’s been whining a great deal lately, as well as I understand letting him run around for even five minutes a few times per week will make a big difference.
There are lots of locations where I can do this. It’s just a matter of making a point to do so. We online a mile from the pet dog beach for crying out loud.
2. neglect Ace’s whining.
Yep, this is associated to goal #1. My pet dog has absolutely been whining a great deal lately, as well as it’s annoying. He’s always been a bit of a whiner, as well as I understand it’s mainly since I provide him interest for whining. even if I scold him for it, he wags his tail like “Ha! Gotcha to look at me!”
My hubby Josh reports that Ace barely ever whines when I’m not around, as well as I believe it. often I requirement to take a few of my own recommendations – neglect your pet dog for whining!
My plan is to neglect any type of whining for 30 seconds or so, as well as if he doesn’t stop, just get up as well as step to one more space without reacting. Or, step Ace to one more space when necessary, like when he’s whining while we’re eating. Which he’s been doing lately. Oh, Ace! ?
3. work on heeling a lot more seriously.
I utilized to be truly strict about heeling. Basically, if Ace was on a leash I expected him to heel.
I believe that’s a bit as well extreme now. It’s only fair to provide the pet dog some on-leash flexibility to sniff as well as check out as a reward for walking politely. Here’s my preferred publish I’ve written about mentor heel.
The issue is, I’ve been a bit as well kicked back with Ace, as well as he’s been pulling a great deal a lot more since of it. For example, he’ll unexpectedly dart across the walkway to sniff a random plant. And, he quite routinely tries to pull towards other dogs while making those ecstatic breathing as well as “choking” sounds.
Annoying, right?
My “solution” around other dogs has mainly been to hold Ace back, which is not mentor him anything. It’s really making the issue worse, since he most likely anticipates the tension in the leash, which encourages a lot more pulling. Sigh …
I’ll be composing a lot more about this on Thursday, however my goal is to work on heeling with Ace by bring treats, motivating him to pay interest to me, as well as stopping when he pulls forward.
Pretty basic, however all of us understand it’s much easier stated than done. I’m lucky, since my pet dog really understands what “heel” indicates (remain at my left side without pulling). It’s just a matter of enforcing it a bit better.
4. Make sure to release Ace from “stay” as well as “go to your bed.”
I taught my pet dog that “sit” indicates “sit as well as stay sitting up until I state OK.”
So, when we tell him to “go to your bed,” this likewise indicates “go to your bed as well as stay there up until I state OK.”
The issue is, we’ll tell Ace to go to his bed, as well as then we won’t state anything for a half-hour since we generally forget about him!
This isn’t fair to Ace, as well as I understand it’s been a bit stressful as well as confusing to him. It’s likewise one more reason why he whines since it’s a method to tell us, “Um, guys?” as well as then of program we release him, which reinforces the whining!
I know, first-world problems, right?
Some dogs are living outside connected to a barrel, as well as my pet dog is whining since he doesn’t understand if he can leave his organic dog bed. great grief. What have I created? ?
So that’s generally it for us.
Let me understand what you’ll be working on this month, as well as I hope you’ll join me Thursday when I compose a lot more about the upcoming walking as well as training challenge.
What are your pet dog training goals?
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Have a great week!
– Lindsay