Pet insurance - Tips & Advice - Training your pet
Sit Rover, sit!
Knowing how best to train an excitable puppy, or an older dog who has never been trained properly can be rather daunting. The best thing to do is sign up to a course of obedience classes. Then you can practise the techniques you have learnt back at home.
The Kennel Club can help you find out about registered training clubs in your area. The Kennel Club was founded in 1873 and aims to ‘to promote in every way, the general improvement of dogs.’
It’s a good idea to go along to a class without your dog first to see if you think the trainers are friendly, if people are enjoying the training, and whether the dogs seem happy. Although pet insurance won’t cover the cost of training your dog, it’s worth having a chat with Direct Line to find out how else it can help you with other costs for your pet.
Firm but fair
Your dog needs to know where he stands (or sits!) with you, so you must ensure that you are consistent in your approach in order to avoid confusing him. Patience is definitely a virtue in this case, so if you find yourself getting annoyed, stop what you are doing and try again later. Short, regular sessions are best, as they will keep your dog engaged and interested.
Teaching your dog his/her name is a great foundation for going on to learn other commands. Try to modulate your tone of voice, as your dog will learn to respond to the different ways you say things. Handle and stroke your dog gently every day, as well as praising him, so that he learns to enjoy and respond to being handled.
Learning how to have fun
One of the main ways dogs learn how to build relationships and communicate with humans is through play. Playing with your dog has several benefits, such as teaching you about its personality, strengthening the bond between you, giving him an outlet for his natural instincts, providing exercise and preventing him from becoming bored.
Play should be directed by you though, in order that your dog learns how to do it in a safe and controlled way. If you can’t take things safely away from your dog, teach him how to ‘leave’ before you proceed. Types of games that you’ll both enjoy are tug of war, chase and retrieve, hide, seek and search, and pounce and shake. Play in short bursts of up to five minutes. Keep toys below waist height, so that he doesn’t get into the habit of jumping up at you. Whatever toys you use, make sure they are suitable and there are no small parts that could be chewed off and swallowed.
Communication is key
'Clicker' training is a great tried and tested way to positively interact with your dog. A variety of different clickers are available at pet shops, but the basic principle involves clicking and then rewarding your dog with a treat for good behaviour. It is based on the idea that your verbal praise may sound different to your dog depending on what mood you’re in, whereas a click and reward is a consistent response.
Treats can be toys or food, depending on what your dog best responds to. Remember to use healthy snacks if you are using food and to consider giving less at mealtimes, otherwise you might end up with a rather pampered pooch.
For lots of advice on looking after your pet plus flexible insurance solutions, check out our other pet tips and advice pages on this website. You can also get a pet insurance quote within minutes for your dog or cat.
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