Well, I will give you a short and truthful answer: "Yes, you absolutely can!"
Moreover, I believe that any dog parent should feel like a beginner trainer. And this position is one of the right ones. Be a trainer for your furry beloved pet doesn't harm but only improves your relationship with them. You can also save a lot of money in the process! Once you have decided that you will train your dog on your own, you have already moved towards establishing a healthy relationship with your dog.
And that's fairly easy to do when you have the right tools. So, let's have a deeper look at the training process and the devices you need for that.
There is no doubt that after watching various videos on how to train a dog, we are full of determination and confidence that in a couple of hours, our cute puppy will learn at least the obedience commands. But the truth is that as soon as we start a training session, everything turns upside down, and we understand that even learning one command is not so easy.
All you need to understand there - it is absolutely normal! I strongly advise learning no more than one command per session. And this applies to any training tool you use.
Keep in mind that to train your dog successfully, you must become a leader for them. Now all your relationships should be built on the principle that you are in charge. You need to earn your dog's respect and make them understand that you can be trusted. This is the most important part of your workout, as it requires the most effort from you. And remember, no aggression towards the dog and no rude domination! This does not work. The only thing you will achieve is the destruction of the relationship with your four-legged friend. The dog will be afraid of you, which is not what we are trying to get from classes.
One more important component for you to become a good trainer is understanding your dog's body language and timely response to their various behaviors. It's so individual for each dog! And only YOU, as a dog's parent, can decipher it correctly. Just take your time and patience.
Don't forget about positive reinforcement. Once the dog shows the desired behavior, reward them. And don't forget that reinforcing your dog's behavior isn't just about training time. Look for ways to reinforce the behavior you want during the day. Praise your pet for every success. For example, if your dog uses to chase any movable object during a walk, and once suddenly calmly walked past another dog, do not disregard this moment. Be sure to stop and pet your puppy. Pay due attention to this moment. And you will be surprised how quickly they learn what kind of behavior needs to be demonstrated.
So, we've already decided that training on your own is a great way to build a healthy relationship with your dog. So, what tools will be useful for that?
- a clicker,
- a whistle,
- an e-collar,
- and a leash.
You can choose one of the tools depending on the age and temperament of your dog. But a leash is a must in almost all classes.
You can opt for a regular leash or a bungee leash if your dog tends to tug and pull. These are usually dogs that love to chase.
A clicker is a great training device if your dog is already a little more comfortable with verbal commands and needs reinforcement. We described in detail how to set up training with a clicker in this article.
A whistle is a great tool for grabbing a dog’s attention and is used for distance training or noisy surroundings. You can find the steps to build a progressive training session with a whistle here - How to Use a Whistle for Training.
And the last tool on our list is the e-collar. It is the most efficient device of all when used correctly. However, make sure your dog is over 6 months old before using it. You can find each type of dog training separately on our Blog, whether it is obedience training, correcting unwanted behavior, or even training deaf dogs.
The main rule that we ask you to observe is a short and positive session. For a dog, every training is a lot of work. 10-15 minutes to master one command, and then rest. Just play with your pet; take enough time to show how much you love them. Follow this simple advice, and you will never harm the relationship with your pet, and they will always be confident in you.
Follow all the steps and safety rules correctly, and you will be amazed at how easy and fast the training can be!
What are you waiting for? Take all the information step by step from our Blog and become a skilled trainer for your pup!