GOOD DOG: Training, goals and key ingredients

The second in a series of Chronicle columns on dog training from Greg Thompson

Why is training your dog of critical importance? 

The answer to this question is not as self-evident as one may have thought. Inexperienced owners, for example, may assume living with their dog’s problems is what “normal” dog ownership is all about. Other dog owners may assume their dog’s behavioural and obedience problems will somehow evaporate as the dog matures.

Neither of these assumptions withstand scrutiny. Rather than leading to success, the absence of a structured training environment where the trainer makes the decisions and where obedience and good manners are the rule, dogs very quickly begin making their own decisions, including competing with you and your family for the role of pack leader.  

Fortunately, there is an alternative to the chaos of the structureless environment. It starts with recognizing the dog is never the problem; rather,  the dog owner bears responsibility for establishing the guardrails of good dog behaviour and obedience. 

From there, the goal is very clear. Build a strong bond with and train your dog, using rewards and encouragement, to be an obedient, well-mannered and affectionate member of the household. Easier said than done, I admit. But with some learning, coaching and effort, I am convinced this goal is well within reach of every dog owner and offers significant benefits to both owners and their dogs. 

We will return to this last point presently. Next, we will explore the elements of a practical dog training goal and the foundation for it all; the human/dog bond. 

Setting a training goal for you and your dog

Any road will suffice if you do not know where you are going. This is certainly the case when it comes to training dogs. Of course, the training goals of individual owners depends on their dog’s intended purpose — companionship, hunting, guarding, agility, herding, assistance, etc. But there is a basic dog training goal all dog owners share which likely meets the needs of most households and also serves as a foundation for advanced levels of dog training. That goal is the training of your dog to the level of a companion dog. 

What is a companion dog? In answering this question, we need to consider both dog obedience and dog behaviour. 

Starting first with obedience, the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) has published an authoritative standard for companion dog obedience in Chapter 10 of the CKC’s Obedience Trial & Rally Obedience Rules and Regulations. The standards for novice obedience, which are updated frequently, include a detailed description of what is expected at this level for walking at heel, standing, walking heel-free, recall, sit-stay, and group sit. 

But basic obedience is only part of the companion dog story, albeit a critical one. Equally important here in training your companion dog is the task of ensuring your dog learns and adheres to a suite of essential behaviours. There is general agreement that, at a minimum, all well-behaved dogs are affectionate and gentle; are easily handled and groomed; show appropriate energy and drive; are housetrained; remain quiet, calm and non-destructive including when left alone; are well-behaved around children, other dogs and pets; travel well; and are a low escape risk. Readers may have additional expectations to those proposed here.

The human-dog bond

At the end of every dog-related discussion and field training session with my friend and mentor, Mike Ducross, he always says “Remember, I always want to see a happy dog!”

Mike is referring, of course, to the fact that the trainer and the dog are partners; the trainer is responsible for building and maintaining this partnership in a fair and respectful fashion. Most importantly, he would add, a strong human-dog bond is the foundation for shaping good dog behaviour and reliable obedience. 

Our long-standing relationship with dogs is a symbiotic one. Across time, geography and cultures, dogs have played a role in supporting the full suite of mankind’s physical, social and emotional needs.    

But what about the benefits that dogs obtain from their bond with humans? Where humans have fully embraced their leadership and welfare responsibilities for dogs, these benefits can be substantial. An unstructured environment in which the dog is left to make all the decisions is not only stressful for humans, but also extremely stressful for the dog and, as pointed out earlier, prompts the dog to challenge the humans for the role of pack leader. This stress disappears, however, in the presence of a human leader who can do the following: 

• understand and communicate effectively with their dog; 

• set the rules, teach the rules and then fairly enforce them in a humane fashion; 

• show the dog what is expected in terms of good manners and obedience; 

• regularly groom, train, play with and exercise the dog; and

• reward compliance. 

Dogs truly benefit from the mutual well-being of living with their human leaders. They understand their leader’s expectations and their own respective roles, they comply enthusiastically with all that is asked of them, and they are praised and rewarded for their effort. Under these conditions dogs do thrive.     

Conclusion: In upcoming columns, we will explore techniques to strengthen the human-dog bond — especially communication. We will discuss essential training and other equipment, identify the fundamental strategies for obedience and behavioural training, and then discuss how to put these strategies into practice.

Until the next issue of the Manor Park Chronicle, my thanks to the many dog owners who have provided feedback on the Good Dog column. Remember, letters to the editor with your questions or suggestions are always encouraged. 

Season’s greetings to you and your family!

Obedience training tip

Here is an obedience training tip you may wish to practice with your dog. In the months ahead, training tips will be a regular feature of the Good Dog column.

Heeling and road safety: Walking on the left side of the road, facing the direction of oncoming traffic, places you and your dog in a safe position. The safest side to heel your dog is on your left,  further away from the traffic. Allowing the dog to decide which side to heel on, as some handlers do, creates a potential safety risk and makes recall to heel confusing for both dog and handler.

Always insist on a left heeling position for your dog. Carrying treats in your left pocket creates an added incentive for your dog to walk on your left. Your dog will pick up on this new routine very quickly but you must be consistent. Walking your dog on your left side is an easy way for the handler to strengthen their leadership role, lower the potential for confusion on heeling and recall, and ensure a safe and happy walk!