1. Life Balance
Your dog is part of your family it’s important to manage your time properly. We are all pretty busy especially if we are parents shuttling our children around to their various sports and hobbies. Juggling that with work and a dog, it is essential you schedule time in your calendar for you, your dog, and your family.
Be sure to schedule some interactive time with just you and your dog. Spending quality time with your dog strengthens your relationship with him and can relax a busy person like you!
Do not forget to schedule dog-free time too. Schedule time in everyday where he is left completely alone to rest. Crate training your dog can give him a safe space just his own. He needs the break.
2. Foster Good Self Esteem
Dogs have self esteem? You bet. Dogs are creatures that learn. Mistakes are part of learning. Pet owners need to be careful to let their dog work out problems for themselves. Do not micromanage or help them too much, especially when they are trying to learn something new. Just stand back and give them a few seconds to work it out. If they get confused, just restart the challenge in an easier form or give your dog a hint.
For example, you are trying to teach your dog to sit. Rather than pushing on his hind end, pulling on the leash, or repeating “sit, sit, sit,” stand silent and wait. If he needs help, restart the problem by backing up several steps, say “sit” once, pause a second, then lure his nose up and back with a treat in your hand. Reward!
3. Set Limits
Just like children, dogs thrive on rules and structure. Your dog should have a clear and consistent set of rules that everyone in the house follows with the dog. Post them on the fridge!
My favorite is wait at the door. Teach your dog he may not run through doors to the outside without your permission. Make sure everyone in the house follows this rule – Always! Keep in mind, dogs are very bad at generalizing. This means that you should not let your dog jump on you when wearing workout clothes, but yell at him when he jumps on your work clothes. This will only confuse or frustrate your dog and cause naughty behavior.