Everybody knows that when you first get your four-legged friend, it is important to establish boundaries between yourself and your pet. Without these boundaries, it is very easy for your pooch to develop unappealing habits, leaving it confused as to who the pack leader of your household actually is.
However, by following these quick and simple steps, you can achieve anything from calming your overactive Old English Bulldog to training your disobedient Dachshund.
Finding the Perfect Balance
When you are in the early stages of expanding your family, it is important to find the time to adapt your daily schedule to the needs of your pooch. By doing this, it allows for your dog to be happy, healthy, and comfortable within their new living environment. At first, it may seem daunting to take on the responsibility of looking after another life; however, it is possible to do so successfully with the help of just one everyday item: an alarm.
By creating daily reminders – around your busy work schedule, looking after the kids or even studying – this allows for you to spend quality time with your dog and make sure that they are walked regularly and long enough for their specific breed.
However, whilst creating this routine, it is important to remember that, as the ‘pack leader’, your pooch must learn who is the boss. This means that by consistently following a strict schedule, your dog will adapt to you, knowing specifically when it is time to be walked, fed, and put to bed.
Trust is Key
After setting your alarms and establishing a routine, the next step is for you to gain trust with your pooch when you’re out and about. The best way for you to achieve this is learning how to teach your dog to come.
As well as making walks safe and secure, teaching them the ‘come’ command ensures that within a tight schedule, they get all the exercise they need. This can be achieved using treats or toys. Once you give the simple command, your dog should respond to the treat, creating a link for your pet between good behavior and rewards.
Nevertheless, to cement this trusting relationship, you must be able to remain consistent, demonstrating to your pooch that responding to their ‘pack leader’ always results in a positive outcome.
To Discipline? Or Not to Discipline?
As a well-known fact within the pet community, bad behavior should not be promoted or encouraged. This can lead to bad habits and a very confused dog when disobedience is ignored inconsistently.
However, by following a reinforced routine and continuing to reward good behavior, your trusting relationship may remain, ultimately resulting in happy, healthy household.
Conclusively, if you choose to follow these quick and simple steps, you will be able to establish a healthy, balanced routine for your busy day. This will not only contribute towards a wholesome mindset within your household but also produce an ideal relationship between yourself and your obedient four-legged friend.
