How to Have the Perfect Relationship with Your Dog - Part 2

The Walk/Excercise

The closest way to bond with your dog is by walking your dog, twice each day. A back yard is not a substitute for a walk. We as humans can go where we want, when we want. We have our friends, our work, our entertainment, our holidays - OUR DOGS ONLY HAVE US.

A dog wants to see and share the world as much as we do and by doing so this is how they grow mentally and this in turn leads to balance. Share your world with your dog, because your dog will always share their world with you.

Corrections

When correcting your dog, make a sound that stops the unwanted behaviour and WAIT for your dog to give you calm, then walk away. By waiting for them to show calm you are showing your dog that this is the behaviour you require from them. Always correct at level one of the unwanted behaviour. So in the case of aggression, correct when you notice the tail going upright or an ear becoming alert, instead of correcting when there is a full blown fight.

Affection

Only give your dog affection when they are calm and showing behaviour you approve of. If you give your dog affection when they are doing something you do not agree with you will be nurturing that behaviour. It is exactly the same when your dog is showing fear over something or someone. If a firework were to go off and your dog came running to you shaking and in fear, do not give affection at this point, as you again will be nurturing that fear.

When your dog hears or sees something they are unsure of, you will always be their first point of reference. They will glance at you to see what your reaction is, i.e. a firework, so do not make a fuss of the noise or obstacle yourself. Just ignore the noise and if they start to constantly bark, use the correction technique. And as always, be the calm you want your dog to show.