Dog training – small routines with a significant impact
How parenting can be fun
Spending months training a puppy at dog school? That's not always necessary. Indeed, especially for first-time dog owners, learning the basics at a dog school is a sensible option. However, it's equally essential to immediately integrate what you've learned into your daily life with your four-legged friend. Often, it's the small, regularly repeated exercises that make a crucial difference in keeping a dog calm and attentive.
Whether on a walk, at home, or in the car, every moment of living with a dog can be part of training. "Training works best when it's naturally integrated into everyday life," explains Verena Helfrich, a long-time dog trainer and author. "Short, recurring exercises improve the dog's focus and can simultaneously strengthen the bond with its owner."
Everyday situations offer learning opportunities and a sense of security.
Dogs learn best in their familiar environment. Utilizing everyday situations creates clarity and helps the dog connect what it has learned with daily life. Structured routines also provide security and orientation. However, training also requires consistency: what has been understood only becomes ingrained when identical exercises with consistent content are repeated. The dog soon knows what is expected of it in which situation and what recurring commands mean.
Even a few minutes on walks or while traveling are enough to train critical basic skills:
1. Sit and Stay
In everyday life, it's helpful in many situations if a dog stays calmly in one place and sits or lies down. Whether waiting at a traffic light, during a visit to a café, or as a passenger in a car or train. Basic commands like "sit" or "stay" are best taught calmly at home or at dog training school, as is a signal that allows the dog to move again. In actual everyday situations, the behavior then becomes ingrained, and you should praise your four-legged companion when he sits as desired and waits until the signal to move on is given.
2. Recall
Another essential element in controlling a dog is a recall signal that prompts an immediate response. This can be a verbal cue, as well as a consistent, clear sound, such as a whistle or a dog whistle. Initially, many dogs need quiet, distraction-free environments to focus on the sound. Positive reinforcement, such as praise or treats, helps the behavior become associated with the signal. Even when the dog seems to have mastered the exercise perfectly, it should be practiced regularly and rewarded accordingly – so that the recall works even in noisy environments or when the dog is distracted.
Leash training: a dog walks calmly beside its owner on a loose leash, paying attention to its owner rather than pulling in a particular direction. Regular training sessions are recommended to practice this, during which the dog must remain attentive. If the dog follows the commands as desired, it should be praised.
3. Getting used to being touched
Whether grooming at home or visiting the vet or groomer, your pet must be accustomed to being touched in sensitive areas, such as the ears and paws. Regular repetition will help establish a routine.
4. Playing together
Playing might not sound like training at first. However, many commands can actually be practiced naturally during play and easily integrated into everyday life. So-called nose work, where the dog has to sniff out an object with a specific scent, provides mental stimulation. Tea bags are a good example of suitable items for this. Fetching is also fun for many dogs and can easily be incorporated into walks.
The more playful and relaxed the training is, the better the dog learns. "It's important to practice regularly, rather than scheduling long sessions. Five minutes a day is often more effective than an hour on the weekend," says expert Helfrich. "The great thing is: training in everyday life rarely requires much extra time – you just have to recognize and seize the opportunities."