Dog Training with Distractions. Be Successful by Slowing Down
Dog training with distractions is a great way to take your training into the real world. However, many times this leads to owners moving too fast and pushing their dogs into situations that they are not ready for. The best way for you and your dog to be successful is to slow down, way down.
The weather is heating up and kids will be getting out of school for summer break. Combine this with dogs that have not been out much during the cold winter and you can easily overwhelm your dog and yourself. Dog training with distractions is an absolute must in order to have a dog that will behave outside of your home or classroom environment. What your dog considers a “distraction” might not be the same for you. A pet store or vet office is a great place to challenge a well-trained dog, but can be a very different experience for a dog that is not ready.
If you want to start dog training with distractions keep an eye on your dog’s stress level. Some signs that your dog is overwhelmed include:
-Panting, Drooling, Lip Licking, Yawning
-Trembling, Tail Tucking, Avoiding
-Rigid Muscles or Posture, Staring Intensely, Lunging, Barking
When dog training with distractions you always want to end on a successful note. You can achieve this. Don’t rush and remember less is more. Instead of walking your dog at a park, first sit with them to get use to all the new sights and smells. Take your dog to a pet friendly store (not a pet store) and see how they respond there. Can you still get their focus? Are they relaxed and behaving appropriately? If the answer is yes, it does not necessarily mean they are ready for a new location. Instead, go on a different day, during different weather or when different people are around. Remember that your dog’s nose is a powerful thing and their main ability for learning. So when it comes to dog training with distractions keep in mind that some distractions you may not know are even there.
