A Dog's "Choice + Time to Think it Out".

 How often do we allow our Dogs a  CHOICE? And Time To THINK?
Choice is empowering, to not have choice is demoralising and humiliating.
Choices in our human lives provide us with a feeling of security and control, the same happens when we allow our dog to choose.
Choice helps a dog to be able to ‘DO THE RIGHT THING’, without it being forced.
Choice and giving the dog TIME to THINK is where the learning really happens.
When I am running a Puppy Training class, I talk a lot about Choice, and allowing your dog to ‘Think it Out’, especially in the following areas:

• Loose Lead Walking.
• Having a Meet and Greet with another puppy + having the ‘Right to walk away or go closer’
• If your dog is anxious, shy or fearful., the 'Distance Threshold' I need space!
• Food Manners and the ‘Wait’. 'I will get it....when I wait'. Impulse control

When the dog is a little older and is actually ‘beginning to get it’.... allowing your dog TIME to think things out for themselves, to remember the process that resulted with the reward.
If you say “Sit”... wait 15 secs and give them time to choose to do the right thing. (Researched)
No point saying Sit, Sit SIT......SIT....!!!  in an ever-increasing commanding voice.
If the dog doesn’t sit.... just go back to basics... to refresh the learning.
Invariably they do Sit. I love that, I love to wait, and let the dog think it out for themselves, to be empowered.
On your walks, having a mixture of ‘Structure and Freedom’, structure means some close lead work, walking to heel, practicing positions of sit, down, stand, some ‘waits’ then Freedom is off lead or longline work, some sniffing or mooching. Mixing it up, lead on / Structure then lead off again, keeps your dog engaged on you.
Training actually happens OUT THERE... IN the environment..!
Positively allowing your dog to CHOOSE to ‘obey, practice and achieve’. All good..!

• Kindergarten - During the first weeks of your new puppy being at your home, it is the Kindergarten of learning, a safe place to start learning, never too early...
• Training Classes are the Nursery, and as you progress, both in classes and in the environment, the Junior school, College and University, where your dog will have many choices, the ability to make its own decisions resulting in Maturity, and an all- round, happy adult dog.

Maturity of strength, of independence, of self-awareness, having a mutually respectful relationship with those around me.
A dog is not to be dominated, restricted by a lack of choice, of when to get up, what to eat, where to go.
My dogs respect me for the choices I allow them to have, and  giving them TIME to think and respond to me.
A relationship of Mutual Understanding + Respect. The Best Kind.