When we see amazing performances by dogs and their trainers doing freestyle, agility, or obedience, or even service or police dogs doing their important work day in, day out with humbling dedication, it begs the question, “How do they get their dogs to do all that?  I can barely get my dog to come when called!”  

The key element lies in the relationship you share with your dog. It determines how safe and happy your dog feels about working and living with you. If your dog doesn’t feel happy and safe with you, there is little chance he will come when called or be very responsive to what you ask from him.

1. TRUST

If you are not trustworthy in your dog’s eyes, they will not feel fully safe when working with you and doing what you ask of them.  As a dog handler, you need to build and safeguard your dog’s trust by ensuring you are never a source of pain or fear, but a source of love, fun, food and safety. Many dog owners erode their dog’s trust unknowingly and with no ill intent. For instance, calling their dog to them then doing something the dog doesn’t like such as clean their ears or put them in their crate, or letting a child climb over them like a jungle gym, or forcing a care procedure on them with no prior training. So, how do you build and nurture a trusting relationship with your dog?

• Be their rock. Be calm around your dog, especially when they are having a hard time or doing a behaviour you don’t want. Blowing up and losing your cool doesn’t inspire them to listen to you better, only to fear and avoid you.  You want your dog to look to you for guidance when they are unsure, afraid or overwhelmed. Teach them what you want them to do instead of what you  don’t want. Dogs are always doing the best they can with the education you’ve given them in the environment they are currently in. Remember that.
• Be consistent. Either allow your dog on the furniture or don’t. There is no sometimes or conditions. If you don’t want your dog to jump on people, don’t allow them to when they are a cute puppy then punish it when they get older and bigger. Don’t have one family member allow the dog to pull them on leash and another disallow any pulling. Dogs don’t understand “special circumstances” or hidden meanings.
• Meet their needs. We can’t expect dogs to behave the way we want or focus on their training if their basic needs haven’t been met. Of course, dogs need sufficient food, water and shelter, but where they sometimes fall short is in their other needs: sufficient exercise, sleep (dogs usually sleep 16 hours a day), human interaction and mental stimulation. It’s worth noting that not all dogs have the same needs. A young Aussie shepherd is going to need more exercise and mental stimulation than a bulldog couch potato. Build your dog’s trust by always making sure you are meeting their needs reliably. They count on you for everything.
• Do no harm. Causing your dog fear or pain in your training or other interactions with them erodes your relationship with your dog and does little to correct unwanted behaviour.
• Never tease. Dogs don’t know how to take a joke. They take you at your word and deed, and if you don’t follow through, or betray their trust, don’t expect them to want to work with you. Treat dogs with respect and kindness and they will amaze you with their performance and loyalty.

2. TIME

If all you can offer a dog is your presence of a few hours between after work and before you go to bed and the weekends, you shouldn’t get a dog. Would you leave a child at home alone all day while you are at work with nothing to do and expect them to do well at school and have good social skills? Of course not. Dogs are sociable, intelligent animals that need daily social, mental and physical stimulation to lead a healthy, happy life -just like people. You got a dog for a companion, so be a companion for your dog. Take your dog with you when you go out and where it’s fair and appropriate for your dog. Go on long, regular daily walks. Hang out together and enjoy each other’s company.

3. TRAINING

By training your dog, you will teach her behaviours adapted to live with humans such as not chewing furniture or barking at the neighbours. And in training your dog, you will learn about your dog’s needs and how she communicates, so both human and canine can live more happily together. The best way to train your dog while building your trusting relationship is by using positive, force-free methods – no fear, pain or intimidation. Continue to train your dog after the basics are conquered. Learn a new dog sport or activity or teach your dog tricks. If we stopped learning after grade school, life would be pretty boring.

4. THE VALUE IS WITH YOU

A dog will always do what he or she deems most reinforcing be it fetching a ball, coming when called or chasing a squirrel. Good trainers create a solid reinforcement history with their dog with them as the source of reinforcement and trumping all other competing reinforcers. I often tell my clients, “Be Disney Land to your dog!”. You want your dog to choose YOU over everything else, and this is achievable with building a solid positive relationship with your dog. Is your dog food-motivated? Good! You hold the keys to the cookie jar. Does your dog love to play? Great! You have a tug toy to play with him when he does a great recall. Does your dog love to sniff? Super! You can let him sniff on a walk when he maintains a loose leash. Your dog is going to access all that he loves through you. You’ll be better than Santa Claus as you are with him all year round, not just on Christmas Eve!

5. PLAY

Dogs are a species that loves to play, be it with their own kind or with other animals, including their humans. Play between dogs and their people helps to strengthen their bond and trust of one another. When a dog sees a handler as a great source of fun and jollies, they will surely be more inclined to work happily with that person and come running when they call their name. 

Some games to play with your dog are:

• tug (always a favourite)
• Fetch with a ball or frisbee
• Hide-and-seek (get super excited when they find you)
• Social play (see video and graphic)

6. COOPERATIVE CARE

Having a dog involves taking care of its physical health including grooming, trimming her nails and cleaning her teeth and ears. You want to teach your dog to accept these care routines and not fear them. Anytime you force your dog to do something, you make the experience unpleasant and frightening and erode the trust you have worked so hard to build between you and your dog. Gently and gradually teach your dog to accept care procedures BEFORE you need to do them. If you wait until your dog has an ear infection before you teach your dog to accept having his ears handled, you and your dog are in for a tough time.

Preferably when your dog is a puppy, get your dog comfortable with:

• being restrained
• Being on an elevated surface such as grooming or examination table
• Having paws handled and touched with a nail grinder or clipper
• Being brushed
• The noise and approach of hair clippers
• Having water sponged or gently poured or hosed on them
• Having their ears handled and gently swabbed
• Having their mouth and lips handled and gums massaged

Always progress very slowly, watching your dog carefully for signs of discomfort or fear. Let your dog set the pace and don’t get too greedy to push to the next step. Give lots of reinforcement along the way to create a positive association with the care procedures, and keep your sessions short. 

7. CLEAR COMMUNICATION

As with all relationships, communication is vital. Good dog trainers understand canine communication in terms of their body language as well as how to communicate to their dog so that their dog can best understand them. Take the time to learn about canine communication and observe your dog closely when interacting with him so you can “listen” to what he’s telling you. With the help of a dog trainer, get your “training chops” in order so that your cues, body movements and other training mechanics are clear, precise and telling your dog the correct message. 

8. TUNE IN TO YOUR DOG

With your knowledge of canine communication in hand, tune in to your dog and assess how he’s feeling at any given moment. Get to know how he holds his ears when he’s curious or worried, how he wags his tail when he’s excited or submissive. Watch everything he does when out on a walk and interpret how he feels about each event such as an approaching cyclist or when someone wants to pet him.

9. EMPATHY

Being careful not to anthropomorphize (applying human traits and feelings to a non-human animal), it’s important to consider your dog’s point of view when exposing him to certain people, places, animals or events.  You may think it would be great for kids to come up to your dog to pet and hug him, but put yourself in your dog’s paws. Would you want complete strangers that have little self-control and under-developed social skills to touch and hold you without your consent? You may think it would great to take your dog to the summer street festival so they are not left home alone, but the crowds of strangers, loud speakers, and hot pavement under your dog’s paws are forms of torture from your dog’s perspective. Your dog trusts and depends on you to keep him safe. It’s your job to be an advocate for your dog and act in his best interest considering he’s a dog, not a person.

10. KNOW YOUR DOG

All of the above points translate to knowing your dog really well. You get to know your dog by spending time with your dog and tuning into what she’s telling you with her eyes, ears, and position of her tail. You get to know what motivates her and makes her happy to help her learn the behaviours you want and need from her. You will know what her play style and preferences are and when she needs a break from the excitement. You will know what parts of her body are more sensitive than others and where she loves to be scratched. And when you use that knowledge to guide your decisions in regards to where you take her, who or what she interacts with, what behaviours you ask of her and how you interact with her, with her happiness and well-being at heart, you will gain her trust and you will have a dog who is happy to do whatever work you ask of them.