Reliable Routines for your dog
Part I: Incorporating Consistent Training into Daily Life
consistency matters
In the realm of dog training, consistency isn’t just a catchphrase; it’s the bedrock of achievement. Join us as we embark on a journey where routine and reliability unite, unveiling the art of seamlessly weaving steadfast training methods into the whirlwind of daily life. Here, the cadence of our canine companions and our everyday rhythm can align in harmony through a thoughtfully constructed approach.
Understanding the deep connection between dedicated owners and their dogs, we grasp the desire to build a strong foundation rooted in clear communication, mutual understanding, and a shared sense of respect. This foundation is built through consistent training, where behaviors take hold, routines flourish, and our canine companions become reliable and well-mannered partners.
Countless experts in the field of canine behavior, such as renowned animal behaviorist Patricia B. McConnell, emphasize the importance of consistency in dog training. It’s the thread that weaves the fabric of learning for our dogs. Just as we strive to maintain routines in our own lives for productivity and stability, our dogs thrive when presented with consistent cues, rewards, and expectations.
Yet, in the midst of our busy lives, the challenge often lies in finding the balance between our commitments and our pups. How can we seamlessly incorporate training into our daily routines without it feeling like a chore?
Consistency isn’t just a matter of routine; it’s the secret ingredient that transforms training from sporadic interactions into lasting habits. When we maintain a steady rhythm of training, we provide our dogs with clear expectations, reinforcing desired behaviors while gradually extinguishing unwanted ones. Imagine teaching a new language: just as regular practice solidifies vocabulary and grammar, consistent training solidifies the behaviors we wish to instill in our canine companions.
At its core, consistent training is the language of effective communication between dogs and their owners. When we consistently reward positive behaviors and address challenges with the same set of cues, our dogs begin to grasp our expectations. The result? A remarkable exchange of understanding, bridging the gap in many ways. Through shared consistency, we pave the way for a deeper connection and mutual respect that defines the partnership we’re striving towards.
Assessing Your Daily Routine
Our first task is simple: assessing your daily schedule. Just as we allocate time for work, meals, and rest, carving out moments for training is essential to achieve our training goals. Remember, the goal isn’t to add stress to your day; it’s to intentionally, yet easily, fit training into your existing life.
Step 1: Document Your Daily Routine
Write down everything you do from the moment you wake up until the time you fall asleep. Don’t worry about exact times; focus on identifying pockets of time that can accommodate short training sessions.
Describe the first 30 mins of your day.
Jot down how you spend your morning before your day starts.
What hours are you away from the house during the day?
What does your lunch break look like?
What do you do prior to dinner?
Describe your routine from dinner time until you're winding down for the night.
List all you do to relax and decompress before bedtime.
Step 2: Matching Energies
Consider your dog’s energy levels and receptivity during different parts of the day. Use this information to match training to your dog’s optimal times for learning and focus. Some examples:
Hyper in the morning → Fetch for impulse control
Hungry around dinner → Hand feed for basic skills
Lazy after school → Place during homework
Step 3: Transforming
Pockets of Time
Now, review your daily routine and identify where you can dedicate 5-10 minutes of training. Highlight these moments to create a training plan that seamlessly integrates with your day. Example below:
Setting Realistic Goals
The journey to a well-behaved and responsive dog hinges upon crafting objectives that are attainable. These goals serve as guiding lights, illuminating the path of progress and ensuring that you and your dog experience a journey that is both fulfilling and achievable.
With your daily routine in mind, let’s start setting training goals that align with both your lifestyle and your dog’s needs.
Begin by understanding your own commitments, schedules, and limitations. Reflect on the routine you documented earlier. Consider different aspects of your life, such as work, family, and personal commitments.
- Working professionals: Consider your work hours, commute time, office events, work-from-home assignments, and your own decompression time.
- Parents: Consider afterschool activities, nap schedules, sporting events, etc.
Reflect and Fill
Take a moment to jot down the times in your routine that could be potential training slots. Use the space below to identify these pockets of time and the activities associated with them. Now, think about what you realistically can dedicate to training within these timeframes. For instance, if your mornings are busy, you might focus on quick and practical exercises during lunch breaks or after work. Remember, the goal is to align your training with your existing routines, not to create additional stress.
MORNING
- Wake up at 7:00AM
- Take Fido outside
- 30 mins
- 10 mins: obedience walk
- 20 mins: practice “place”
- While getting ready
- Quick potty break
- Crate & leave
daytime
- Head home for lunch
- Take Fido outside
- 20 mins
- 10 mins: practice “out”
- Playing fetch
- 10 mins: quick drills
- Maintenance skills
- 10 mins: practice “out”
- Quick potty break, crate & leave
evening
- Get home at 5:30PM
- 25-30 mins
- 5 min intervals:
- Obedience walk
- Reward w/ free walk
- 5 min intervals:
- Cook dinner
- Practice “place”
- Eat dinner
- 10 mins
- Medium new skill
- Clean/Chores
- Movement skills
- TV/Chill time
- Commercial quick drills
- 30 mins
- 20 mins: exercise game
- Reward w/ game
- 10 mins: practice “settle”
- 20 mins: exercise game
- Potty, crate, bed
The Power of Incremental Steps
One of the secrets to effective training is breaking down goals into manageable steps. You can’t get on top of the roof by skipping steps on a ladder. Complex behaviors are learned through a series of smaller achievements. This approach not only makes the training process less daunting, but also ensures steady progress for both you and your dog. Let’s use recall training as an example.
Step 1: Start by identifying a controlled environment.
- Bedroom with the door closed
- Bedroom with the door open
- Living room on a long line
- Living room without a long line
Step 2: Next, think about a specific goal for this training session.
- I want Fido to recall to me right after I toss a toy away from me.
- I want Fido to recall to me without a long line.
- I want Fido to recall within 3 seconds of the cue.
Step 3: As your dog becomes more proficient, consider how you can gradually increase the level of distraction and distance. Describe how you might achieve this in the space below.
- Adding dropped treats on the ground
- Adding an additional dog in the environment
- Increasing the length of the long line
- Moving outside with more distractions
By actively setting goals and breaking them down into achievable parts, you’re able to see the path to progress instead of just the overall outcome. Whether it’s basic commands or advanced skills, celebrate each milestone and appreciate the steady advancement.
