10 Ways to Enjoy Dog Life Unleashed

When someone speaks a different native language than ourselves, we tend to talk louder in an effort to have them understand a foreign language. It never works. We do the same thing with our dogs, to the point of yelling. Take it from a trainer of 22 years... yelling does not help them to understand ANYTHING more clearly. It may stop your dog for a second or two, but you did nothing but create a household with a habit of yelling. Trying whispering and show your dog what to do over and over again. It's calmer for everyone and the satisfaction of knowing what to do instead of getting yelled at daily definitely calms the chaos.

I observe people who spend time frustrated because when they get the leash out to go anywhere with their dog, frenzied chaos breaks out. The second your reach for their collar they start dancing around, wigglebutt, barking, whining or your dog actually makes you chase him to get a hold of the collar. It's not fun for you. Your dog doesn't really get that. Practice reaching for the collar and rewarding for a sit at the same time. Easier to see in video format. Check check this less than one minute demonstration out here:

The Calm Collar Leash Connection

Dogs are enthusiastic greeters. It's one of the reason we love them so much. No matter what mood you're in, they are happy as all get out to see us. Many lose it and jump on your. Irritating the hell out of you. And still, dogs don't lose their need to tell you how happy they are to see you. You've been yelling, "Get down", "Get off of me", "Stop jumping" for weeks, months or years. It's a long explanation but the short version is dogs think and learn in picture and you keep naming the picture "Get down". They keep doing it. Calm the jump by telling your dog to "Sit". The reward the sit. Every time. It sounds super simple. It is. It works! Give it a try.

Dogs need exercise. So do we. Busy lives and an overly excited dog brew a tale of disaster when you stop taking the dog for a walk because it's a pain in the @ss or arm to do so. No walk is worse for you and your dog. So do it anyway. Slow down, chill out and get your dog to pay attention to you. A 20 minute walk doesn't need t be a linear event. That's what we all go to in our head. If you've got a dog that pulls, stops or just doesn't pat attention on walks try this:

Dancing with Dog A Better Way To Teach Your Dog to Walk With You

We live in a world of overstimulation. We think that what our dogs need all the time to keep them happy is stimulation. The mistake in this is that most people never teach their dog to relax and then are pissed off when the dog is running around with nervous energy all the time. It's just like us. We don't shut down. We scroll the social media platforms all the time instead of taking a few minutes to just sit... even at a red light in traffic. Try just sitting with your dog and enjoy some moments of doing nothing together.

Everything has turned to work. Play a game with your dog. Any game. Tug. Fetch. Teach a trick. 5 minutes will do but.... #playeveryday

The truth is you've named a lot of things "No" Your dog keeps doing it. Remember the foreign language analogy in #1? You can even yell it... it does zero to get your dog to understand what to do. They just go back to what they know... no! Instead show your dog what to do.

What would you do if someone didn't understand what you were saying and you needed them to do something? You'd show them. Pantomime style. Start talking less and showing more and you'll have a calmer dog (and a calmer you) that's know what to do.

Our dogs bring out the emotion of love. We have this spot in our hearts for them because of their unconditional adoration for us, even though we spend a lot of time yelling at them when they "don't get it". Dogs don't hold grudges. Within minutes they are wagging and in the co-pilot's seat ready for what's next. That feeling of love in moments with your dog... they are what life is all about. Love yourself the way you do your dog, even when you do things that you wish you would have done differently, didn't work out or you lost it in sadness or anger. Dogs can teach you to love yourself unconditionally.

This is the instance that you can use "NO". People have lost their minds with over stimulation dogs and treating them like toddlers. You're out with your dog. She's finally walking calmly on a leash and here comes person with dog all out of control on the end of leash... "can my dog say hi".

Simple answer to use every time.

NO.

Why? Seriously think about it. Do you walk along a trail, or down a city sidewalk and see someone you don't know at all and feel the need to run over, get in their face, introduce yourself with the expectation you should be instant friends?

No. That's just f'n weird.

So why do people do this with their dogs? Firstly, most have no control and actually teach their dog to be overstimulated. And secondly, they think their dog needs to be friends with every other dog in the world. They don't. In fact it teaches them bad manners. So the next time someone you don't know with a dog that your dog doesn't know wants to randomly say hi, keep walking, with a casual, no, not today.

You'll have a calmer well balanced dog over it.