Intro

This 5-step process is something I believe the majority of dog owners could benefit from studying and possibly implementing depending on their current relationship with their dog. Although teaching dogs fancy tricks and complex routines is fun and has multiple benefits, it doesn’t necessarily create that happy, well-behaved dog which is all most dog owners want. The work required to create such a dog will vary depending on factors such as your dog’s breed, previous life experience and your current relationship with the dog. However, implementing this 5-step process will set you up for the best chance of success regardless as to where you're starting from, simply because it focuses on the fundamentals of any ‘good’ relationship.

Step 1 – Build Trust

This step is the one most influenced by your dog's previous life experience. If you're getting/already have a puppy who was raised by a good breeder, then you're going to spend significantly less time on this step compared to someone who has a dog they just picked up from a rescue shelter with an abusive past. Even so, trust is something that is generally built over quality time spent together and so long as that trust is not abused. it will continue to grow. We need to have trust before we can realistically expect our dogs to follow our guidance and meet our expectations. Before a dog becomes cooperative and willing to tackle challenges with the owner, there must be trust. We will usually look to build trust through social interactions, play and spending some downtime with the dog.

Step 2 – Implement Rules & Boundaries‍ ‍

This step could’ve easily been step1 and possibly will be depending on your current relationship with the dog. A dog who is going to require some time to develop trust may have to learn the rules & boundaries of your household before that trust has been built. With that being said, we teach our dogs the fundamental rules & boundaries of the household the instant they become residents. Where to go to the toilet, where to sleep, personal space. We enforce whatever our rules & boundaries are from day 1, with each member of the household being consistent in doing so, in order to avoid any bad behaviours from being reinforced and becoming habits. Providing rules and boundaries is not just about being restrictive & authoritative. It’s about providing framework that allows your dog and everyone involved with the dog to feel safe, calm and reassured. If there are no rules in place, then dogs will typically make them up for themselves.

Step 3 – Build a Communication System‍ ‍

It’s no secret that dogs can’t speak our languages and the same goes vice versa. So, we have to get creative and invent methods through which we can express our expectations and intentions to them. Naturally, humans have a tendency to think of communication as solely a ‘verbal’ concept, as we are very verbally orientated regarding communication. This however is not the case for our dogs, who are much more visual and scent orientated. Because of this, our feelings and emotions, the way we ‘react’ to behaviours, how we utilise the lead and collar, all are factors that will overwhelmingly contribute to how the dog receives the information we intended to transmit verbally. Typically, we’ll build the communication system we need through some form of play; whether it’s playing with food, toys or just good old wrestling. Why play? Not only does play make training fun and sustainable, it builds confidence in both the dog and the owner, allows for drive expression and can be used to teach emotional fluency (the ability to regulate arousal levels on cue).

Step 4 – Fulfilment

Once trust, rules & boundaries and a communication system have all been established, we can turn our attention to fulfilling our dogs needs/giving your dog an outlet to do what it is genetically wired to do. Many dog breeds were created to serve a purpose. Whether it’s to herd livestock, to protect our homes or just to be affectionate and sociable. If that purpose is not being fulfilled, alternative unwanted behaviours are likely to show themselves. A dog that was bred to herd but has not been given an outlet to do so is likely to start herding the children/other beings of the house. So, providing an outlet where our dogs can express their natural desires prevents frustration and increases satisfaction.

Step 5 – Clarity‍ ‍

Clarity is something we aim for on two fronts (the owner and the dog) and is achieved by completing the first four steps of this process. When the owner understands how best to meet their dog’s needs, communicate effectively and implement clear rules & boundaries they will have the clarity they need to raise a happy well-behaved dog. Consequently, by doing this process you will also be providing your dog with the clarity of knowing exactly what’s expected of them through your communication system and rules, which they’ll happily go along with because of the trust you have built and the fulfilment you provide.

Conclusion

A well-behaved dog is a term that is subjective, as every dog owner has different expectations of their canine companions. In the majority of cases people will judge a dog’s behaviour based on how well the dog listens to guidance and instruction from its owner and how the dog acts when at liberty. However, we believe that behaviour is a form of communication that should not be ignored, suppressed or judged, but instead identified, analysed and assigned cause to uncover any underlying issues. When we are performing this ‘behaviour analysis’, we must consider the 5 steps to a happy well behaved dog; have steps been missed, causing this behaviour? How can we introduce this step for this dog? Once we have all five steps in place, we will have all the tools we need to tackle all of life’s challenges, addressing any unwanted behaviour with relative ease and raise a happy well-behaved dog. Trying to change a dog’s behaviour without all five steps in place will result in more drastic and unethical methods being used.