Why should I focus on the human-dog bond?

Let us be honest, most dog owners love their dogs… They decided to get a dog because they wanted a loving bond with an animal, and they desired a pet to become part of the family. So, my approach will hopefully appeal to most dog owners, however there are more benefits to this that meets the eye:

• Studies have found that having a pet has wellness benefits on humans - it has been shown to lower blood pressure, decrease stress, increase Oxytocin, reduce pain, and lower cardiovascular disease.

• Pets have even been ‘prescribed’ by doctors to help their patients.

• Therapy Dogs bring joy to those with chronic illnesses.

• We have pets in schools to calm children, and to teach empathy and care giving.

• A Nationwide study found that “90 percent of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission; fully engaged with their work; and willing to recommend their employer to others. In contrast, less than 65 percent of employees in non-pet friendly workplaces made the same claims.”

Therefore, to me it makes complete sense to ensure my work preserves this bond. Not just because of ethics and my genuine love for dogs, but because this bond has so many benefits for us as individuals and as a society.

How do I ensure I preserve the human-dog bond?

Did you know that dog training is unregulated and some ‘dog trainers’ use aversive methods that actually break down this bond?! It’s awful, and I feel terribly sad for those pet owners who want to help their dog, but inadvertently cause harm and end up damaging that very special bond. Therefore the number one thing I do is to ensure I only ever use Positive-Force-Free Training, I am a full accredited member of the APDT and an ABTC Registered Animal Trainer. I am degree educated and hold Diplomas with distinctions in both Canine Coaching and Canine Behaviour Professional.

I always remind pet dog owners that their dogs are… dogs! I know it sounds obvious, but often we expect dogs to cope perfectly fine in human life and for some dogs this is just too much for them. Pet dogs are expected to just meld into our human lives often without any specific training - therefore, along with the usual training, I teach lifestyle skills to actually help your dog do just that! These include how to be left alone, administer eye drops and ear drops, bathing and basic grooming, settling in cafes, and much more.

I encourage owners to adopt small ‘dog friendly’ practices into their lives. These are small changes, but they make a difference - such a giving their dog some autonomy over their life, learning what enrichment their dog likes, creating their ‘own space’, going on adventures with their dog, and paying attention to their dog’s dislikes.

I teach owners how to have a conversation with their dog - through learning dog body language and training specific skills to allow their dogs to communicate during tricky times.

I understand just how many common stressors we put upon our dogs daily - such as noise, isolation, other animals, transport, etc. And I help owners build their dogs confidence in these areas. The dogs feel better but also, their owners do not have to be constantly associated with the ‘scary thing’, which sadly may have a negative impact on their human-dog bond.

My final advice to you

If you are thinking of working with a dog trainer, my most important advice is firstly to ensure that they only use positive reinforcement training. And secondly, consider what do you want? If you want a happy life with a dog and a gorgeous bond, then ensure your trainer has the skills and knowledge to help you. Believe me, it is in reach and its absolutely worth it.

I hope this helps!

If you do want more advice from a professional dog trainer then get in touch below

Claire x