I hope this finds you safe and healthy in the midst of this very challenging and uncertain time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time of working from home and social distancing, many are finding comfort, solace, and entertainment in getting new puppies or adopting rescues. As a dog lover and rescuer, it is such a joy to hear about so many dogs being adopted from shelters! In many ways, now is a perfect time to get a dog. Housebreaking and supervision are much easier when you’re spending a lot of time at home. On the other hand, many existing/resident dogs may be having behavioral challenges. In some cases, their routines have been disrupted and there are more distractions (or temptations) in the home. Sometimes adding a second or third dog to the home can cause a bit of sibling rivalry. Also, because of social distancing requirements, new pups are likely not getting the exposure to the outside world and other people. This may manifest later in issues with stranger fearfulness or aggression, territorial behavior, or possessiveness. Having spent so much concentrated time with their humans, some dogs may even suffer from separation anxiety as their owners head back to work outside the home. As a result, this time that has brought so many challenges to humans, also brings with it some challenges for our canine friends. The good news is that these are all challenges that behavioral training can help with. But social distancing requirements are likely to be with us for a while, so remote dog training will be even more critical to enable people to get help for their dogs immediately. Virtual dog training is a great way to start putting some rules and structure in place to mitigate and prevent these issues while avoiding any unnecessary risks and maintaining social distance. That sounds great in theory, but you’re probably wondering… How the heck can a behavioral therapist help train my dog through a computer? Does remote dog training really work?
How Remote Dog Training Works
Remote or virtual dog training is highly effective, because your dog is a social animal, and his behavior is a function of his relationship with whoever he’s with. Right now, that’s you! You are uniquely positioned and bonded to your dog, which puts you in a great position to influence her behavior. The way that you communicate and interact with your dog sets the tone for her behavior. In order for her to feel safe and be calm, relaxed, well behaved, your dog needs to view you as her leader and protector. You just need the proper tools and communication skills to convince her of that, and that is very easily achieved in virtual dog training. Using technology, I can coach you through exactly how to establish that environment and communication. I can demonstrate each of the communication and training techniques and instruct you remotely with actual dogs. I can also observe you trying each technique with your dog and provide guidance and adjustments based on how your dog responds. Because I can see exactly what you’re doing and how your dog is responding to you, I can talk you through exactly how to make adjustments and to fine tune things step-by-step in real time, just as if I were there in person. You’ll feel a sense of pride and accomplishment (and probably also relief) when you see how your dog responds to you. The best part is that everything that you achieve in the lesson will be your own doing, because your dog will not be biased or influenced by me. This strengthens your rapport with your dog and ensures that your dog is responding to you and not me. And that’s important, because that’s our ultimate goal. With regular reinforcement of what we practice in the lesson and regular follow up with me, you’ll be well on your way to building a great foundation of love, trust, and respect for a well behaved and balanced dog. I would love to help you with your dog. Click here to learn more.
