Old tricks for new dogs: saying yes to no

June 30, 2011 - PRLog -- The Guild of Dog Trainers is endeavouring to ease some of the anxiety that surrounds dog training and ownership, and hopes to help owners (via their trainers), to bring balance to their relationship with their dog.

Lez Graham (Education and Development Officer for the Guild) said ‘The trend in dog training has become so centred on reward-only and positive-only that people have become scared to tell their dogs ‘no’ or enforce any discipline, and this creates unruly dogs who are difficult to live with.’

The Guild believes there is an obvious parallel with raising children. Good parents set firm boundaries and nurture their children within those, whilst children who have no boundaries set for them often run out of control.

The Balanced, Intelligent Dog Training system aims to encourage owners to train their dogs to be well mannered members of our society, using rewards when appropriate and applying discipline when necessary.

Lez explains ‘Saying ‘no’ is not necessarily a bad thing to do; it will teach your dog boundaries and keep him safe.  Owning a dog should be a joy and once you establish a balanced relationship with your dog the joy of living with a contented canine becomes one of the greatest pleasures life can give.’

Balanced Intelligent Dog Training summed up by the GUILD...
G - Good dog owners are responsible dog owners

U - Understand your dog: do your dog a favour and learn about what makes him tick

I - Intelligent balanced dog training: say no as well as yes, make training fun, have time together and time apart and most importantly enjoy your dog

L - Leadership: every relationship has someone that leads, the same is true for our relationship with our dog; that doesn’t mean being a bully or employing harsh handling, just applying a bit of common sense leadership skills within your relationship will keep your dog safe and happy

D - Do spend time to train your dog the basics: loose lead walking, sit, down, come and stay, and if you want to please your vet... stand.

To find a Guild Trainer in your area see: www.godt.org.uk.

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The Guild of Dog Trainers is an independent professional body whose values include being committed to maintaining and improving the quality of dog training, behaviour and companion dog ownership in Britain.