Structured Learning For Your Dog – Dog Training Fort Worth Blog

Over the years as being a professional dog trainer here in the DFW area, I have met many dog owners that wanted to let their dogs learn on their own. Soon after adoption, maybe there were some basic commands instilled, but overall structure was not part of the dog’s transition into their new home and family. People believe that their dogs will follow through and quickly pick up what they need to do and what they shouldn’t do, with very little instruction or with a consistent regimen.

Dog Training Fort Worth BlogIt is true that I have met dog owners and they have never had to sign up for a day of dog training. Some people are just lucky and have to deal with minimal or no behavioral problems at all with their dogs. But that luck is very rare, and for dogs, it is critical to have a structured learning environment for them, especially in the early years of age and/or of their adoption/transition into their new homes.

Many dogs that I end up training are lacking some type of structure. Perhaps the owner is at a loss on how to properly communicate to their dog. Maybe for the dog, the leadership role in the home, is inconsistent with the owner, therefore disobedience and acting out is fair game, since it is not addressed or corrected consistently. Maybe the dog has been constantly hearing negative things from their owner, and has no idea how to accept positive reinforcement and act positively for their owner.

Regardless, lack of structure is normally the culprit when it comes to these behaviorally-challenged dogs. When an owner instill structure, they are giving the dog an idea on what is right and what is wrong. There is no need to be a domineering force in your home; structure can be achieved with consistent reward-based techniques, especially those that work to set things up in the dog’s environment where the dog can succeed the most.

If we allow all our dogs to just “figure it out” on their own, then we are handing over the leadership role to our dogs. We do not need to dominate our dogs, but we do need to guide them so that they can abide by our rules and know how to be a successful, behaviorally-balanced dog that is rewarded more than corrected. Many dogs that see themselves as taking the leadership reins can either retreat into deep anxiety, as they are unsure how to be a leader. The other option for dogs is to be a full-on leader and therefore, make their own rules, which could include just running around the house as they please, or maybe taking it to a more severe level such as aggression when they do not get what they want.

Taking away a structured life and learning environment from your dog is doing them a disservice and could be setting them up for serious behavioral issues. Don’t set your dog up for failure – set them up where they can succeed and become not only become behaved dogs, but also happy and confident in themselves!

If you are having trouble finding and giving your dog some structured training, give us a call at 800-649-7297 immediately! We’re ready to help you!