As a dog trainer, I often find myself using training techniques with my own family, and it works surprisingly well! Recently, I had a great moment with my son that reminded me how similar dog training can be to parenting. Here’s what happened:
My son had been saving up for weeks to buy a special pair of baseball gloves. When he finally had enough money, we ordered them online, and he was eagerly waiting for their arrival. The day the gloves arrived, he left for school without making his bed, something I usually ask him to do. So, I thought, why not add a little fun to the process?
When I picked him up from school, I asked him to make his bed, but I had a surprise hidden in the blankets – the baseball gloves he had been dreaming of! The look on his face when he found them was priceless. He hadn’t been forced or blackmailed into making his bed; instead, he received a surprise reward for doing something simple, which had a huge positive impact.
Since then, making his bed has a whole new meaning. It’s no longer a dreaded chore, but something he associates with positive surprises. Yes, from time to time, I might need to add a little something extra if I want to keep up the excitement, but it’s worth it to maintain that positive connection.
This reminded me so much of how we train our dogs. If we surprise them with something special – like a piece of chicken or steak – when they come to us after being called, they’ll remember the reward. The next time we call them, they’ll associate the act with something wonderful.
In both cases, the key is making training or tasks fun and rewarding. No one, human or dog, enjoys punishment or feeling like they’re being forced into something. When we make it enjoyable and sometimes sprinkle in a surprise, the actions have a lasting, positive impact.
Training doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Whether it’s getting your son to make his bed or teaching your dog to come when called, the principles are the same – keep it simple, fun, and rewarding!
Dog Training 