Dog trainer and behaviourist for tails.com working with PPL PRS
With the rise in first time dog ownership from the pandemic, new insights show that 34% of UK households currently own a dog. So, making sure our pets are properly trained is a top priority – with PetKeen.com finding that 94% of pet owners have put their dog through some training at home.
Dog trainer and behaviourist Carolyn Mentieth for Tails.com, working with music licensing company PPL PRS, explains the one thing you need to successfully train your dog.
When you start out training, it can feel daunting, especially if you’ve never owned a dog before. But creating a calm atmosphere using music is the one thing you can do to really improve the experience for you and your dog, in the moment and in the long run.
How do I pick the right music to train my dog?
The right music (such as light classical, soft rock, easy listening) played at a low level has been seen to have a calming effect on the dogs. It can also help dogs who have low level anxiety or stress when in the home as it takes the focus away from unexpected noises coming from outside and replaces it with something calm and predictable. Also, when running training classes, playing music relaxes the owner too and helps them transform a boring obedience-type exercise into a fun, dance exercise where the dog and owner are working together! When the owner is relaxed and having fun, so is the dog
What positive tips can pet owners use with music?
Small sessions
Try small sessions of training to build better habits. So, rather than one long session trying to drill in a new habit, taking a few minutes over the course of days, playing quiet music, and doing the same session of training will allow your dog to process the new habit and get used to it naturally by doing it over the course of days.
Hand signals
Make use of hand signals as well as vocal commands. This is because dogs don’t understand human words so giving them a visual signal to see as well as hear the vocal command may help them recognise a command better in the long run. This also works nicely if you’re using music to aid training, as the sound from the music won’t affect your dog learning a visual hand command.
Use rewards
Always celebrate the small accomplishments. Like us, our pets will respond well to positive reinforcements when they do well. So, as you train, if they complete a task first time, give them a cuddle or a treat or even have a little dance with your dog to show them they’ve done well. This way they associate that task with your hugs or fun.
Be consistent
Be consistent in your training. Like anything, practice makes perfect. Lots of consistent training will help your dog learn new habits better than unexpected and random training pattern. You can make training consistent by working it into your daily life, so maybe when you crank up the tunes to clean, turn the volume down for 10 minutes to practice something with your dog before continuing your task. That way your dog knows when you start cleaning, they need to get ready to learn something new or practice something old.
How can I tell if my dog is enjoying training to music?
Dogs show how they are feeling through body language – whether excited, fearful, stressed, or happy. A calm dog is relaxed and happy to chill out – just like us when we find music calming. Any tail wags are gentle and swaying, ears are relaxed, any wrinkling above their eyes or at the corners of the mouth smooth away, and breathing is steady and gentle. Their enjoyment is probably more to do with sharing their owner’s enjoyment and pleasure – and that their human is far more relaxed and happier when listening to their choice of music. As music is a social experience – and it certainly seems our dogs share that. Use the power of music as you train your beloved pup, whether at home or with a local trainer at their training facility. Relaxed dogs and owners create a better training experience for all involved.
