You may have heard the term ‘holistic’ before, but maybe not in the context of dog training
That's all right! Here’s what it means, and why it is beneficial for your dog.
You have to know what's causing your dog's unwanted behaviours in order to make lasting changes
A holistic approach to dog training is one that takes multiple factors into consideration while beginning basic obedience training, diagnosing a behavioural issue, or determining if a certain behaviour is problematic. These factors include the dog’s past history, their physical health, their environment, any previous training (intentional or otherwise,) and the dog’s emotional health.
It relies on interacting with a dog based on their natural instincts, and in the way they inherently know how to communicate.
By addressing all of these factors in this way, trainers can get to the root of the issue and treat it in a way that is less stressful for your dog, and more effective in the long term.
Why it’s more effective
Forcing a dog to drop or adopt a behaviour without first understanding why it's occurring is counterproductive. If you can’t eliminate the cause, any changes you make in your dog’s behaviour will be only temporary. You’ll have a confused, stressed-out dog who is unhappy and unhealthy if you don’t address the big picture.
Happy and relaxed dogs behave better and learn better, too. If your dog is misbehaving, this may be an indicator that there’s an issue, but you may not know why the undesirable behaviour is occurring. By looking at your dog’s natural instincts and comparing them to their environment and history, a holistic trainer can help you correct the unwanted behaviours in a way that’s natural for your pet.
Understanding your dog and their behaviours will not only help you get your pet to behave in a desired way, it will help you grow closer to your dog. You’ll both be happier, and your dog will be able to relax because they are confident they understand your expectations.
If you have more questions about holistic dog training, get in touch!
