Wed, 02 Jun 2010 8:37a.m.
I have had lots of interesting cases over the past month and it has been lots of fun.
However with the weather not always being so predictable it can make training outside difficult and had to postpone a couple of sessions due to some majorly wet weather.
The last thing the dogs and owners wan to do is train in the pouring the rain.
I feel that training should be fun for all involved and the last thing your dog may want to do is to lie down and stay in the wet grass while they are becoming cold.
Lets be honest we do not like to sit on a wet bench and walk around with wet clothes on so why because our dog has fur should it be alright for them.
Many of my clients begin to feel guilty if they have not practiced enough due to poor weather conditions and also the evenings becoming dark much early, but like I say to them, do not feel bad just accept that your dog may not be as quick to learn due to the inconsistency of training but so long as you are rewarding them each time they demonstrate the right behaviour they will remember what to do.
Practice in the home if you can, or in the garage or even at a friends place depending what you are teaching your dog.
The key to training is making it fun, stress free for you and your dog and that everyone is comfortable in the environment and conditions you are.
Take a look at your dog and see what they are trying to tell you, you will soon realize if they want to be out in the rain or to be tucked up in front of the fire, do not force them outside to train if they are unable to concentrate.
All dogs are different and you need to recognize if your dog is a water puppy or just loves the home comforts and lets be honest who doesn’t enjoy the home comforts, I know I do.