Feeling emotions is normal. Good dog trainers understand that emotions are a part of life. The trick is to not project or spill these emotions on your dog. This can be a tricky to learn and yet is so beneficial. We have practiced this often during dog training. Kent, Ohio and surrounding areas is where we want to spread this learning so owners can have success with their dog training.

Each day you will shift from feeling happy to sad to angry to fearful etc. Some of us tend to overly express our emotions in unhealthy ways such as by yelling or hitting. Others are more likely to repress their emotions. Either way what do we do with these emotions when we are training our dog?

We all know that if you feeling much of anxiety and you are attempting to train your dog it may not go perfectly well. The truth of the matter is it may go perfectly well. It is NOT the emotion that stops your dog from listening / responding to you but instead what you do with the emotion.

I train dogs all of the time and I am feeling many emotions. I am not an angel that feels happy all of the time. I am human. I need to take care of my emotions when it is time for me to train my dog.

It is important that I can command my dog in a happy or friendly tone. My body language needs to be confident and clear so that my dog knows what I am wanting to communicate. If instead I am yelling at my dog, hitting, shocking my dog, or popping his neck, etc., I am actually expelling my emotions on my dog. This will create stress for both you and your dog.

I wish I would have known these tools when I was younger and was doing dog training. Portage County had dog 4-H. I joined when I was in about 4th grade. I remember getting angry and being encouraged to yell at my dog. I watched other children in my group do the same. Overtime I noticed that my dog didn’t even want to come to me, and I wasn’t enjoying dog training anymore. It is different for me now because I know how to remain calm even when I feel intense emotions.

Now whenever I have train a dog, I choose to do things to stay grounded in the mist of my emotions. Here are some tools that I have learned. I hope they will help you with your dog training. Kent, Ohio dog owners will be impressed when they see you in action.

1.) Breath. When I am stressed breathing will help me stay centered so that I can treat my dog with respect. This is a great one for you to practice. Remember to breath through your belly and not your chest.

2.) Take a break. When I notice that I am getting frustrated during dog training, I step away for a bit. Taking a break can help me shift and bring me back into the moment of the “now.” While you are on a break do something that will help you ground (meditation, yoga, reading, walking without your dog, etc).

3.) Recite intention statements. When my dog was feeling fear around cars I noticed I felt much anxiety for him. I didn’t like that he was feeling this way. To keep my cool I would say an intention statement. “I intent to be present and loving toward my dog.” “I intend to be in the moment of the now.” Is also a good one. This one can help you leave work in your past and get back into the moment.

4.) Do something that you love with your dog. Shift to playing a game with your dog. Do a command that your dog can easily perform. This will boost your confidence as well as your dog’s.

5.) Be compassionate and understanding toward yourself. It is okay to not always feel happy. Love yourself during those tough moments.

6.) Acknowledge how you feel. There is no need to repress your emotions. Be aware that you are sad, angry, fearful, etc. From there you can make a more conscious chose on what actions you will take. When you attempt to pretend you are not feeling a certain way or attempt to hide your emotions, you may react in unhealthy ways toward your dog during dog training. Be conscious and aware.

We want you to be successful with your dog training. Kent, Ohio has many dogs and we know how hard it can be when you cannot get your dog to listen. Remember staying in the moment even when you are feeling emotions will make a huge difference with your dog training. Kent, Ohio dog owners will be impressed with how well your dog begins to listen to you.

Happy Ohio Dog Training!

Johanna Teresi, Professional Owner and Ohio Dog Trainer of Four Legged Scholars LLC, Dog Training, Kent, Ohio and surrounding areas