How To Build Your Dog's Trust In You!

Holly Leake

Trust is an essential part of every relationship we have. I'm sure you would agree that once that trust is broken, it's very hard to get it back again. Although we may not acknowledge it, trust is also an essential part of the relationships we share with our dogs and just like any relationship, our bond with our dog can also be broken as a result of our actions. With this in mind, this blog is going to consider how you can build your dog's trust in you.

Respect is a concept that many trainers drone on about in their training, however, more often than not, this respect is one sided and very much expected from the dog and not us. These very same trainers are often the ones that will encourage you to correct and punish your dog, despite exposing them to distressing situations that elicit negative behaviour. Can you imagine being put in a situation that terrifies you and then the person you thought would help you, punished you for being afraid. How would it make you feel? Could you even trust that person again?

Sadly, canine behaviour is often misunderstood and this leads many to believe that their dog is deserving of punishment, when in reality they need kindness and guidance to understand how to behave and cope in certain situations. Using pain force and intimidation isn't going to build your dog's respect and trust in you, in fact it will certainly break it. Any “submissive” behaviour you may observe will be a result of fear and that's not a healthy foundation of trust or respect.

So in order to build our dog's trust, we need to ensure that we use kind and ethical training and that we always consider the reasons behind the behaviour, so we can do what's best for our dog in that moment. For example, if our dog is terrified of other dogs, we can build their trust in us by teaching them coping strategies and giving them the option to move away. Making our dogs feel safe is a huge part of building trust and the more secure they feel the better their behaviour will be.

To truly love, is to trust and our dogs love us so unconditionally. Love moves us to empathise and to do everything we can to make our dogs happy.

We may show love by providing lovely food, treats, toys, medical care, walks and a home, but all these things are not enough if our dogs do not trust us. If we force our dogs to be groomed despite their growling, we break their trust. If we use pain or force with our dog, we break their trust. If we knowingly expose them to stressors with no escape, we break their trust.

The removal of choice can be the very thing that breaks your dog's trust, regardless of all the physical things you provide. Therefore it is critical we avoid forcing our dogs into situations they can't cope with and implement positive training until they feel more resilient in those situations. It really isn’t relevant if we feel these situations don’t warrant fear. It is our dog’s perception that counts and it is our job to change their perception to make them feel more secure.

Without us, our dogs have no voice, thus it is up to us to advocate for our dog, in order to be their voice. There's a lovely saying that states, "Advocacy is to change what is, into what should be" and we can only accomplish this if trust and respect is mutual. Therefore, the key to building trust is to ensure our actions always demonstrate we are someone that our dog can always depend on, showing love and empathy in our training, providing choice and always advocating for our dog, no matter the situation.

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Thank you for enrolling on your learning experience. Your enrolment includes entry to the Canine Principles Facebook Study Group which is a highly positive group, filled with a vast range of experience. It would be great to have you join us.

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Each individual has their own strengths, weaknesses and acquired skills that will help or hinder in their study. This guide is intended as an example of best practice that can easily be included in your current study routine.

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Sally Gutteridge

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Get Some Exercise
In 2014, A University of Illinois Study, led by Dr. Chuck Hillman, found that as little as 20 minutes of exercise can lead to better cognition and memory, and higher scores on tests and examinations. This is great news for dog owners and something that you can definitely take advantage of as a daily walker.

Limit Distractions
Distractions can easily break our train of thought or pull us away from study all together. Find a suitable place to study that is conducive to learning. Set some time aside, ask for some privacy and turn off your phone.

Stay Hydrated
Dehydration contributes towards fatigue and poor memory. A 2012 study, conducted by the universities of East London and Westminster, found that results improved by an average of 10% when students kept hydrated throughout exams.

Read Out Loud
In 2015, Professor Victor Boucher of the University of Montreal completed research that suggested you are 50% more likely to remember information that has been read aloud than reading to yourself. You can either find a quiet place to read aloud to yourself or read directly to a friend or family member.

Teach as You Go
A step beyond reading aloud is to describe the lesson to somebody else. Try and make the subject understood and invite questions. If you don’t have the answer to the question, you have a new area of understanding to explore and study which will help to further your knowledge in a given subject.

Make Notes and Diagrams
Keep a pen and paper close to hand and be ready to note down specific areas of interest. Even if you are not artistic, a quick diagram that only you understand is a great aid to the memory and allows you to process the information in a different way.

Research
Even when you feel that you have fully understood a subject from the course material, take some time to research further by looking online, reading books or talking to others who are involved in the subject. The study group is a great place to meet like minded people who are also learning new topics.

Review
Going back over previous course topics and modules, with the benefit of newly acquired knowledge, can help us to understand the connection between subjects. If we only focus on one subject in isolation, the connection may never be made.

Create Flash Cards
Flashcards are a great way to test your knowledge. Write a subject on one side of the card and then explain the subject on the opposite side. You can either draw the cards randomly and test your own knowledge or ask a friend to help.

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Assessments will begin by advising the maximum possible score for each section and how this score can be achieved. Every module has an overall pass mark of 80%. Whilst the pass score is 80%, any assessment that scores below this will be returned with constructive feedback. Feedback is intended to describe where further marks can be achieved. You can re-submit a revised assessment to improve your score.

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https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/plagiarism accessed online February 2018

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Before marking, all work is checked against Copyscape, an online plagiarism detection service. To avoid plagiarism, all work should contain original writing with the exception of small quotes and properly referenced research.

External research is a great way to improve your knowledge on any subject. Often, a course subject will be focused on the specific area that is relevant to the type of course. A course that covers the topic of scentwork may describe the scenting ability of a dog in great detail, whereas a course that covers dog training in general may only include a foundation knowledge of the same subject. For this reason, external research can provide an invaluable way of expanding on specific course subjects.

When you choose to include external research as part of your assessment, it is important that the work is clearly referenced. If you have previously studied at a higher level, you will be aware that there are many ways to reference your research. For the purpose of Canine Principles assessments, we are happy for you to include your references at the end of each answer.

References from online research can be included as a link to the source of the information:

Example:

...During a stressful experience, the canine immune system will begin to shut off nonessential functions in order to maximise the chances of survival. “The body sees no point in digesting food when danger is upon it. Neither does it place emphasis on fighting disease, for it is putting all that effort into fighting the threat on life itself, so the immune system shuts down.”...

(https://canineprinciples.com/fear-dog-physical-illness/ accessed online Feb 2018)

References from printed publications can be included in the following format:

Example:

A common mistake made by dog owners is to misinterpret canine communication in a way that suits our own style of communication and body language. “Anthropomorphism, the attribution of Human characteristics to non-human creatures – to phenomena such as weather, and even inanimate objects like rivers and mountains – is an intrinsic part of human nature.”

(John Bradshaw, In Defence of Dogs P.148)

In both examples, the external research is highlighted as a quotation and clearly referenced.

The following section includes 3 different answers to the same question. All of these answers are correct, however they will each vary in the level of demonstrated understanding.

Question: Describe how you would apply an emergency improvised muzzle to a dog, for the purpose of performing first aid safely.

i. Create a large loop in a bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer describes the correct process of applying an emergency muzzle. The method is correct; however, no consideration has been given to safety. To improve on this, and answer the full question, we can include more detail...

ii. Slowly approach the dog, talking gently. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point, it is best to stand behind the dog. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it.

This answer has improved and includes personal safety advice. We now have a correct answer that covers the whole question. To demonstrate our understanding of the subject, we can go one step further and cover the whole subject in greater detail.

iii. Any injured dog, no matter how gentle they are normally, can bite when painful or panicked. Unfortunately, an injured animal is highly likely to bite, even if you are trying to help them. You may also be in a situation where you need to help a strange dog during an emergency. It is a useful and important skill to be able to muzzle a dog in an emergency situation. Some people will carry a muzzle in their car for emergency situations. However, you can also use a shoelace or gauze bandage. Slowly approach the dog side on, talking gently to reassure them. Be mindful of the dog’s body language and communication efforts while he is experiencing pain. Create a large loop in the gauze bandage and slowly slip it over the dog’s muzzle. At this point it is best to stand behind the dog to prevent direct eye contact. Tighten the loop so the dog’s mouth remains closed and he can’t open it, not so tight as to cause pain. Pass the ends under the chin, knot again and then tie behind the ears to secure it. NEVER apply a muzzle if the dog is struggling to breathe or vomiting.

This final version is an excellent demonstration of the whole subject. We have added information about the subject of emergency muzzles and included advice for keeping the dog free from additional pain or suffering.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from tutors who are always available to answer any questions and guide you through your learning experience. If you ever have any questions about course material or assessments, you can contact us here via email or through the study group.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Students are also encouraged to support each other, through access to a private study group where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Canine Principles offers both self-paced and time sensitive courses.

Self-paced - All CPD Diploma Courses, CPD Certificate Courses, Workshops, Webinars and Self Study Courses are completely self-paced learning with no deadlines for assessments or completion.

Qualifications - All regulated qualifications inherit a 2 year registration period. The cost of registration is included with initial enrolment. When the 2 year registration period expires, students may re-register for an additional registration fee. Fees vary by course, please contact us for details.

CPD Courses
Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by the CPD Standards Office. All Certificates are available to download on successful completion and marking of the final exercise.

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Upon successful completion of your course, you will receive 2 certificates. The first certificate is supplied by Canine Principles and the second is supplied by AIM Qualifications, an independent awarding body. Both certificates will be available as a digital downloads only.

All Other Courses & Workshops
These courses come with a single Canine Principles digital certificate of completion.

You will receive positive, personal feedback from Tutors who are always available to answers any questions and guide you through your learning experience. Tutors will respond to assessments within 48 hours (72 hours during weekends)

Students are also encouraged to support each other through built in student community and private Facebook Study Group. where discussions and new information are shared daily.

Thank you!

How To Build Your Dog's Trust In You!

"Friendship is built on two things. Respect and trust". Unknown

"The best proof of love is trust". Joyce Brothers

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How To Build Your Dog's Trust In You!

"Friendship is built on two things. Respect and trust". Unknown

"The best proof of love is trust". Joyce Brothers

Start Your FREE Skill-Hub Trial Today

Commitment Free 3 Day Access

Latest From Our Blog

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The Brave Walk: Journeying Towards a Professional Dog Walking Career

Rethinking Dog Training: Beyond Commands and Corrections

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