Patience is more than just a virtue…

When it comes to dogs, it’s a necessity! From first-hand experience, I can tell you it’s important to be patient with your dog because they will otherwise drive you completely insane.

Dogs are always learning, and always looking to try new things (especially those brilliant herding breeds), so when they do something completely insane and out of character, the first thing to do is take a deep breath.

It can be very frustrating to see your dog act out. Your precious pup who you have been training since they were a tiny jellybean of a creature.

Who you have dedicated so much time to teaching the correct way to do this or that. Who you praise with yummy treats and ample affection.

Then, out of the blue, that little butthead goes and digs up your entire garden and just looks at you as though they don’t understand what they’ve done wrong!

For dogs, every moment is a teaching moment.

Even those moments that you thought you had taught already. This is especially true in the puppy stages. Having patience for how our dogs learn will go a long way.

We have to remember that dogs are living creatures. And despite our hopes, they don’t live their lives to worship us. They just love to be with us!

I talked about a book by Alexandra Horowitz that does a great job of explaining dogs’ behaviours, if you want to explore that more.

Just breathe.

In my experience, if you’re feeling frustrated with your pup, the first thing to do is breathe, and then correct the behaviour.

There’s no use in approaching the situation frustrated because it won’t help you or your dog. That frustration with change how you see the situation and you might miss your pup making an earnest attempt to correct themselves. Dogs can sense tension from a mile away (they can literally smell it), so don’t think you’re fooling them by pretending to be calm.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, which is brings it back to taking one deep breath first.

Your dog is an extension of you. Approaching the situation calmly, you set them up for a positive outcome. With patience and practice, they will get it right, whether it’s on the third attempt or the 30th.

Not to mention, keeping yourself calm reduces your own level of stress! So remember, when your dog decides to tear open the garbage and spread it all over the kitchen floor, just breathe. And maybe plug your nose.

Do you have tips on how to keep calm in stressful situations with your pup? Share them in the comments section below.