29/08/2026
So if we advocate for our dogs needs, wishes, and wants then we should also look at what type of training we use to teach our dogs & show them how we want them to interact with the world.
Here is a chart of the 4 quadrants of dog training. You might have heard people talk about this on social media. In positive reinforcement training we use food, toys and the environment to motivate our dogs to learn.
Occasionally we may also use negative punishment.
Advocating for your dog through training means understanding when something isn’t working. This is very important!
An example - Teaching a dog to wait but they keep getting up. This is likely because we haven’t added enough duration, distance & distractions through our training plan. So we go back a few steps and reteach some of the cue until it’s solid.
Putting management steps into place to stop unwanted behaviours occurring in the first place.
An example - Dog raids the kitchen bin on a daily basis. Instead of getting annoyed & telling your dog off, add management by moving the bin out of the kitchen to stop the scavenging happening in the first place. We can then look at why your dog might be scavenging.
Being honest about what situations you put your dog into.
An example - Your dogs body language shows he’s worried when you attend public places. Instead of taking your dog anyway and hoping for the best, stop taking your dog to public places for a while until you can support your dog to feel calmer in these situations.
This is what good advocacy looks like and using kind training methods to support your dogs needs.
We need to understand our dogs have needs separate to our own. Please look at your dog as an individual in their own right and choose kindness always.
