Home -> Practical guides for your dog -> The dog training guide
Training your dog is essential and I would even say obligatory. A well-trained dog is a dog who will be able to share all your adventures and go on vacation with you near your home or on the other side of the world! If your dog is not well behaved, the holidays may turn out to be complicated! Imagine vacations with a dog who barks all the time, who doesn't know how to walk on a leash, who attacks every dog he comes across...
But then… how to train your dog? What methods exist?
I have prepared a non-exhaustive list of methods and tools that exist to train your dog. The solutions offered are varied: you can go to a trainer, follow online training courses, read books on dog training, join Facebook groups or follow Instagram accounts on dog training and thus exchange ideas. between masters…
Personally, I did not need these tools with Musher because she is a very calm and obedient dog by nature. So I can't recommend any particular tool or method. And having no training in dog training, I don’t feel justified in advising you 🙂
I am simply presenting the different solutions that may be available to you. It's up to you to decide which dog training method best suits you and your dog.
Although I do not have the expertise of an educator, At EmmèneTonChien.com, we advocate kindness and non-violence towards dogs. If you want to establish a relationship of trust with your dog, respect and understanding of him must be at the heart of his education. For me, certain dog training methods go against these values: sort it out!
I advise against coercive education methods. Their aim is to make your dog learn under constraint and fear. With this type of training, the dog learns that if it is disobedient, it will suffer. Coercive methods are therefore not conducive to creating a relationship of complicity with your dog. If your goal is to bond with your dog, this method will fail. In addition, these methods, which use, for example, choke or electric collars, can cause physical and psychological problems in your dog.
I advise you instead to adopt a positive education with your dog. This consists of rewarding your dog when he behaves well and is obedient. This pushes him to repeat good behavior and to stop doing stupid things.
That being said, here is a 100% practical directory to help you see things more clearly!
Face-to-face dog trainer
The main advantage of going to see a dog trainer is that you can benefit from personalized education. In fact, the dog trainer will suggest specific exercises according to your needs and those of your dog. The behaviorist trainer will be able to study the dog's environment and your actions or reactions to better understand what motivates certain of its behaviors or certain of its reactions. Human contact promotes exchange and makes it more qualitative in terms of information. In addition, calling on a dog trainer gives you the opportunity to monitor your dog's education and receive feedback from a professional on its progress.
The Adventure Niche : Two behaviorist educators in Lyon and Salon-de-Provence. They offer sessions to prepare for the arrival of a puppy and help it grow well. Individual and group lessons, as well as dog walks, will allow you to strengthen your relationship with your dog.
- Nature of dog : Managed by professional dog behaviorist trainers, this dog center offers education and re-education for dogs through individual sessions, puppy playtime as well as group lesson and socialization activities.
- Vox Canis : This behaviorist specializes in behavioral therapy for former street dogs and dogs adopted from shelters. However, she will also be able to advise you on welcoming a puppy and problems of reactivity and anxiety. She practices in Côtes d'Armor in Brittany.
- The Pack School : A team of canine and feline behaviorists! They offer courses and courses in dog training and reading dog language.
- In the heads of dogs : She is a clinical psychologist trained in the science of canine behavior. With her, the scientific approach and respect for the dog will be at the center of the sessions. She works around Thiers in Puy de Dôme.
- The Dog Faculty : Based in Normandy, these two behaviorists have a very interesting approach to dogs. Dogs being a social species, their work is done in particular thanks to their dog, but always without violence!
- Lola Burton : another great behaviorist! Based in Belgium, it specializes in the adoption of dogs from abroad and canine rehabilitation.
- CANIBEST : it is the first network of dog behaviorist trainers. The CANIBEST methodology is based on kindness and respect for animals. Dog learning is motivated by reward, not punishment.
And because I cannot list all the dog trainers in France, I found ready-made listings for you here:
- The Dog My Friend : this network references dog educators and behaviorists using scientific approaches to canine behavior. Up to date in their knowledge, these professionals use kindness. They will be able to do a complete job to support you in your relationship with your dog.
- The MFEC (French-speaking professional movement of pet dog educators): association bringing together professionals passionate about education, canine behavior and animal welfare, positive dog education
- Vox Animae : educators and behaviorists in caring and positive methods. There are also pet sitters, boarders, and other animal professionals. You can find dog and cat specialists, but also NAC (rabbits, hamsters, etc.) and horses!
- Cynopsy : these dog trainers have all followed the same theoretical and practical training. They obviously share the values of kindness, respect and listening to the dog.
Canine behaviorists in video
Still not very widespread in France, dog training and behavioral therapies by video, therefore remotely, are nevertheless very useful! Video allows you to have access to canine behavior specialists even if they are geographically far away. In addition, there are specialties that are only done via video to be truly effective, such as problems related to loneliness and separation (separation anxiety, etc.) because the presence of an outside person modifies the behavior of the person. dog. Here are dog trainers and behaviorists recognized in their specialty:
- The Adventure Niche : adoption and training of the puppy
- Vox Canis : Street dogs, shelter dogs and anxiety disorders
- Canessence : Predation and reactivity (aggressiveness)
- Anaïs Dethou : Problems related to separation and loneliness (separation anxiety, frustration, etc.)
- Crowaf : Responsiveness, medical training in cooperative care and problems linked to loneliness and separation
- Anaïs Allard : Behavioral problems linked to pain, cohabitation of dog, cat, horse
Dog training: online training
At Emmenetonchien.com, we believe that individual support from a dog trainer or behaviorist is preferred. Whether in person or by video, it allows us to obtain monitoring that is more adapted to each dog. In addition, choosing individual support can provide you with personalized advice.
I am aware that it is not always possible to take personalized face-to-face or video lessons for many different reasons (lack of time, budget, etc.). If you are not able to do so, do not be discouraged and above all do not give up on training your dog. It is a necessary step for living with your dog on a daily basis as well as going on vacation.
So it is always better to train your dog through online courses rather than not at all. However, I recommend that you do your research carefully and above all know how to sort out what is really suitable for your dog and what is not.
Personally I have never taken an online course for Mush. I therefore cannot judge the quality of the content and the proposals that will follow.
- Muzo+ : online courses specialized in behavioral themes, but also in tracking, medical training, etc., which can be super useful alongside education
- Eduzen Academy : short training courses on puppies, having a zen dog, living with a sensitive dog
- In the heads of dogs : webinars and ebooks to understand your dog and meet its needs for a great relationship
- Nature of dog : Find online courses on positive dog training.
Facebook and Instagram: groups and accounts to follow
Facebook groups are the right place to interact with a community of dog lovers, just like you! It's very practical for meeting people who have had the same problems as you with their dog. So you can ask all your questions to the community.
The disadvantage is that the people who are on these groups are not dog training professionals. If you have any doubts about the answers provided, do not hesitate to do further research and cross-reference your sources.
Here are some groups to join on Facebook:
- Benevolent Education of the Companion Dog
- Dog Training Tips and Tricks
- DOG TRAINING TIPS
- Animal behaviorist and dog trainer
- Gentle Dog Training
- Anim'Heureux dog trainers for Very Important Pet : understand dog behavior
- If you have a sensitive and/or reactive dog: Sensitive, reactive dogs: positive support group
- Enrichment(s) of the pet dog’s life
- Great dog trainer
- POSITIVE CANINE TRAINING
- Dog world walks, education, well-being : recommendations from educator, osteopath, energetic, animal communication professionals
- Canine Events in France/Belgium : sharing events to do with your dog
- Dog Sports : sharing of dog sports events
The little dog training tips on Instagram are very practical when you want to have quick information. The formatting of the advice is often quite fun and pleasant, particularly with the use of real texts. The advantage is also that some dog training accounts are managed by dog training professionals. This therefore gives you the benefit of professional expertise.
The disadvantage is that you will not have a personalized offer and that all the advice given is not necessarily adapted to your dog.
Dog training: books to know everything
Books on dog training will help you deepen your knowledge on the subject. Indeed, you will discover the different dog training methods as well as precise and in-depth explanations. You can find specialized books depending on the breed of your dog or the type of education you want to provide him with.
⭐ ⭐ For me the first book to have is: Calming signals: the basics of canine communication ! A little book that will help you better understand your dog and read the signals he sends you. It is an essential basis for deciphering your dog's behavior and communicating with him.
Here is the list of books I found on dog training:
- Training your dog in daily care, Julia Téchené and Sophie Bourdon
- Dog behavior and well-being, Thierry Bedossa and Sarah Jeannin : Attention 2020 edition, because the 2010 edition contains errors
- It comes out in a few weeks/months but it promises: Consent is doggy, by Julia Téchené
Here is the list of books on positive dog training depending on the breed of your dog:
The book of positive education by the Belgian Shepherd Groenendael
The book of positive education by the Belgian Shepherd Laekanois
The positive education book for the Belgian Shepherd Malinois
The book of positive education by the Belgian Shepherd Tervueren
The positive education book for the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Dog training: blogs, podcasts and videos to understand everything
If you prefer shorter formats, to read, listen or watch, I also have what you need!
Here are quality blogs, podcasts and videos to understand everything about canine behavior. Do not hesitate to diversify your sources, as this will be of great help to your dog's education. However, depending on your dog's profile, this may not be enough. Don't forget that we recommend that you do at least one personalized assessment with a dog trainer or behaviorist. 😉
Here is the list of blogs on dog behavior:
Here is the list of podcasts:
And the list of YouTube channels:
Canine accessories special for dog education
- Dog training wands : A dog training wand helps capture your dog's attention during exercises. She is particularly helpful in learning obérythmee, a discipline bringing together dance and choreography with your dog.
- The clicker : It's a small object with a button in the middle. By pressing the button, the clicker emits a sharp noise which will be seen as a reward for the dog. Before performing clicker training, you need to make sure that your dog associates the sound of the clicker as a reward. To do this, during a good action by your dog, activate the clicker and immediately afterwards give him a treat. So he will associate the sound of the clicker with a reward (as if we gave him a treat)
- Far : The lanyard helps teach the dog to walk more freely while keeping it secure. This tool will help you teach your dog to walk without a leash.
- The walking harness : a suitable harness allows your dog to walk in complete safety, without its movements being hampered. Unlike the collar which presses on the dog's trachea, esophagus and cervical spine, the H-harness is perfectly adapted to its morphology. And contrary to popular belief, puppies can absolutely wear one, it's much better for their growth than a collar!
- The sausage : The pudding can also be used as a reward or to train your dog to bring back an object thrown by its owner.
When training a dog, it is essential to praise it and encourage good behavior. You can reward him by petting him, praising him, playing with him but also with treats. Dogs are little gourmands! Rewarding them with treats is therefore a very effective technique during your dog training sessions.
Find here my selection of gourmet and natural products for your next training sessions with your dog! Musher has tasted them all and she loves them. And me because I know that the products from Canigourmand are really high quality!
I hope you were able to find training solutions for your dog thanks to this directory or at least answers to your questions.
Don't hesitate to take a look at our other directories: canine health and canine care.
See you soon for new tips and tricks!
