At Pawesomeday, the focus on mental training for dogs is incredibly important. Therefore, we will do what we can to spread knowledge about the topic.
Today we have used Friday for a cozy Pawesome interview with Kjersti Omdal, who is a dog trainer, future dog therapist and will soon be fully trained as a dog masseuse.
Who is Kjersti?
Age: 41
Of course, Kjersti has a dog herself: three Field Spaniels , 2 puppies of three months and a male dog of six years.
Education: Level 1 instructor in NKK, undergoing training as a Dog Therapist under the auspices of the Nordic Horse and Dog Therapy School, immediately completing the qualification as a dog masseur.
Other: Runs the sole proprietorship, Okka Hundeterapeut. Is an instructor in Dalane dog club, and runs a separate group for Juniors (children aged 10-15) who want to train dogs.
Dog sports: I have practiced various types of dog sports, such as obedience, rally obedience, hunting training and game tracking. I also like to travel to exhibitions with the dogs.
On to the interview, we have several questions that we have been looking forward to asking Kjersti!
Why do you think mental training for dogs is important?
For a dog to be in balance mentally, it not only needs physical training, but also mental training. This is particularly important for puppies that have a lot of energy, but have not developed a body to withstand hard physical training. Mental training makes the dog relaxed and calm, and means that it does not need to invent alternative behaviors to stimulate itself, such as, for example, digging, barking and chasing people and cars.
How can one conduct mental training for dogs?
Mental training can be done in many ways. You can let your dog use his wonderful sense of smell to let him search for treats in the grass, play hide and seek with toys or teach him to recognize special smells.
You can also teach the dog various tricks such as giving paws, rolling around, sitting teddy bear and fetching a soft drink from the fridge for you.
Other activities that stimulate the dog's brain are obedience exercises such as sit, stay, cover, call, fetch and more. All kinds of tasks you give your dog will be a form of mental training that makes the dog happier and calmer.
How much do I need to exercise for the dog to feel good?
It is good to have short sessions of training, perhaps just a few minutes per day, for the dog to learn new tasks. If you combine mental training with physical training, you will get a happy and well-balanced dog.
What kind of exercise does the dog like best?
It all depends on what type of dog you have. Some dogs are equipped for hunting exercises, while other dogs find it easier to learn obedience exercises. The most important thing is that you make the training enjoyable.
This means that you find a reward that the dog likes very much, and gives a lot of praise and reward when it is with you and working. Rewards can be treats, a ball, a toy and the like.
The important thing to remember is that you should vary your training and stop while it's at its best. Then the dog remembers that it was fun to train with you, and wants to join the next time you train. Some dogs find it very easy to learn new exercises, while other dogs need more time. You have to train step by step, and repeat the exercises a few times so that the dog can more easily understand what to do.
What is your best tip for new dog owners?
Start mental training from when the puppy is small. Spend time playing and learning. It is at least as important as walking the puppy. Feel free to sign up for a course organized by a dog club, and learn how you can activate your dog so that you can have fun together.
Thanks for the interview Kjersti, from the whole Pawesomeday Team!
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