The benefits of holistic canine wellness practices in modern dog training.
There’s been a welcome shift for some dog trainers/behaviourists over recent years, including myself, where we now question purely concentrating on just ‘training’ dogs positively to do what we want them to do—but instead using a dog-centred approach that incorporates understanding dogs and their needs.
With this growing appreciation for a holistic approach, the overall wellbeing of our canine companions is prioritised. Gone are the days of merely focusing on obedience and commands. Today, dog guardians and professionals alike recognise the importance of holistic canine wellness practices in fostering a happy, healthy, and harmonious relationship with our dogs.
Now, before you start to think, if we don’t actually train our dogs, how will they be well-behaved ineveryday life? I still teach behaviours for dogs to be safe and happy in our world, but this isn’t the only focus of my classes or 121s. I impart so much more in sharing canine knowledge to guardians regarding wellness & understanding the dog in front of them than I previously did.
So, what are the benefits of embracing holistic canine wellness practices in dog training - from physical health to emotional wellbeing, and how do these practices contribute to creating a fulfilling life for both dogs and their guardians?
Physical Health
One of the primary benefits of holistic canine wellness practices in dog training is the emphasis on physical health. Like humans, dogs require a balanced diet and preventive healthcare to thrive. A good trainer should be able to advise on dietaryrequirements or at least point you in the right direction to find out more.
Clients who come my way will be asked what their dog is fed, their feeding routine, allergies, medical health (and I will ask about any possible pain present), how they’re sleeping, and what exercise and mental stimulation they receive. And, of course, if they attend for a 121, we will also go deeper into their daily routines. All of this information is critical for trainers to be able to help the dog with any behavioural concerns.
Mental Stimulation
As mentioned above, I will ask what kind of mental stimulation the dog receives. Incorporating mental stimulation into a dog’s daily routine is another key aspect of canine wellness practices. Mental stimulation activities keep dogs mentally fit, help build their problem-solving skills and improve their overall cognitive function.
By providing opportunities for mental enrichment, holistic trainers ensure that dogs lead fulfilling and mentally stimulating lives. Sniffing, chewing, and licking opportunities the dog enjoys are paramount to the dog’s overall wellbeing. If
“Incorporating mental stimulation into a dog’s daily routine is another key aspect of canine wellness practices.”
enjoyed, all three activities release feel-good hormones in dogs and can help with calming. I’m a big believer in watching what a dog chooses to do to help themselves self-regulate. Some may decide to chew something in reach, for example, and this gives me important information I can use to help that dog now or in future – after all, the dog knows better than we do what they need at any given moment.
Emotional Wellbeing
Dogs experience a wide range of emotions, including stress, anxiety, and fear, which can significantly impact their overall wellbeing if not appropriately addressed. Holistic trainers create a safe and supportive environment for dogs, free from fear and intimidation, where they can express their emotions freely.
When training, yes, I use positive reinforcement techniques that build trust, confidence, and a strong bond between dogs and their guardians. However,
I also think about the emotional state the dog is in during training. If their mind is elsewhere, I’d give them a break and return to it when they are ready, or I’d question why they can’t do this at this moment. By thinking about the dog, their emotions and experience, we are helping them instead of hindering them by making them do something for a treat.
Dogs are constantly providing us with useful information and trying to communicate with us, which in a traditional training sense would likely not be picked up on – writing about this, what comes to mind is usually a frustrated guardian, constantly repeating the cue until said dog does it – Sit, Sit! Sit!!
Quite often, what we call ‘busy’ dogs – those dogs that are compulsive greeters, jumpers, and over-excited are often masking anxiety. If we are unaware of our dogs’ genuine emotions and understand what they’re telling us, we could end up ignoring the underlying anxiety and labelling it as behaviour that simply just needs to be changed through positive training. Only training may help, but looking deeper and assisting the dog with the underlying problem is a better solution overall.
Communication & Understanding
Effective communication and socialisation are essential components of holistic canine wellness practices. A holistic approach emphasises the importance of clear communication between dogs and their guardians, using positive reinforcement, body language interpretation, and mutual understanding to strengthen their bond.
For me, this includes my clients understanding and giving opportunities for dogs to practice their innate needs safely instead of suppressing them. I ensure my clients understand the predatory sequence and the curve of hormones released when practising the sequence and find out which parts their dogs may enjoy more. By understanding this, clients cannot only meet innate needs but also understand why their dog does something that previously they may have seen as ‘bad’ behaviour. This sharing of knowledge not only leads to a happier, healthier dog but also helps with training overall.
For example, recalling a dog – your dog has a good sniff over in the bushes, you need to recall them and when they return to you, you give them a small treat from the hand – great! - perhaps they are thankful, but wouldn’t it be better if we thought – OK, they’re over there sniffing; I need them to come to me, so when they do get to me,
I’m going to give them some treats to snuffle for in this long grass by my feet. That way, we match as best we can what they wanted to do naturally, but back at us as a reward. Imagine we tried to match their return each time with what they were doing naturally anyhow – wouldn’t that increase your bond and their wellbeing but also make it more likely for them to return to you more often or quicker in future?
Another main area of dog training is lead skills. This is an area that I believe benefits from a more dog- centred approach. Many people struggle with lead work, but when we try to understand how a dog feels being restricted – I liken it to the reigns I’d have to wear as a toddler. I despised them and had many tantrums! Understanding how they may feel and what they want to do outdoors (go sniff, play etc) helps us reframe our walks.
When you begin to think of a lead as a connection with your dog and not control, learn appropriate lead skills that help nurture this bond with your on-lead dog and start to allow your dog to do what they need to for most of their walk; the battle of lead pulling dissolves. Much of my training includes free work, which is part of ACE (Animal Centred Education), which was created by Sarah Fisher at Tilley Farm. Free work suits dogs of all ages and sizes, including those with mobility issues or reactivity behaviours.
It offers a structured approach to enriching your dog’s experience, enhancing self-confidence, helping with calming and can be used as a ‘reset’. In Free Work, your dog is encouraged to explore objects and surfaces at their own pace, engaging with them freely. This practice goes beyond mental stimulation, providing comprehensive enrichment that stimulates all seven senses: Smell, Touch, Sight, Hearing, Taste, Proprioception, and Balance.
Free work allows us to observe dogs and see their likes/dislikes, meaning we learn how to adjust our interactions/approach with a dog. It also gives us vital information on how they are moving – observations of which could lead to advising the guardian to speak to a veterinarian for advice to pick up on any potential mobility and pain problems.
ACE Free Work has proven to be a transformative tool for my dogs and clients, addressing various individual needs. If I hadn’t looked into a more holistic approach to dog behaviour, I might not have come across Free Work and not offered this canine life-changing approach to clients.
Strengthening the Human-Canine Bond
Ultimately, the most significant benefit of embracing holistic canine wellness practices in dog training is strengthening the human-canine bond. Holistic trainers foster a deep and meaningful connection between dogs and their guardians based on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. By prioritising the overall wellbeing of dogs and treating them with kindness and compassion,
“Understanding how they may feel and what they want to do outdoors (go sniff, play etc) helps us reframe our walks.”
holistic trainers create a positive training environment where dogs feel safe, valued, and loved. This strong bond enhances the training process and enriches the lives of both dogs and their guardians, leading to a more fulfilling and rewarding relationship.
Complementary Therapies
In addition to training holistically, I also want to touch upon the use of other therapies and how they can help with behaviour. Complementary therapies such as Reiki, aromatherapy, and massage can play a crucial role in adopting a holistic approach to dog training.
These therapies focus on addressing the dog’s physical, emotional, and energetic aspects, promoting overall wellbeing and balance. Reiki, a Japanese healing technique, aims to channel energy to promote relaxation and reduce stress in dogs, facilitating a calm and receptive state for learning. Aromatherapy utilises essential oils with calming or invigorating properties to create a supportive environment for training sessions, enhancing focus and emotional stability.
Massage, whether it’s through gentle strokes or targeted techniques, helps release tension, improve circulation, and strengthen the bond between the dog and trainer. By integrating these complementary therapies into dog training practices, trainers can create a nurturing and holistic environment that fosters obedience, emotional resilience, and mental clarity in dogs.
By embracing holistic canine wellness practices in dog training, we can strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners, create a harmonious living environment, and ultimately unleash our canine companions’ full potential.
