What Is Structure?

  Author: Denise Partlow

Instagram: @modernk9 Carolinas

Dogs need structure.
We often hear this phrase thrown around a lot in dog training but what does it really mean?
When we say structure, we are usually referring to the dog’s daily routine. Dogs thrive off of predictability so when we have a healthy daily routine, one in which they can predict what’s coming next, you will have a happy and content dog.
So how do we structure a dog’s day?

Well, in the beginning, when you first attain a dog or puppy, the structure should be at its highest. This is because when you have a new dog coming into your home, they don’t know what a healthy routine looks like in terms of living in a human household. Therefore the human has to physically show the dog what a healthy routine would consist of, so the dog begins to build a habit of following this routine. You want to prevent them from having the option to develop their own routine because it is likely they will make some pretty awful decisions without your guidance. This is where you usually hear dog owners complaining about their dog being destructive, soiling the house, barking at everything-and that’s just to name a few. But when we show them what the routine looks like from the very beginning, they won’t know any different and eventually over time they begin to choose this routine without you even asking because it’s all they know.

What does this look like:
A healthy routine can be different among every household, but what it all comes down to is the human has to direct every part of the dog’s day such as when to eat, where to eat, when to lay down, where to lay down, how long to lay down, when to play, what to play with, when to stop playing, when to go outside, when to come back inside, when to wait patiently, when to be released, when to rest, etc.

Now I know this might sound kind of harsh to be directing every move the dog makes, but this is how dog’s learn- through repetitions and patterns. So the only way we can show them how we want their routine to be, is by providing them with those opportunities to practice those routines. And overtime you will notice the dog choosing these behaviors on their own, and that’s when you can start providing more freedom.