Owning a new dog or pet can be a great way of helping your family settle into your new home abroad. It can also be a good option for homeowners looking to protect their property because a dog that barks at strangers will alert you of any potential burglars. However, because some dogs can be more aggressive than others, it is particularly important to train your dog properly. Children make great dog trainers so why not get the kids involved in the process?

Ensure that you teach basic obedience skills. The dog should be able to carry out basic commands but ensure they use positive reinforcement while ignoring the wrong behaviours. A dog must become acquainted with typical scenarios in everyday life so introduce it to family, friends and other pets including household noises whilst encouraging it to bark or notify you when strangers arrive.

Never leave your child alone with the family dog and always be on hand at all times to make sure they are both safe. Whether your child is ready to train your dog depends on his or her age and maturity level. They will need a supply of dog treats to give as a reward for following commands. Just make sure your child doesn’t over do it because more than 50 percent of dogs have obesity problems.

Prevent the dog from taking food from other people. This is an important step in training because burglars often try to distract dogs with food. Choose one person to be the main caregiver when it comes to feeding the animal.

If you have a several children, encourage them to work as a team. Let one operate as the master and the other give the dog a small treat for his efforts. Encourage them to walk the dog around your property daily and command it to come back if it strays from the area. Have them give the dog a simple command like “sit” and show them how to place their hands gently on the dog’s lower back so your dog moves into a seated position before saying “good dog.”

Your family dog should learn one command at a time before moving on to the next and you should encourage your child to repeat these exercises at a variety of locations, so the dog eventually gets used to them and understands. Once “sit” command has been mastered, have your child teach your dog other popular commands such as “stay,” “come,” “down,” and “heel.”

Getting your child to take an active role in training the family dog will boost your child’s confidence and strengthen the child/dog bond.

PSS International removals offer a wide range of shipping and removal services, as well as advice and recommendations from our panel of tried-and-tested professional companies to ensure that your move goes as smoothly as possible. Our chosen pet specialist will ensure that your pet’s needs are catered for and that they arrive at your new destination fit and well.

Furthermore, they will be able to advise you on everything from import and export permits, welfare, vaccinations, kennels, flights and special crates for the airline including quarantine rules.

For more information or for our pet partner to contact you, please click this link, select the pet migration country you plan to move to, scroll down to the ‘Pet Transport’ section and click ‘Enquire Now’ to fill out a simple form.