Decoding Dog Training

Training is a rewarding part of dog ownership. Teaching your dog to follow commands is important to prevent unwanted behaviour and to keep them safe while you’re out and about. But it goes without saying that certain breeds are easier to train than others – and some are renowned for being stubborn.

So, if your Yorkshire Terrier has trouble with recall or your Retriever can’t sit still, you’re not alone. Training can be challenging – it’s not always a walk in the park.

Take a deeper look into our findings and learn how pup parents in the UK are choosing to train their dogs.

Popular dog training methods

Our survey revealed positive reinforcement is the most popular training method among dog owners (59%). This is where you reward your pooch for good behaviour, to encourage them to repeat it. The focus is on praising your pup for the right choices, rather than telling them off for doing something wrong. According to the charity Dogs Trust, this approach is the best way for dogs to learn. 

According to our survey, Labrador Retriever owners (66%) favour this approach in particular. It also revealed that female dog owners are more likely to use positive reinforcement training (64%) than male owners (53%).

Lead training (44%) and socialisation training (43%) were also high on the list, highlighting that dog owners rely on a range of different techniques to keep their furry friends in check. Lead training is teaching your dog how to walk by your side. It involves getting your dog comfortable with collars and leads and helps to make walkies safe for you both. Lead training can encourage your dog to give you their full attention – great practice when facing distractions out on a walk.

Socialisation training is all about safely exposing your puppy to their new world, so they have all the key life skills needed to behave properly different situations.

Toilet training

Toilet training may not be the most glamorous job on your checklist, but it’s important for maintaining a clean environment and taking responsibility of your pup. Our survey revealed that almost nine out of 10 (88%) of dog owners agree, and have trained their pet to only do their business in appropriate places. This is compared to just one in eight paw-rents (12%) that haven’t yet toilet-trained their pooch. 

On average, it takes dog parents a little over a month (4.3 weeks) to toilet train their pet. But almost one in five (18%) reported taking just one to two weeks to get their pups in line. 

Owners aged over 65 led the way in toilet training, with 91% having housetrained their dog. A quarter (25%) of those aged 55 to 64 got their dogs to do their business outside in under a fortnight. 

Accidents in the home

It’s natural for your dog to have some slip-ups in the early stages of toilet training. But some households suffer more than others – with one in 10 (10%) of those surveyed reporting that their dog often has accidents in the home. Dog owners aged 65 and over were top again – almost half (49%) revealed their pup never has accidents inside the house.

Training resources

Many paw-rents value expert support when it comes to training, and just under a third (30%) of our respondents have used a personal dog trainer or behaviourist for help.

A dog trainer works on teaching and reinforcing everyday skills that make life with your dog easier and more enjoyable. This can include basic obedience commands such as sit, stay, come, and recall, as well as specialisms such as clicker training and herding.

A dog behaviourist, on the other hand, deals with more complex emotional or behavioural issues. While they may use training methods as part of their approach, their focus is on understanding why a dog is behaving a certain way and then creating a tailored plan to address it. Specific problem areas they will tackle include everything from aggression and resource guarding to separation anxiety.

Our survey showed that dog owners also seek advice from others. Roughly one in four have taken advice from friends and family members to train their dogs.

Pet ownership isn’t all puppy eyes and wagging tails (although it is a lot of the time). According to our survey, one in four (26%) dog owners sometimes struggle to control their pet. 
    
Our survey reflects the adage ‘with age comes experience’. Some 39% of over 65s reported that they never have trouble controlling their dog. 

Understanding your dog

You may think you know what your dog is saying just by looking at their wagging tail. But it’s not as straightforward as you may think. A wagging tail can mean a variety of things – from playfulness all the way to nervousness. 

We asked dog owners to rate how well they understand dog behaviours. When asked to score their understanding of their dog’s behaviour from 1-10 (0 being no knowledge and 10 meaning full understanding), 59% rated their understanding as 8 or above. 

Out of our respondents, those aged 25-34 had the lowest understanding of their dog’s behaviours (7/10).

Socialising is important for dogs. Like children, puppies aren’t born with social skills to live with their family – canine or otherwise. Our dogs are required to learn a lot about our world, but they also need to be able to interact with other dogs.

A puppy who is well socialised is more likely to grow up happy and confident. Dogs that haven’t been socialised at a young age are often more anxious and may be unsure how to react in certain situations, which could result in unwanted behaviours.

Our survey revealed dog owners and their pets are more alike than you may expect. When asked how much they enjoy socialising with other dog owners, only 25% of paw-rents enjoy it ‘a lot’, but over half (52%) moderately enjoy it – which mirrors that of their furry companions. 

When it comes to the dogs themselves, around half of owners (49%) said their pets enjoy socialising with other animals a moderate amount and 30% enjoy it ‘a lot’. But this rises to 36% for dogs whose owners are over 65. Their dogs enjoy socialising the most among all age groups.

The results also highlighted that dogs and dog parents may have similar social batteries. Sometimes, both the owners and pets themselves need their alone time during walkies – 4% of paw-rents and 3% of dogs don’t enjoy socialising at all. 

Walkies 

According to our survey, UK dog owners exercise their pets for an average of 1.2 hours per day. While exact exercise requirements vary depending on breed, age and medical condition, this appears to fit with guidance from PetMD, which states that some dogs need a minimum of 30 minutes to two hours daily.

Dog owners in the East Midlands walk their dogs for the longest each day (1.4 hours) – which could be thanks to the sprawling countryside of the Peak District. It also appears that older owners provide their dogs with the most exercise. Our survey highlighted paw-rents aged over 65 walk their dogs for the longest (1.5 hours per day). 

Some 70% of dog owners feel confident walking their pooch in dog parks, but only 35% feel the same about taking them to the shops.  

There’s no denying that puppy eyes, twitching noses and wagging tails can do wonders for your mood.  But with the responsibility and time constraints that come with raising, training and socialising a pet, how much does having a dog enrich lives – or the opposite?

Here’s what we found:

• Around 75% of owners reported an improvement in their wellbeing after getting a dog. According to the Mental Health Foundation, caring for a pet can provide companionship, reduce anxiety, and boost self-confidence.
• 25 to 34-year-olds experienced the highest improvement in their wellbeing among all age groups (81%). 
• More dog owners in London (85%) reported that getting a dog had improved their mental health than anywhere else in the UK.

Juggling pet care with work commitments 

Working life seems to be a barrier to many pup parents. According to our survey, 27% stated that they want to work from home more often so they can be with their pet.

This appears to be a common theme among pet owners. The Sainsbury’s Bank Paws and Playtime Report revealed that 16% of dog owners have had to adjust their working patterns to care for their animal – and 13% opt to work from home more regularly to avoid leaving pets on their own for long periods of time.

While there’s no denying that having a pet can enrich people’s lives, respondents admitted that access to certain resources or approaches could support them in better understanding their dogs’ behaviour.

A third (33%) of dog owners would value more dog behaviour TV shows and 32% would like more apps focused on this, suggesting that there’s still a lack of knowledge on dog behaviour. Interestingly, 30% said they’d like more community classes, implying they would benefit from group socialisation and training activities.

“Getting a dog initially is a shock to the system and it is hard,” Jade says. “If you get a puppy, you’ll go through the same thing again with adolescence and that is totally normal. It’s really important to work as a team with anyone else in your household and support each other, otherwise it can be very easy to become frustrated.” 

No matter how much of a good boy (or girl) your dog is, they can still get into all sorts of mischief. Here’s where pet insurance may come in handy. 

“When you’re looking to take out an insurance plan, look for one that includes benefits such as behavioural treatment, so you can access a high-level of care for your dog when you need it” Jade explains.

“In my experience, insurance can be the difference between treating a dog or not.”

Whether they’ve injured their paw, eaten something they shouldn’t have, or they seem out of character, there may be occasions they need to be taken to the vet. Get help towards unexpected vet bills with Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance, provided by Pinnacle Insurance Ltd. 

With different cover levels to choose from, including time-limited, maximum benefit and lifetime, choose an option that suits your family best.

All insurance policies have restrictions. To find out more about our terms and conditions including exclusions, excesses and limits, please take a look at our policy documents.

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Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd is an appointed representative of Sainsbury's Bank plc. Sainsbury's Bank plc acts as an introducer to Pinnacle Insurance Ltd who is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (register number 110866). Registered office: 4th Floor, Limelight, Elstree Way, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, WD6 1JH. Sainsbury’s Bank Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance Ltd. Sainsbury's Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance Ltd are not part of the same corporate group.

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