How and when to integrate play with learning obedience skills
We often see dogs that although being cooed over, petted or fed treats, still seem miserable while being “trained.” Positive motivation can be a tricky thing.
Dog training (dog learning) should not take on the flavor of a boring chore for the dog or handler. Some trainers will tell you to train early in the morning before you feed them, while others will tell you to train your dog only for 10-15 minutes maximum. The reasoning behind those approaches has to do primarily with ones ability to attain and hold the dogs attention more than anything else.
At Sit Means Sit Hawaii we are teaching and reinforcing commands to our dogs around the clock. We teach (train) as we live, just like raising children. As parents we could not possibly take three 20 minute sessions a day to raise them, although some of us might like that program, but at that rate we might be raising them well into their 30’s and there goes retirement fun. Sure there are times when we focus on just learning one skill, but the most impacting agenda is for the dog to be comprehensive in the Sit Means Sit Language.
We teach them a whole new language of communication that will enable you as the handler to have control of your dog at distances. This in turn, gives your dog more freedom. It is simple math in that proper repetition, breeds consistent behavior patterns. We aim to use every opportunity to mark a behavior, even for example if it is only for two seconds in a “place” for a puppy, or an advanced skill, like a remote down.
The main goal for any training method is to attain and hold the dog’s attention. Whether it is food, leash and collar, flat, prong, choke or remote collar, we all are using tools to obtain results. We use our Sit Means Sit collar because it gives the ability to communicate, teach and control attention at a distance. While all methods are all on an even playing field, ours is an exception to the rule since we can communicate and control our dog’s at distances. It should be noted that any punishment and intimidation comes from the handler, not the tool.
Like anything in life, no single person or dog for that matter, is ever punished into excellence. Our goal is to generate a happy well mannered dog. With that in mind, we strive for beginning and ending interactions on a high note.
You can give your dog treats and “good boy’s” all day long, but if your voice is flat and your body language is stiff, then within a matter minutes of interacting with your dog, there is a high probability of your dog mirroring that tone you have set, making the learning arena, less than exciting for the dog. There is tremendous value in tuning into your dogs drive levels. For example very high energy toy motivated dogs, need to be toned down a bit and flat dogs need a bigger dose of the handlers upbeat attitude. The handler should always be engaged and having fun, but at the same time, keenly aware to keep things in balance. Below you will see a good visual example, of integrating play and learning progressions to create an up beat attitude for learning obedience skills.
This video displays a Sit Means Sit Client and her 5 month old German Shepherd
At Sit Means Sit Hawaii, we believe that playful interaction, mixed with intervals of teaching a new skill in progressions, can be very impacting to the success of our dog learning a skill. While this holds true, there is a window of “feel” and “timing” involved in implementing this approach. On occasion we will separate work and play until the dog completely understands the elements we expect in his actions, with this completed, we’ll incorporate the play and training. There are cases, especially with really high drive dogs, that it is imperative to teach them to be correct first and then incorporate the toy. On the other side of the coin, be prepared, because some dogs can get flat when you teach them something new and will not play with toys even if they love them. Once there is comprehension of the desired behavior, the dog then “loosens up” and then we start to integrate training and play as one.
We define success by having a balanced well mannered dog that looks for interaction with you as their leader. Further more defined for example by modifying and changing their unwanted behavior patterns, controlling them around other dogs, accepting touch from strangers, not peeing anytime someone approaches him or running away.
Once you are able to read your dogs drive level, you can selectively choose your timing to integrate training time and play time to be one in the same. To do this, we generally have a ball or a tug toy close by and we offer frequent intervals of “play” with those toys, so we can maintain an upbeat attitude for learning new skills with increased levels of distractions.
It is important to remember that the toy alone does not induce learning, but it creates an appetite to work towards getting a reward for the dog. It is important to create a safe and professionally supervised environment that is conducive for achieving success. We must be mindful to set the tone for incremental learning to take place.
We consider, the environment a contributing factor for our ability to teach clearly and for the dog to learn successfully. Safety is our first priority. We must consider containment, being away from stray dogs, moving vehicles and other unforeseen moving distractions, these elements are all very important in the initial learning phases of any skill. Additionally, we place an emphasis on our own animation and creativity, to induce an upbeat attitude for the dog. In simple terms, a stiff statue type posture, barking firm commands and throwing a ball or tossing a treat, is generally not going produce a happy dog that performs more than the very basics.
Different things motivate each and every dog. It’s pretty obvious what “cranks the scooter” for one, may put the other to sleep. So if it is affection that makes your dog happy, then after it proficiently performs a skill, you should be so outgoing with your affection, that you will be embarrassed if anyone sees you. The key is knowing what brings their attitude up and weaving that element into all your interactions of teaching your dog.
Regardless of what you use to reward your dog, remember to keep the excitement focused on you and in balance with what is expected regarding the dog’s skill and age level. Too much control placed on a young dog, can easily generate a flat and submissive behavior early on in life. Like wise, too much out of control crazy play time, for a high energy, high drive dog, can lead to someone getting hurt and it’s rarely ever the dog.
At Sit Means Sit Hawaii we firmly believe that we are responsible for the levels of success that each dog enjoys. Bottom line, every dog no matter what breed, age or size, has pure potential just waiting to be realized. The more healthy interaction we have with our dogs, the more fun we can have teaching them new skills. We encourage every dog owner, no matter what the situation is, there is always a way to have more fun!
Scott Sanchez
Vice President of
Research & Development
www.SitMeansSit.com