Dog Training
A problem with the use of the leash
Using a physical correction (i.e. leash) can be counter productive. Case in point- the dog jumps up on people and you use a leash to correct him. The dog could develop a negative association. The dog may learn not to like people as it is a cue that something bad is going to happen. An…
Set the dog up for success
The idea is to provide the dog with every possible opportunity to learn that the new alternate behavior is more rewarding then the previous problem behavior. The owner needs to supervise the dog and it’s environment so the dog is not able to perform the undesired behavior. Since the “problem” behavior is rewarding, the dog…
Key idea to remember during training
Focus on being proactive, (i.e. praising the dog whenever he performs any acceptable alternate behaviors), instead of reactive, (i.e. leash and collar corrections, yelling, etc) Many dog owners ignore their dogs when they are behaving (i.e. lying quietly). As the dog receives attention when he is engaging in inappropriate behavior, the dog figures out that…
Be consistent in your training
Dogs are happier, confident and secure in an environment where the rules and exceptions are consistent. Owners that teach a dog that a behavior is acceptable sometimes, and then gets angry at the dog for the behavior at other times will almost always have a difficult time eliminating the problem. Consistency is crucial in treating…