Key Ideas that lead to success

Train in a manner that works for both of you

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 behavior problems because the problems that we want to eliminate (jumping, chewing, digging etc) are self-rewarding behaviors for the dog. The dog will not want to miss out on an opportunity, if given one, to partake in them.

Training should be in many cases only 10-15 minutes in length.  In this time you are training your basic commands like sit, down, come, place (going to an object and staying there).  I tell clients to end on the high note.  Let us say that you are 5 minutes into a training session and your dog does a really good behavior, the best you will probably get at the moment, STOP and praise.  This is not like going on one of the exercise bikes with a trainer and they tell you to keep going, keep going.

Let us say you are trying to get your dog to do a particular exercise and they are not doing it.  Stop and ask yourself “does my dog understand the command?”, “do i know how to move them through this exercise successfully?”.  If the answer is “NO”, stop and do something that is easier to do for both of you.  Then END ON THE HIGH NOTE.  Neither you or you dog should dread training sessions. 

These are the times you come together and have some EDUTAINMENT.  Education that is fun.  Now is the time to contact your trainer and ask what you could have done different to make the next session more effective and understandable.  

 

Be proactive, not reactive

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 “bad” behavior gets them attention.
For a social animal like a dog, negative attention is often viewed as better than no attention at all.

Provide opportunities for success, limit possibilities of failure

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 will not get trained until the owner is consistent in managing the dog and it’s environment.

 

                                                                                           

Training brings you and your dog together in a wonderful life changing way.  A lack of training can keep you apart  

Would you like to know more or begin your dog’s transformation?

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