There is more than one way of getting the job done

Hiring a dog trainer is essential for many pet parents.  That need leads to many questions that need to be answered.  There are multiple methods to train dogs and most any trainer will tell you that their method is superior and why.  The joke is usually told that if you put 5 trainers in the same room, the only point they can agree on is that the other trainer is wrong.  With all the information that is out there I can only ask this of you- 

Look around, and ask questions

Check out videos and blog posts. 

What are their credentials, where have they taught and how long have they been training. 

Remember, even a trainer with a multitude of credentials may not be the best choice for you.  Some trainers are only good with dogs and some only good with people.  What you need is a combination of both.  I mean, what good is it if they can work your dog, but can’t explain how they did it.  It is also important to note what their training method is, do you understand it? Can you do it?

 

Three basic styles of dog training

1- Treat/Clicker Trainers- These trainers use treats in various ways to shape a desired behavior and reward success.  A problem with treats is the distraction issue.  The dog may come to you when they see the treat, but there is no distraction.  Now, have someone ring the door bell or have the dog see that cat.  The dog that knows the command, but probably won’t come because the distraction is worth more to the dog than the treat.  The dog is not being rude or obstinate, in most cases, you simply lost your connection to them.  So what do people generally do to compensate, they yell.

2- Leash Trainers- Some leash trainers generally employ leashes with mostly pinch or prong collars.  The affect is sometimes meant to be a “do it or else attitude”.  This is what is called Positive Punishment.  Adding something, the correction, to get the dogs attention.  A problem with this is also that distraction issue.  Dog sees distraction and they are off to the races.  What does the leash and collar trained person do?  Either hang on for dear life if they have a big dog or try to correct the dog away from the distraction.  All the while yelling things like “NO” “BAD DOG”.  You get the point.

  3- Remote Collar Trainers (also known as Shock Collar-when used improperly) Some of these trainers use that box that goes on the dogs neck that gives them a jolt when the dog is bad.  I have seen it done time and time again.  I had a trainer once, years ago before I became a trainer, tell me that they were going to put a shock collar on my female Akita because she was dog aggressive.  I told her that there was no way I was doing that to my dog.

So, where am I in this?

Where do I fall in with these styles?.  Well I use  all three of  them of course.  I use all the tools at my disposal to enable me to get the dog to understand what we want and enable the owner to obtain that needed control.  Let me explain.

I like to use treats to shape and reward, but treats need to go away in time.  I also utilize praise and toys.  I use those tools that will get the dog to say “Oh, that’s what you wanted me to do, OK I can do that”.

I use leashes for direction and re-direction.  I am showing the dog what I want the dog to do.  “Off” as am leading the dog away with the leash.  “Come” as am leading the dog to me, etc.  What I am not saying is “NO” “BAD DOG”.  I am giving commands and providing direction.  But I still need to contend with that distraction issue.  I’ll get to that in a second.

I like the remote collar (shock collar has a negative connotation to it) as it provides me with a means to capture the dogs attention and redirect them off that distraction and back to me.  All the while I am speaking in a normal level voice.  Yelling just adds energy into a situation that probably has too much energy.  It allows us (me and you) to more effectively and quickly get and keep that dog attention.

Look at it this way.  We are at a party and it is loud (a form of distraction).  You are trying to get my attention, but you can’t.  So what do you do?.  Maybe you yell?, this is what you are doing to your dog perhaps.  Maybe you walk up to me and tap me on the shoulder.  Now you have established a connection to me.  You didn’t hit me, you didn’t hurt me, but you got my attention.  I am happy to see you because you brought me that soda I wanted. This is what I am doing. 

I am using the reward (treat, toy, praise) as a means to get the dog to understand what we want and the dog will learn to like doing it.  We are using the leash to guide the dog to us or away from something.  And we are using the Remote to say “Hey, I need you”.

“I don’t want to hurt my dog” is what I usually hear.  Neither do I, do you think people would hire me and refer me if I was hurting dogs.  I have worked many dogs on stimulation levels that people do not even feel.  The point is that the dog comes to realize that when they feel the remote, an opportunity has arisen for them to obtain that reward. All they need to do is listen to us.  The dog, with proper training, chooses  to do the command.  With continued repetition comes muscle-memory, which is doing a task without thinking about it.

I’ll end this here with two comments: 1- If there was a better way than the Sit Means Sit method of dog training, I would be doing that method. 2- Training takes time and guidance, and the only one that ultimately makes that decision on what type of trainer your dog needs is YOU. 

 

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

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